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both of a vain deceitful philosophy and of ordinances cancelled by the cross of Christ.
Both Galatians and Colossians, though led in different paths, came near the same thing in
the end.
To the Galatians Paul wrote:
"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have
bestowed upon you labour in vain" (Gal. 4: 10, 11).
To the Colossians Paul wrote:
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of
the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the
body is of Christ" (Col. 2: 16, 17).
The parallel between Galatians and Hebrews is found in the reference to the state of
children as contrasted with that of adults:
"For every one that useth milk . . . . . is a babe, but strong meat belongeth to them that
are of full age" (Heb. 5: 13, 14).
When we compare the contexts of stoicheion and stoicheo within the epistle to the
Galatians itself we have the "weak and beggarly elements" of the law which pertain to
childhood and bondage, contrasted with the walk that is beyond the touch of law, a walk
that is in line with the new creation; and it was to wean from the one and lead to the
other that the Apostle spent himself in writing this moving epistle. The "time appointed
by the father" finds its equivalent in the "fullness of time" when Christ came into the
world.
It is evident that if there is a plan and a purpose in the Bible, some control of time is
essential if that plan and purpose is to be attained. It is made very clear in Scripture that
there is a time and season "to every purpose under heaven". This purpose is called "The
purpose of the ages" (Eph. 3: 11 lit.). When the Saviour commenced His ministry he did
so with the announcement "the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1: 15).
It was the "fullness" of time also in the sense that the necessary preparatory period
was finished. Nations had been permitted to grope in darkness and these times are called
"the times of this ignorance" (Acts 17: 30). Many different forms of government had
been weighed in the balances and found wanting. Israel too had passed through the fire,
and it had been proved to a demonstration that, however closely hedged about a people
may be, however just the laws, no man can by his own works provide a righteousness that
would be accepted with God. Jewish religion, Greek wisdom, Roman power all stood
self confessed failures. The time had come for the Redeemer to be born.
"Made of a woman, made under the law" (Gal. 4: 4).
Ek gunaikos, genomenon hupo nomon.