Galatians 4:1-7

An heir may be either one who is entering on his inheritance or one who is hereafter to enter on it. In a sense, the Christian inheritance is always future; heaven lies ahead. And the NT, with its strong eschatological background, felt the claims of the future more even than we do. Yet preceding verses speak of full sonship in Christ as largely implying entrance on the inheritance. The Spirit is earnest or first-fruits (Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14). Dealing with Israel under the Law, Paul explains that, while an heir, Israel had been a minor, and therefore temporarily no better than a slave. Slave to whom? To the angels or spirits of the elements (mg.; Peake, EGT, on Colossians 2:8, after Spitta). From this bondage Israel was redeemed by the mission of the Son of God born of a woman, i.e. [not necessarily virgin-born but] incarnate as human (cf. Job 14:1), and coming under the Law in order to abolish it and so intro duce the epoch of freedom and sonship (cf. supra on Galatians 3:1).