Galatians 4:2 kjv
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Galatians 4:2 nkjv
but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
Galatians 4:2 niv
The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
Galatians 4:2 esv
but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
Galatians 4:2 nlt
They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.
Galatians 4 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 4:1 | What I mean is that as long as the heir is under age... | Pauline principle |
| Romans 8:17 | Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God... | Heirship and sonship |
| 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 | So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown... | Resurrection and inheritance |
| Ephesians 1:11 | In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the... | Predestination and inheritance |
| Colossians 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the... | Working as unto the Lord |
| John 1:12 | Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he... | Adoption and sonship |
| Hebrews 1:1-2 | In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many... | God's past and present communication |
| Galatians 3:29 | If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs... | Abrahamic covenant |
| Romans 9:8 | This means that it is not the children born of flesh and blood who are... | Spiritual vs. physical birth |
| 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 | Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as spiritual but as... | Immaturity in faith |
| Ephesians 5:6 | Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things... | Deception and spiritual maturity |
| Matthew 18:1-4 | At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the... | Childlike faith |
| Luke 18:16-17 | But Jesus called for them, saying, “Let the little children come to me... | Welcoming children |
| Galatians 3:24 | So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be... | Law as tutor |
| Galatians 4:3 | So also when we were children, we were enslaved under the elemental... | Past state of bondage |
| Galatians 5:18 | But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. | Freedom from law |
| Romans 8:14 | For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. | Sons of God led by Spirit |
| 1 John 3:2 | Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not... | Future hope of children |
| Philippians 3:14 | I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me... | Pressing toward the goal |
| 2 Corinthians 12:19 | Have you been saying these things for a long time? Or do you think... | Apostles' defense |
Galatians 4 verses
Galatians 4 2 Meaning
The heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, even though he is the owner of everything.
Galatians 4 2 Context
In Galatians chapter 4, Paul is addressing the Galatian churches who were being influenced by teachers promoting the necessity of adhering to Jewish law for salvation. Paul uses the analogy of an heir and a slave under guardianship to explain the difference between being under the Law and being under grace through faith in Christ. This verse emphasizes that the legal heir, despite being the ultimate owner of an inheritance, is treated as a slave during their minority, subject to guardians and overseers until the appointed time. This serves to illustrate that believers, even though they are spiritually heirs to God's promises, are in a state of immaturity and subjection to worldly "elemental spirits" and the Law, prior to fully understanding and experiencing their freedom in Christ.
Galatians 4 2 Word analysis
- ōs (hos): As; like; in the same way.
- de (de): But; and; moreover. (connects this verse to the previous one)
- kleronomos (klēronomos): heir; one who receives an inheritance by lot. (From klēros - lot, and nomos - law or custom of distribution, indicating rightful entitlement).
- peptōkou (peptōkou): of the heir. (Genitive case, indicating possession or relationship).
- econ (echōn): being; having. (Present participle, describing a continuous state).
- ēlikias (hēlikias): of age; maturity; full age. (Genitive case, relating to the state of the heir).
- diaferei (diaferei): is different; differs; surpasses. (Third person singular present indicative of diaferō, to carry through, to differ, to be distinguished from).
- katadoulos (katadoulos): a slave under the power of another; enslaved; subordinate. (Present participle of kat-doulō, to enslave utterly; emphatic form of doulō).
- ontos (ontos): being; existing. (Present participle of eimi, to be; states a fact of their current condition).
- ou (ou): not.
- diaphōnou (diaphōnū): differing; of a different nature. (Genitive participle, modifying contos, their differing quality from the slave status).
- esti (esti): is.
- kyrios (kurios): lord; master; owner. (Nominative singular masculine, referring to the heir's ultimate status).
- pantōn (pantōn): of all things. (Genitive plural masculine/neuter, indicating the totality of the possessions).
Group analysis:The phrase "heir, as long as he is a minor" ([Greek: ō_s de klēronomos pep-tōkou ōn ēl-ikias]) emphasizes that the legal status of heirship does not equate to the actual enjoyment or exercise of rights during minority. The "heir" (klēronomos) possesses inherent entitlement, but this entitlement is effectively dormant or unexercised due to his immaturity (mē ōn hēlikias).The contrast is stark: "he is no different from a slave" (ou diaferei d-e katadoulos on). The Greek highlights that his current condition (contos) is that of a slave, notwithstanding his future ownership ("lord of all things" - kyrios pantōn). This status of "no different from a slave" underscores the restrictions and controls imposed on the minor heir, mirroring the bondage under elementary principles the Galatians were experiencing.
Galatians 4 2 Bonus section
This analogy resonates with Roman legal customs where a father’s property could be managed by a guardian (tutela) for his son until he reached adulthood. The minor heir, though the legal owner, had no control over the estate and was subject to the guardian's authority and the household slaves' rules. Paul draws upon this familiar cultural context to highlight the Galatians' current subservience to the Law and ritualistic observances, portraying them as spiritual minors being governed by external regulations rather than living in the freedom of adopted sons. This situation is temporary until they mature into the full experience of their inheritance as children of God, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 4 2 Commentary
Paul illustrates the believer's spiritual state before attaining full maturity in Christ. Just as a child heir, despite future ownership, lives under guardianship, so too believers under the "elements of the world" are subjected to oversight, much like a slave. Their current condition is not reflective of their ultimate freedom and inheritance. This bondage, though legal in its sense of restriction, does not negate their future status as lords and inheritors of God's kingdom. The point is that this period of immaturity and legal subjection is temporary, a preparation for the fullness of their sonship in Christ.