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Galatians 4:1

in Galatians 4

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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

KJV

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

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This verse in Galatians 4

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Galatians · Written before 420.

(Chapter IV - 1, 2) However, I say that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the Lord of all, but he is under guardians and managers until the appointed time by the father. This little heir, who is no different from a slave even though he is the Lord of all, is under guardians and managers until the appointed time by the father, represents the whole human race until the coming of Christ, and, to say more, until the end of the world.

This site's exposition

differeth nothing from a servant

on Galatians 4:1-3

Paul extends the schoolmaster figure of 3:24-25 with a household picture: an heir as a child differs nothing in practice from a servant, though he owns everything by right, because he still answers to tutors and governors until the father's appointed time. Stoicheia, the elements of the world, is read two ways among the commentators, either the rudimentary religious observances common to Jew and Gentile alike or, per the unseen-world reading, the elemental spiritual powers Paul names again in Colossians 2:8 and 2:20; both candidates are held without a verdict here.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

Clement of Alexandria

The Stromata Book 1 · Written before 215.

proposed

"Since, when we were children," says the same apostle, "we were kept in bondage under the rudiments of the world. And the child, though heir, differeth nothing from a servant, till the time appointed of the father." Philosophers, then, are children, unless they have been made men by Christ. "For if the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free," at least he is the seed of Abraham, though not of promise, receiving what belongs to him by free gift.

A commentator

Jerome

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 2.4.1-2 · Written before 420.

proposed

The infant heir … signifies the whole human race up to the advent of Christ, and, to speak more largely, right up to the end of the world. For, just as all die in Adam the first man, though they are not yet born, so all those who were born before Christ's advent are now made alive in the second Adam. And so it is that we served the law in the fathers and are saved by grace in the sons. This understanding fits the catholic church, which asserts a single providence in the Old and New Testaments and does not distinguish in time those whom it makes equal in condition.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Galatians · Written before 550.

proposed

For what reason? Because it was decided by the father that he should manage nothing until the lawful age. And he rightly produced the example of the infant. For just as that child, though master of all things, is prevented by his infancy from exercising …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Galatians 4 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

The word "child" in this place denotes not age but understanding; meaning that God had from the beginning designed for us these gifts, but, as we yet continued childish, He let us be under the elements of the world, that is, new moons and sabbaths, for these days are regulated by the course of sun and moon. If then also now they bring you under law they do nothing else but lead you backward now in the time of your perfect age and maturity. And see what is the consequence of observing days; the Lord, the Master of the house, the Sovereign Ruler, is thereby reduced to the rank of a servant.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Galatians · Written before 1274.

proposed

After pointing out the shortcoming of the Law, the Apostle then shows here the dignity of grace. First, with a human example; secondly, with an example from Scripture (v. 21). Regarding the first he does three things: First, he shows the pre-eminence of grace over …
5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

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.
Now I say,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

It is not, as in earthly inheritances, the death of the father, but our Father's sovereign will simply that makes us heirs. child--Greek, "one under age." differeth nothing, &c.--that is, has no more freedom than a slave (so the Greek for "servant" means).

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

The heir, as long as He is a child - Though he be appointed by his father’s will heir of all his possessions yet till he arrive at the legal age he is master of nothing, and does not differ from one of the common domestics.
Now I say - He had before said Gal 3:24-25 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 who was a minor. That the heir - Any heir to an estate, or one who has a prospect of an inheritance.

The words behind it

15 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

8 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Corinthians 13:11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.26 worksGalatians 4:29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.3 worksGalatians 4:23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.3 worksGenesis 24:2–3So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,1 worksHebrews 9:26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.1 works2 Kings 11:12Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”0 works
The other 2 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Kings 12:2And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.-1 works2 Kings 10:1–2Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying:-1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Galatians 4:29

    At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 21:9

      But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,

    • Romans 8:13

      For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

    • Galatians 5:11

      Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

  • Through

    Galatians 4:23

    His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 11:11

      By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

    • Romans 9:7–8

      Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

    • Genesis 21:1–2

      Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised.

  • Through

    2 Kings 11:12

    Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live…

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 10:24

      Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

    • Exodus 25:16

      And place inside the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.

Where this verse is studied

About Galatians

The Crucifixion, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Crucifixion, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Galatians: the study guide →Read Galatians 4 →
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 1; J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians; Jerome, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 2.4.1-2; John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 4; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Galatians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Galatians.

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