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Summarized Bible Commentary

Galatians 4:1-31

Contents: Believers full redemption from the law. Sonship through the Spirit. Dangers of lapsing into legality. Impossibility of mixing law and grace.

Characters: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Abraham, Hagar, Isaac.

Conclusion: Law and grace are an impossible mixture, for salvation is wholly by faith in Christ and our sonship is immediately testified to in the heart by the incoming of the Holy Spirit, upon the basis of Christ's finished work as the full satisfaction of the law. Let us not, therefore, fall again in bondage to the legality of the law, which is merely an element of salvation to reveal to us the inveterate sinfulness of our nature and the impossibility of saving ourselves.

Key Word: Bondage and grace, Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:5.

Strong Verses: Galatians 4:4; Galatians 4:5; Galatians 4:6.

Striking Facts: Galatians 4:4. Jesus, who was truly God, for our sakes became man. He Who was Lord of all took upon Himself the state of subjection and the form of a servant. The one end of all this was to redeem those under the law. He, the perfect One, took what we deserve, that we, the sinners, might get what He deserved.

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See also Galatians 4:1-31 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER IV. _The apostle shows that, as an heir in nonage is under tutors_ _and guardians, so were the Galatians while under the law; and,_ _as the heir when he comes of age is no longer under guar...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    NOW I SAY - He had before said Galatians 3:24 that while they were under the Law they were in a state of minority. This sentiment he proceeds further to illustrate by showing the true condition of one...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Under the law in the state of minority. (Galatians 4:1)_ 2. The Son revealed to redeem. (Galatians 4:4) 3. Because ye are Sons; the Spirit of Sonship. (Galatians 4:6) 4. The backslid

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    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 str...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    This is what I mean--so long as the heir is an infant there is no difference between him and a slave, although he is owner of everything, but he is under the control of stewards and overseers until th...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE DAYS OF CHILDHOOD (Galatians 4:1-7)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    AS LONG. for (Greek. _epi_. App-104.) such time. child. Greek. _nepios_. App-108. NOTHING. Greek. _oudeis_. SERVANT. Greek. _doulos_. App-190. LORD. owner. Greek. _kurios_. App-98....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The word -heirs" at the end of the preceding chapter suggests another illustration. In human affairs the condition of a minor is antecedent to the enjoyment of the liberty and the civil rights which a...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    23–4:7. _The contrast between our former state of pupillage under the Law, and our present state in Christ, full sonship_ This is brought out under two aspects: I. Galatians 3:23-29. The preparative c...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΛΈΓΩ ΔῈ. Elsewhere in St Paul’s writings only in Galatians 5:16, where, as here, it introduces a sharp contrast; here to heirship (Galatians 3:29) and what it seems to imply; there to a wrong means of...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΛΈΓΩ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΛΈΓΩ (G3004) говорить, рассказывать; "я имею в виду, что". Павел начинает объяснять свое выоказывание о наследниках (Guthrie), έφ ΌΣΟΝ ΧΡΌΝΟΝ (G1909; G3745; G5550) доколе, п...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    NOW I SAY, THAT THE HEIR, &C.— The Apostle goes on farther to prove, that the law was not against the promise, in that the child is not disinherited by being under tutors: But his chief design is, to...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    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...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    _ VERSE 1. NOW I SAY, THAT THE HEIR, AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD, DIFFERETH NOTHING FROM A SERVANT, THOUGH HE BE LORD OF ALL;_...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; NOW I SAY - a phrase introducing a continued explanatory argument (Ellicott). God's s...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 The place of an infant heir differs from that of a slave in right but not in fact. Though entitled to all, he is treated as though master of nothing. He is watched by guardians, and supervised by st...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE HEIR] is, of course, a son, as Galatians 4:2 shows. A CHILD] i.e. under age; a minor. DIFFERETH NOTHING] as respects the control of his destined possessions, though, in prospect, lord of all....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW. FREEDOM IN CHRIST 1-7. Under the Law we were in bondage; under the Gospel we have received the freedom of sons. PARAPHRASE. '(1) The heir before he comes of age can no more en...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Each society has a time for a young boy to become a man. In Paul’s days, it was a very important event. As soon as a boy became a man, he had full legal rights. Until that time, other people had to ma...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE GALATIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 4 YOU ARE GOD’S SONS, YOU ARE NOT SLAVES V1 I will continue what I was saying to you. A young son will receive the property that his fath...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (1-7) A further description, continued from the last chapter, of the state of wardship, with its restraints and servitude, compared with that Christian freedom — the freedom of sons — to which the Gal...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    NOW I SAY. — This phrase introduces a further and fuller explanation of what is involved in the state of nonage, as compared with that of adult freedom. A CHILD — _i.e.,_ an infant, a minor; though t...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 16 THE HEIR'S COMING OF AGE. Galatians 4:1 THE main thesis of the Epistle is now established. Gentile Christians, Paul has shown, are in the true Abrahamic succession of faith. And this devo...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    THERE WERE IN THE GENTILE WORLD ALSO BEFORE CHRIST CHILDREN OF GOD IN BONDAGE TO HUMAN RULE, THAT KNEW NOT THE UNSEEN FATHER IN HEAVEN WHO WAS ORDERING THEIR LIVES. THEY WERE LIKE ORPHAN CHILDREN, WHO...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    LIVE AS SONS, NOT AS BONDMEN Galatians 4:1 The Apostle often uses the word _elements_ or “rudiments,” Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:9;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    He now declared the process of freedom. "God sent forth His Son... under the law." Thus the law He kept was justified, and He lived thereby. But more than this, He bore its penalty, and so procured ju...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Now (1) I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; (1) He declares by another twofold similitude, that which he said before concernin...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    By the child, in this place, the apostles understands all the Jewish people, who, as long as they were under the childhood of the law, were subject to numerous restrictions, although they were the fav...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The Apostle here represents the Church as in a State of Childhood, While under the Law: and as having attained Manhood, in Christ. Grace, and Nature, illustrated by an Allegory....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) В¶ Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; (2) But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. (3)...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Galatians 1:1-24. We saw the second of Corinthians characterized by the most rapid transitions of feeling, by a deep and fervent sense of God's consolations, by a revulsion so much the more powerful i...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._Now I say_. Whoever made the division into chapters has improperly separated this paragraph from the preceding, as it is nothing else than the concluding section, ( ἐπεξεργασία,) in which Paul expl...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The relative position therefore of the Jew (even though he were godly) before the coming of Christ, and of the believing Jew or Gentile when Christ had been revealed, is clearly set forth; and in the...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    NOW I SAY,.... To illustrate what he had said of the law's being a schoolmaster to the Jews until the coming of Christ, and then ceasing as such, he proposes the case of an heir during his minority, t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Now I say, _That_ the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; Ver. 1. _Differeth nothing from a servant_] In allusion whereunto there is written up...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The apostle, having established the consolatory doctrine that believers, in every age and country of the world, are heirs of the promises made to Abraham and to his seed, goes on in this chapter to an...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    In carrying out his argument against Judaism, the apostle compares the covenant people, before the coming of Christ, to an heir under age kept in a state of servitude. DIFFERETH NOTHING; as to the co...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE SONSHIP OF THE BELIEVERS OPPOSED TO THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW. The believers sons and heirs through Christ:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    NOW I SAY, THAT THE HEIR, AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD, DIFFERS NOTHING FROM A SERVANT, THOUGH HE BE LORD OF ALL,...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    HOW CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED AS SONS (vs.1-7) The first few verses of chapter 4 give us the distinctive Christian position in more detail. This position is the result of promise accomplished, as contrast...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    NOW I SAY _THAT_ THE HEIR, AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD, DOES NOT DIFFER AT ALL FROM A SLAVE, THOUGH HE IS MASTER OF ALL, We do not enter God's family by adoption. We enter by being born again. Adoption...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-7 The apostle deals plainly with those who urged the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, and endeavoured to bring believers under its bondage. They could not fully understand the meani...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    GALATIANS CHAPTER 4 GALATIANS 4:1 The Jews were for a while held under the law, as an heir under his guardian till he be of age. GALATIANS 4:4 But Christ came to redeem those that were under the law,...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book I "[73] Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book I And the child, though heir, differeth nothing from a servant, till the time appointed of the father."[135] Or...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Galatians 4:1 Now G1161 say G3004 (G5719) heir G2818 as G1909 G3745 G5550 is G2076 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But I say that as long as the heir is a child he does not differ in any way from a bondservant, even though he may be lord of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the term appointed by the...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    IF WE ARE HIS WE ARE NOW ALL FULL SONS OF GOD (GALATIANS 4:1). Now he comes to the very heart of the matter, and that is that in Jesus Christ, all who are His now become full grown, adult, children o...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The State of Adoption contrasted with the State of Slavery under the Law_. The Apostle proceeds to give a fuller exposition of the divine sonship and heirship, ch. Galatians 3:29, and shows that the...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Galatians 4:1. BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IF THIS, THAT TO LONG AS THE HEIR IS AN INFANT (A MINOR), HE DIFFERETH NOTHING FROM A SLAVE, THOUGH HE IS LORD OF ALL, owner of the whole patrimony or inheritance b...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    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). Illustr...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 4:1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father....

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Galatians 4:1. _The heir, as long as he is a child,_ and a minor, _differeth_ _nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all._ He is under guardians, till the year appointed by the will of his fath...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THE SON. Since God intended all along to put men right with himself through faith in Christ, two questions arise: (1) Why didn't Christ come immediately when our first parents sinned? (2) Why did God...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Now this I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant._ READING LIFE There is nothing final in the character of this world. But all betrays infancy. Everything is...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 4:1 When a son is too young to receive his inheritance, he has no more status than a SLAVE. (On Roman slaves, or bondservants, see note on 1 Cor. 7:21.) This was the situat...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He continues the argument of the preceding chapter that the Jews, like children and slaves, were under the Jewish law as a pædagague, while Christians, as sons o...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Galatians 4:1. THE HEIR, AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD.—An infant, one under age. DIFFERETH NOTHING FROM A SERVANT.—A slave. He is not at his own disposal. He could not pe...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GALATIANS 4:1 NOW I SAY (λέγω δέ). A form of expression usual with the apostle when introducing a new statement designed either to explain or elucidate something before said (of. Galati...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now I say, That an heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father (Galatians 4:1-2...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Kings 10:1; 2 Kings 10:2; 2 Kings 11:12; 2 Kings 12:2; Galatians 4:

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Now I say [λ ε γ ω δ ε]. Introducing a continued, explanatory discussion. Comp. chapter Galatians 3:17; Galatians 5:16; 1 Corinthians 1:12. The heir [ο κ λ η ρ ο ν ο μ ο ς]. See on inheritance,...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE CROSS AND ITS OBJECTIVES Galatians 3:10; Galatians 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The Cross must ever stand forth in the limelight of Bible and spiritual study. Apart from Christ's Calvary work we have...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    TURNING UNTO LAW-WORKS Galatians 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. It is passing strange that, after we have come to know salvation by grace, we could turn back to the beggarly elements of salvation by law...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Now — To illustrate by a plain similitude the preeminence of the Christian, over the legal, dispensation. The heir, as long as he is a child — As he is under age. Differeth nothing from a servant — No...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    The apostle, in these words, compares the church of God, under the Old Testament, to an infant or child in its minority and nonage; partly with respect to their weakness in understanding, and want of...

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