Galatians 3:23-4:7
1599 Geneva Bible
23 [a]But before faith came, we were kept under the Law, as under a garrison, and shut up unto [b]that faith, which should afterward be revealed.
24 Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be made righteous by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 [c]For ye are all the sons of God by faith, in Christ Jesus.
27 [d]For all ye that are [e]baptized into Christ, have [f]put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Grecian: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female: for ye are all [g]one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs by promise.
4 1 Being delivered from the bondage of the Law, 4 by Christ’s coming, who is the end thereof, 9 it is very absurd to slide back to beggarly ceremonies: 13 He calleth them again therefore to the purity of the doctrine of the Gospel, 21 confirming his discourse with a fine allegory.
1 Then [h]I say, that the heir as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be Lord of all,
2 But is under tutors and governors, [i]until the time appointed of the Father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the [j]rudiments of the world.
4 [k]But when the [l]fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a [m]woman, and made under the Law,
5 That he might redeem them which were under the Law, that we (A)might receive the [n]adoption of the sons.
6 [o]And because ye are sons, God hath [p]sent forth the [q]Spirit of his Son into your hearts, which crieth, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore, thou art no more a [r]servant, but a son: now if thou be a son, thou art also the [s]heir of God through Christ.
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:23 Now there followeth another handling of the second part of this Epistle: the state whereof is this: Although the Law (that is, the whole government of God’s house according to the Law) [does] not justify, is it therefore to be abolished, seeing that Abraham himself was circumcised, and his posterity held still the use of Moses’ Law? Paul affirmeth that it ought to be abolished, because it was instituted for that end and purpose, that is should be as it were a schoolmaster and keeper to the people of God, until the promise appeared in deed, that is to say, Christ, and the Gospel manifestly published with great efficacy of the Spirit.
- Galatians 3:23 The cause why we were kept under the Law, is set down here.
- Galatians 3:26 Because age changeth not the condition of servants, he addeth that we are free by condition, and therefore, seeing we are out of our childhood, we have no more need of a keeper and Schoolmaster.
- Galatians 3:27 Using a general particle, lest the Jews at the least should not think themselves bound with the band of the Law, he pronounceth that Baptism is common to all believers, because it is a pledge of our delivery in Christ, as well to the Jews as to the Grecians, that by this means all may be truly one in Christ, that is to say, that promised seed to Abraham and inheritors of everlasting life.
- Galatians 3:27 He setteth Baptism secretly against circumcision, which the false apostles so much bragged of.
- Galatians 3:27 The Church must put on Christ, as it were a garment, and be covered with him, that it may be thoroughly holy, and without blame.
- Galatians 3:28 You are all as one: and so in this great knot and conjunction signified.
- Galatians 4:1 He declareth that by another double similitude, which he said before concerning the keeper and schoolmaster. For he saith, that the Law, (that is, the whole government of God’s house according to the Law) was as it were a tutor or overseer appointed for a time, until such time as that protection and overseeing which was but for a time, being ended, we should at length come to be at our own liberty, and should live as children, and not as servants. Moreover, he showeth by the way, that that governance of the Law, was as it were an ABC, and as certain principles in comparison of the doctrine of the Gospel.
- Galatians 4:2 This is added, because he that is always under a tutor or governor, may hardly be counted a freeman.
- Galatians 4:3 The Law is called rudiments, because that by the Law God instructed his Church as it were by rudiments, and afterward poured out his holy Spirit most plentifully in the time of the Gospel.
- Galatians 4:4 He uttereth and declareth many things at once, to wit, that this tutorship was ended at his time, that curious men may leave to ask, why that schoolmastership lasted so long. And moreover, that we are not sons by nature, but by adoption, and that in that Son of God, who therefore took upon him our flesh, that we might be made his brethren.
- Galatians 4:4 The time is said to be full, when all parts of it are past and ended, and therefore Christ could not have come either sooner or later.
- Galatians 4:4 He calleth Mary a woman, in respect of the sex, and not as the word is used in a contrary sense to a virgin still.
- Galatians 4:5 The adoption of the sons of God, is from everlasting, but is revealed and showed in the time appointed for it.
- Galatians 4:6 He showeth that we are in such sort free and set at liberty, that in the mean season we must be governed by the Spirit of Christ, which reigning in our hearts, may teach us the true service of the Father. But this is not to serve, but rather to enjoy true liberality, as it cometh sons and heirs.
- Galatians 4:6 By that that followeth he gathereth that that went before: for if we have his spirit, we are his sons, and if we are his sons, then are we free.
- Galatians 4:6 The holy Ghost, who is both of the Father and of the Son: but there is a peculiar reason why he is called the Spirit of the Son, to wit, because the holy Ghost sealeth up our adoption in Christ, and maketh us a full assurance of it.
- Galatians 4:7 The word, servant, is not taken here for one that liveth in sin, which is proper to the infidels, but for one that is yet under the ceremonies of the Law, which is proper to the Jews.
- Galatians 4:7 Partaker of this blessing.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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