Galatians 4:3 Commentary, explanation, study verse by verse

“ Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elementsa of the world: ”

Galatians 4:3 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Even so we - We who were Jews - for so I think the word here is to be limited, and not extended to the pagan, as Bloomfield supposes. The reasons for limiting it are: That the pagans in no sen...
Galatians 4:3 - Arno Geneva Study Bible

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the (b) elements of the world: (b) The Law is called elements, because by the Law God instructed his Church as it were by elements, and after...
Galatians 4:3 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

An heir may be either one who is entering on his inheritance or one who is hereafter to enter on it. In a sense, the Christian inheritance is always future; heaven lies ahead. And the NT, with its st...
Galatians 4:3 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Even so we . So we also. in bondage . enslaved. Greek. douloo App-190. elements . elementary rules. Greek. stoicheion . Here, Galatians 4:9 ; Colossians 2:8 ; Colossians 2:20 ; Hebrews 5:...
Galatians 4:3 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

3. Under the elements of the world. Elements may either mean, literally, outward and bodily things, or, metaphorically, rudiments. I prefer the latter interpretation. But why does he say tha...
Galatians 4:3 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: Even so we - The whole Jewish people were in a state of nonage while under the law. The elements of the world - A...
Galatians 4:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Even so we,— It is plain that St. Paul speaks here in the name of the Jews or Jewish church, which, though God's peculiar people, yet was to pass a nonage,— so St. Paul calls it,—under the res...
Galatians 4:3 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; Now I say - a phrase introducing a continued explanatory argument (Ellicott). G...
Galatians 4:3 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

The Bondage of the Law. Freedom in Christ 1-7. Under the Law we were in bondage; under the Gospel we have received the freedom of sons. Paraphrase. '(1) The heir before he comes of age can no m...
Galatians 4:3 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

(1-7) A further description, continued from the last chapter, of the state of wardship, with its restraints and servitude, compared with that Christian freedom — the freedom of sons — to which the Ga...
Galatians 4:3 - Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

Chapter 16 THE HEIR'S COMING OF AGE. Galatians 4:1-7 THE main thesis of the Epistle is now established. Gentile Christians, Paul has shown, are in the true Abrahamic succession of faith. And t...
Galatians 4:3 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Live as Sons, not as Bondmen Galatians 4:1-11 The Apostle often uses the word elements or “rudiments,” Galatians 4:3 ; Galatians 4:9 ; Colossians 2:8 ; Colossians 2:20 . High and holy as...
Galatians 4:3 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

He now declared the process of freedom. "God sent forth His Son... under the law." Thus the law He kept was justified, and He lived thereby. But more than this, He bore its penalty, and so procured j...
Galatians 4:3 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

(1) В¶ Now 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 until the time appointed of the father. (3...
Galatians 4:3 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Even so we ,.... Jews, for of such the apostle is only speaking, and to whom he applies the above case of heirs in minority; it was to the Jews he had spoken of the law, as being a military guard, a...
Galatians 4:3 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: Ver. 3. When we were children ] Gr. νηπιοι, infants, babies, that must be pleased with rattles; so the old Chur...
Galatians 4:3 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The apostle, having established the consolatory doctrine that believers, in every age and country of the world, are heirs of the promises made to Abraham and to his seed, goes on in this chapter to a...
Galatians 4:3 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

HOW CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED AS SONS (vs.1-7) The first few verses of chapter 4 give us the distinctive Christian position in more detail. This position is the result of promise accomplished, as cont...
Galatians 4:3 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

The Redemption by Christ. A. D. 56. 1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, di...
Galatians 4:3 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Such children were all believers, the seed of Abraham; from the first designed to a gospel liberty, but that was not to be fully enjoyed, until the fulness of time should come when God intended to se...
Galatians 4:3 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

If We Are His We Are Now All Full Sons of God ( Galatians 4:1-7 ). Now he comes to the very heart of the matter, and that is that in Jesus Christ, all who are His now become full grown, adult, chi...
Galatians 4:3 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES Galatians 4:1 . The heir, as long as he is a child. —An infant, one under age. Differeth nothing from a servant. —A slave. He is not at his own disposal. He could...
Galatians 4:3 - Scofield Reference Notes

world Greek, "kosmos", means "mankind". ( See Scofield) - ( Matthew 4:8 ).
Galatians 4:3 - Sermon Bible Commentary

Galatians 4:3 I. Mankind has been in the position of a child, and successive generations have been slowly trained by God's fatherly care, as a preparation for that liberty wherewith Christ has mad...
Galatians 4:3 - Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible

Galatians 4:1-5 . Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the f...
Galatians 4:3 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Galatians 4:1 . The heir, as long as he is a child, and a minor, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all. He is under guardians, till the year appointed by the will of his f...
Galatians 4:3 - The Biblical Illustrator

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. The elements of this world The law was so called. I. In respect of the fuller and complete doctrine of the...
Galatians 4:3 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

EXPOSITION Galatians 4:1 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...
Galatians 4:3 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

The Sonship of the Believers Opposed to the Bondage of the Law. The believers sons and heirs through Christ:
Galatians 4:3 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 15:10 ; Colossians 2:20 ; Colossians 2:8 ; Galatians 3:19 ; Galatians 3:24 ; Galatians 3:25 ; Galatians 2:4 ; Galatians 3:23 ; Galatians 4:25 ; Galatians 4:31 ; Galatians 4:9 ; Galat...
Galatians 4:3 - Wells of Living Water Commentary

The Cross and Its Objectives Galatians 3:10-29 ; Galatians 4:1-6 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The Cross must ever stand forth in the limelight of Bible and spiritual study. Apart from Christ's Calvary...
Galatians 4:3 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

So we — The church of God. When we were children — In our minority, under the legal dispensation. Were in bondage — In a kind of servile state. Under the elements of the world — Under the typical o...

Galatians 4:3 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Arno Geneva Study Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Galatians 4:3 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

Galatians 4:3 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Galatians 4:3 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Galatians 4:3 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Galatians 4:3 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Galatians 4:3 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Galatians 4:3 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Galatians 4:3 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

Galatians 4:3 - Scofield Reference Notes

Galatians 4:3 - Sermon Bible Commentary

Galatians 4:3 - Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible

Galatians 4:3 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Galatians 4:3 - The Biblical Illustrator

Galatians 4:3 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

Galatians 4:3 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

Galatians 4:3 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Galatians 4:3 - Wells of Living Water Commentary

Galatians 4:3 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes