Galatians 4:1 - Exposition

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. Galatians 3:17 ; Galatians 5:16 ; Romans 15:8 , according to the Received Text; 1 Corinthians 1:12 . So τοῦτο δέ φημι , 1 Corinthians 7:29 ; 1 Corinthians 15:50 ). It is intended apparently to quicken attention: "Now I wish to say this." In the present case the apostle designs to throw further light upon the position taken in Galatians 3:24 , that God's people, while under the Law, were under a bondage from which they have now been emancipated. Compare the somewhat similar process of illustration adopted in Romans 7:2-4 . In both passages it is not a logical demonstration that is put forward, but an illustratively analogous case in human experience. A metaphor, though not strictly an argument, yet frequently helps the reader to an intuitive perception of the justness of the position laid down. That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all ( ἐφ ὅσον χρόνονὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν οὐδὲν διαφέερει δόλου κύριος πάντων ὤν ); so long as the heir is a child , he differeth nothing from a bondservant , though he is lord of all. The article before κληρονόμος , heir, is the class article, as before μεσίτης , mediator ( Galatians 3:20 )—"an heir." In the word νήπιος the apostle evidently has in view one who as yet is in his nonage—as in English law phrase, "an infant." In Roman law language, infans is a child under seven, the period of minority reaching to twenty-five. In Attic Greek, the correlate to one registered amongst "men" was a παῖς . It does not appear that the apostle means to use a technical legal expression. He contrasts νήπιος with ἀνὴρ in 1 Corinthians 13:11 ; Ephesians 4:13 , Ephesians 4:14 . "Differeth nothing from a bond-servant;" i.e. is nothing better than a bond-servant, as Matthew 6:26 ; Matthew 10:31 ; Matthew 12:12 . The verb διαφέρειν seems used only in the sense of your differing from another to your advantage, so that τὰ διαφέροντα are things that are more excellent. "Lord," "proprietor;" the title to the property inheres in him, though he is not yet fit to handle it.