SO LONG AS (εφ' οσον χρονον). "For how long a time," incorporation of the antecedent (χρονον) into the relative clause.THE HEIR (ο κληρονομος). Old word (κληρος, lot, νεμομα, to possess). Illustration from the law of inheritance carrying on the last thought in Galatians 3:29.A CHILD (νηπιος).... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDER GUARDIANS (υπο επιτροπους). Old word from επιτρεπω, to commit, to intrust. So either an overseer (Matthew 20:8) or one in charge of children as here. It is common as the guardian of an orphan minor. Frequent in the papyri as guardian of minors.STEWARDS (οικονομους). Old word for manager o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN (οτε ημεν νηπιο). Before the epoch of faith came and we (Jews and Gentiles) were under the law as paedagogue, guardian, steward, to use all of Paul's metaphors.WE WERE HELD IN BONDAGE (ημεις ημεθα δεδουλωμενο). Periphrastic past perfect of δουλοω, to enslave, in a permanen... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FULNESS OF THE TIME (το πληρωμα του χρονου). Old word from πληροω, to fill. Here the complement of the preceding time as in Ephesians 1:10. Some examples in the papyri in the sense of complement, to accompany. God sent forth his preexisting Son (Philippians 2:6) when the time for his purpose... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE YE ARE SONS (οτ εστε υιο). This is the reason for sending forth the Son (Galatians 4:4 and here). We were "sons" in God's elective purpose and love. Hοτ is causal (1 Corinthians 12:15; Romans 9:7).THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON (το πνευμα του υιο αυτου). The Holy Spirit, called the Spirit of Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
NO LONGER A BONDSERVANT (ουκετ δουλος). Slave. He changes to the singular to drive the point home to each one. The spiritual experience (Galatians 3:2) has set each one free. Each is now a son and heir.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THEM WHICH BY NATURE ARE NOT GODS (τοις φυσε μη ουσ θεοις). In 1 Corinthians 10:20 he terms them "demons," the "so-called gods" (1 Corinthians 8:5), worshipping images made by hands (Acts 17:29).... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THAT YE HAVE COME TO KNOW GOD (νυν δε γνοντες). Fine example of the ingressive second aorist active participle of γινωσκω, come to know by experience through faith in Christ.RATHER TO BE KNOWN OF GOD (μαλλον δε γνωσθεντες υπο θεου). First aorist passive participle of the same verb. He quick... [ Continue Reading ]
YE OBSERVE (παρατηρεισθε). Present middle indicative of old verb to stand beside and watch carefully, sometimes with evil intent as in Luke 6:7, but often with scrupulous care as here (so in Dio Cassius and Josephus). The meticulous observance of the Pharisees Paul knew to a nicety. It hurt him to... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM AFRAID OF YOU (φοβουμα υμας). He shudders to think of it.LEST BY ANY MEANS I HAVE BESTOWED LABOUR UPON YOU IN VAIN (μη πως εικη κεκοπιακα εις υμας). Usual construction after a verb of fearing about what has actually happened (μη πως and the perfect active indicative of κοπιαω, to toil wear... [ Continue Reading ]
BE AS I AM (γινεσθε ως εγω). Present middle imperative, "Keep on becoming as I am." He will not give them over, afraid though he is.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF AN INFIRMITY OF THE FLESH (δι' ασθενειαν της σαρκος). All that we can get from this statement is the fact that Paul's preaching to the Galatians "the first time" or "the former time" (το προτερον, adverbial accusative) was due to sickness of some kind whether it was eye trouble (Galatia... [ Continue Reading ]
A TEMPTATION TO YOU IN MY FLESH (τον πειρασμον υμων εν τη σαρκ μου). "Your temptation (or trial) in my flesh." Peirasmon can be either as we see in James 1:2; James 1:12. If trial here, it was a severe one.NOR REJECTED (ουδε εξεπτυσατε). First aorist active indicative of εκπτυω, old word to spi... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT GRATULATION OF YOURSELVES (ο μακαρισμος υμων). "Your felicitation." Rare word from μακαριζω, to pronounce happy, in Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch. See also Romans 4:6; Romans 4:9. You no longer felicitate yourselves on my presence with you.YE WOULD HAVE PLUCKED OUT YOUR EVES AND GIVEN THEM TO M... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR ENEMY (εχθρος υμων). Active sense of εχθρος, hater with objective genitive. They looked on Paul now as an enemy to them. So the Pharisees and Judaizers generally now regarded him.BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH (αληθευων υμιν). Present active participle of αληθευω, old verb from αληθης, true.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ZEALOUSLY SEEK YOU (ζηλουσιν υμας). Ζηλοω is an old and a good word from ζηλος (zeal, jealousy), but one can pay court with good motives or evil. So here in contrast with Paul's plain speech the Judaizers bring their fawning flattery.TO SHUT YOU OUT (εκκλεισα υμας). From Christ as he will... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE ZEALOUSLY SOUGHT IN A GOOD MATTER (ζηλουσθα εν καλω). Present passive infinitive. It is only in an evil matter that it is bad as here (ου καλος).WHEN I AM PRESENT (εν τω παρεινα με). "In the being present as to me.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM IN TRAVAIL (ωδινω). I am in birth pangs. Old word for this powerful picture of pain. In N.T. only here, verse Galatians 4:27; Revelation 12:2.UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU (μεχρις ου μορφωθη Χριστος εν υμιν). Future temporal clause with μεχρις ου (until which time) and the first aorist pas... [ Continue Reading ]
I COULD WITH (ηθελον). Imperfect active, I was wishing like Agrippa's use of εβουλομην in Acts 25:22, "I was just wishing. I was longing to be present with you just now (αρτ)."TO CHANGE MY VOICE (αλλαξα την φωνην μου). Paul could put his heart into his voice. The pen stands between them. He kne... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW (ο υπο νομον θελοντες εινα). "Under law" (no article), as in Galatians 3:23; Galatians 4:4, legalistic system. Paul views them as on the point of surrender to legalism, as "wanting" (θελοντες) to do it (Galatians 1:6; Galatians 3:3; Galatians 4:11; Galatians 4:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE HANDMAID (εκ της παιδισκης). From Genesis 16:1. Feminine diminutive of παις, boy or slave. Common word for damsel which came to be used for female slave or maidservant (Luke 12:45) or doorkeeper like Matthew 26:29. So in the papyri.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS BORN (γεγεννητα). Perfect passive indicative of γενναω, stand on record so.THROUGH PROMISE (δι' επαγγελιας). In addition to being "after the flesh" (κατα σαρκα).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH THINGS CONTAIN AN ALLEGORY (ατινα εστιν αλληγορουμενα). Literally, "Which things are allegorized" (periphrastic present passive indicative of αλληγορεω). Late word (Strabo, Plutarch, Philo, Josephus, ecclesiastical writers), only here in N.T. The ancient writers used αινιττομα to speak in ri... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS HAGAR (το Hαγαρ). Neuter article and so referring to the word Hagar (not to the woman, η Hagar) as applied to the mountain. There is great variety in the MSS. here. The Arabians are descendants of Abraham and Hagar (her name meaning wanderer or fugitive).ANSWERETH TO (συντοιχε). Late word... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JERUSALEM THAT IS ABOVE (η ανω Ιερουσαλημ). Paul uses the rabbinical idea that the heavenly Jerusalem corresponds to the one here to illustrate his point without endorsing their ideas. See also Revelation 21:2. He uses the city of Jerusalem to represent the whole Jewish race (Vincent).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS OUR MOTHER (ητις εστιν μητηρ ημων). The mother of us Christians, apply the allegory of Hagar and Sarah to us. The Jerusalem above is the picture of the Kingdom of God. Paul illustrates the allegory by quoting Isaiah 54:1, a song of triumph looking for deliverance from a foreign yoke.REJO... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WE (ημεις δε). Some MSS. have υμεις δε (now ye). In either case Paul means that Christians (Jews and Gentiles) are children of the promise as Isaac was (κατα Ισαακ, after the manner of Isaac).... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSECUTED (εδιωκεν). Imperfect active of διωκω, to pursue, to persecute. Genesis 21:9 has in Hebrew "laughing," but the LXX has "mocking." The Jewish tradition represents Ishmael as shooting arrows at Isaac.SO NOW (ουτος κα νυν) the Jews were persecuting Paul and all Christians (1 Thessalonian... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST OUT (εκβαλε). Second aorist active imperative of εκβαλλω. Quotation from Genesis 21:10 (Sarah to Abraham) and confirmed in Galatians 21:12 by God's command to Abraham. Paul gives allegorical warning thus to the persecuting Jews and Judaizers.SHALL NOT INHERIT (ου μη κληρονομησε). Strong ne... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT OF THE FREEWOMAN (αλλα της ελευθερας). We are children of Abraham by faith (Galatians 3:7).... [ Continue Reading ]