Galatians 4:1-4

C.

ILLUSTRATION AS TO WHY THE LAW PRECEDED AND MUST GIVE WAY TO THE GOSPEL. Galatians 4:1-31

1.

Childhood and manhood. Galatians 4:1-11

TEXT 4:1-4

(1) But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; (2) but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.
(3) So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: (4) but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

PARAPHRASE 4:1-4

1 Now if ye ask, why the gospel dispensation was not introduced immediately after the fall? and why the heirs, during so many ages, were left to the guidance of the laws of nature and of Moses? I answer, As long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bond-man, although by right of inheritance he be proprietor of the whole estate:
2 For he is put under instructors who teach him, and stewards who manage his estate, and supply him with necessaries, until the time before appointed of his father, for giving him the possession of his inheritance, arriveth.
3 So also we, the heirs of the promises, whilst we were children, were not put in possession of the promises, by the introduction of the gospel dispensation, immediately after the fall, but, to fit us for the dispensation, were placed in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the time, before appointed of the Father for putting the heirs in possession of the promises, by introducing the gospel dispensation, was fully come, God sent forth, from heaven into our world, his Son, born of a woman, and born under the law;

COMMENT 4:1

so long as the heir is a child

1.

This is to show why the bondage of the law preceded the liberty of the gospel.

2.

Childhood is for a period of development. And in the ancient household he was little more than a slave.

3.

Faith in Christ makes man a mature heir.

COMMENT 4:2

but is under guardians and stewards

1.

He must needs be under constant careotherwise he would be in constant danger of losing the inheritance.

2.

He is not able to order his own affairs, but is just like a servant.

a.

Observe how God had to deal with the Hebrews, then this verse.

b.

Foolish Galatians are acting as though they are going back to this state.

until the day

1.

A specified time of the father's choosing.

2.

The day that is appropriatea full day or fulness of time.

appointed by the Father

1.

People in society have a day for their daughter's debut.

2.

A father in business has a day when he retires and turns over all to his son.

COMMENT 4:3

we were children

1.

Law is childhood stagewhat a time God has had with His infants.

2.

Paul warns Christians about infancy.

a.

... I fed you with milk. 1 Corinthians 3:2

b.

... Such as have need of milk. Hebrews 5:12

held in bondage

1.

You do not allow children very much freedom.

a.

You want them to grow.

b.

You want to teach them.

2.

The day comes when you let them go in confidence.

3.

God gives Christians freedom.

a.

They have the Spirit to guide them.

b.

The only freedom is in Christ, but it is not a license to do evil.

under the rudiments

1.

Paul may meanThe law is earthly.

a.

It restrains from evil, but does not deliver from sin.

b.

It does not justify. You do not earn eternal life just because you do not kill, commit adultery, etc.

2.

Luther says Paul is referring principally to the ceremonial law which dealt with external matters as meat, drink, dress, places, times, feasts, cleansings, sacrifices, etc.

WORD STUDY 4:3

The rudiments (stoicheiastoi KY ah) were first simply things in a row, then the row of letters in the alphabet. From this came the meaning elementary principles, as when we speak of the ABC'S of electronics.

The Galatians were attempting to live under the Law, which was reverting to an earlier step in God's plan. This would be as absurd as for a mature adult to go back to the guardianship of the paidagogos (Galatians 3:24).

The RSV and certain other more recent translations make this the elementary spirits of the universe, following a usage of the word in the so-called Testament of Solomon. However, this document is dated 4th Century A.D., and there is no earlier use of the word in this meaning. It is a violent change of context to introduce the worship of spirits into the argument. See Burton in the ICC series of commentaries for a convincing argument against this new translation.

COMMENT 4:4

but when the fulness of time came

1.

The Greek language had spread so that it was practically universal.

2.

Roman government had brought some good influences.

a.

Roman roadsmaking traveling safe.

b.

Roman law and order.

3.

There had been four hundred years of silence allowing mankind to find out that he could not do without God.

a.

People were deteriorating in their lusts. Romans 1:20

4.

When the time came for the termination of a period of tutorship then God took steps for the liberation of all mankind.

God sent forth his Son

1.

This is God's supreme effort.

2.

Jesus sets forth this event in the parable of the vineyard. Matthew 21:33-39

3.

Prophets were sent and God worked hard to display His love but the gift of His Son makes other attempts seem small.

born of a woman

1.

Christ's birth was of a virgin according to prophecy and the Gospels.

2.

Why is not the virgin birth taught here?

a.

Some say it is taught when he says born of a woman! otherwise, he would have said, born of a man, or man and woman,

b.

The human side of Jesus is tremendously important.

1)

We know He knows our weaknesses, for He lived as we.

2)

See Hebrews 4:15

born under the law

1.

He voluntarily placed Himself under the law and permitted it to have dominion over Him.

a.

Actually the law had no dominion over him.

1)

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. 1 Peter 2:22

b.

Yet the law treated this innocent, just, and blessed lamb of God as cruelly as any.

c.

He did not fulfill any one or two easy requirements of the law, but endured all.

2.

The Jews accused him of breaking the law, but He only broke their traditions.

STUDY QUESTIONS 4:1-4

413.

What is Paul's argument in this verse?

414.

Why is a child like a bondservant?

415.

How is the child different?

416.

What is the childhood period for?

417.

Describe what is involved under guardianship.

418.

Should we be proud and haughty, while we are children expecting to be heirs?

419.

Do we have special days for children?

420.

Do earthly fathers appoint days for their children?

421.

Compare this idea with fulness of time expressed in Galatians 4:4.

422.

Does Paul mean that the law was a childhood age?

423.

Did God have an easy time with his children during Moses-' day?

424.

Do we allow children very much freedom?

425.

Is Paul saying that the law was a period of bondage?

426.

Is freedom a period of license?

427.

What is meant by rudiments?

428.

Does he mean that the law is a rudiment?

429.

Is Paul teaching that while we are in bondage to the law, we are under the rudiments of the world?

430.

How could a law of God be considered a rudiment of the world?

431.

Could Luther be right in dividing the law into a ceremonial law suggesting that these things are meant by rudiments?

432.

What is meant by fulness of time?

433.

In what way was it a full time?

434.

Does it refer to the termination of a period of tutorship?

435.

What great event took place in this full time?

436.

Is this verse avoiding the virgin birth?

437.

Why is Paul emphasizing the human side of Christ?

438.

If Christ was born under the law, then was He automatically under the curse?

439.

Since Christ was sinless, was He not under the law?

440.

If Jews accused Christ of breaking the law and they were the ones to enforce the law, was He under a curse?