Galatians 4:3

ἤμεθα אD*G. ἦμεν ABC etc.

3. οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς. We Jews primarily, though not exclusively, for the restraints were felt by all until Christ came.

ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, Galatians 4:1. What a claim for the greatness of the change brought by the Gospel!

ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμον. The full phrase is found in Colossians 2:8; Colossians 2:20 (where see notes), στοιχεῖα alone in Galatians 4:9; Hebrews 5:12; 2 Peter 3:10; 2 Peter 3:12[117]. The phrase means not (a) the physical elements as such, nor (b) the spiritual beings, angels, directing the physical elements, but (c) the rudiments, the A, B, C of outward things, elementary beggarly rules connected with the external and the visible, e.g. the observance of sabbaths, new moons etc. (Galatians 4:10), as ordered in the Law, written or oral, or the many ceremonies of the heathen. These external checks on personal freedom answer to the ἐπίτροποι and οἰκόνομοι of Galatians 4:2.

[117] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.

ἤμεθα δεδουλωμἐνοι. The form is that of the periphrastic pluperfect, but the meaning is not pluperfect, but imperfect, with stress on the permanency of the result of the action.