 |  |
section 3: 24 - 4: 7 as a whole we observe that the figure employed to enforce the next
phase of truth is that of a minor under tutelage who finally enters into the status of a son
and heir, and consequently becomes free from the discipline that belongs to childhood.
The following structure sets this balance of teaching before the eye.
Galatians 3: 24 - 4: 7
A | 3: 24, 25. The Schoolmaster. Hupo "under" |
a | The law was our schoolmaster.
b | Unto Christ.
b | After faith has come.
a | No longer under a schoolmaster.
B | 3: 26-28. Ye are all children. |
c | Ye are children of God.
d | Baptized into Christ.
d | Put on Christ.
c | Ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
C | 3: 29. "IF" ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and
"heirs" according to the promise.
A | 4: 1-5. Tutors, Governors, Elements. Hupo "under" |
a | The child.
\
b | The Servant.
\
The
c | The Tutors and Governors.
/
Figure.
d | Time appointed of the father. /
a | When we were children.
\
b | The servitude.
\
The
c | The elements of the world.
/
application.
d | Fullness of time; God sent.
/
B | 4: 6. Ye are sons. |
e | Ye are sons.
f | Spirit of His Son.
g | Abba Father.
e1 | No more servant but son.
f | Spirit of His Son.
g | Abba Father.
e1 | No more servant but son.
C | 4: 7. "IF" a son then
an "heir" of God through Christ.
The fact that Gal. 3: 24 opens with the word "wherefore" indicates the connexion
between the statement of verse twenty-three and the section now before us. The
"schoolmaster unto Christ" is an expansion of the condition "shut up into the faith", but
on the surface there does not seem much connection between the office of a schoolmaster
and the action of shutting any one up. Upon examination however we discover that the
word thus translated, paidagogos "pedagogue", means a guardian rather than a
schoolmaster.