Now I say, that the heir, &c.— The Apostle goes on farther to prove, that the law was not against the promise, in that the child is not disinherited by being under tutors: But his chief design is, to shew that, though both Jews and Gentiles were intended to be the children of God, and heirs of the promise by faith in Christ,yet they both of them were left in bondage, till Christ, in due time, came to redeem them both; and therefore it was folly in the Galatians, being redeemed from one bondage, to go backwards, and put themselves again into a state of bondage, though under a new master.
The word Δουλος signifies properly, and should be rendered, bondman, or bond-servant; and unless it be so translated, Galatians 4:1; Galatians 4:7-8 bondage in Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:9 will scarcely be understood by an English reader; but St. Paul's sense will be lost to a person who, by servant, understands not one in a state of bondage. Bengelius thinks, that this should connect with what precedes, and not begin a new chapter:—what I mean is, that as long as, &c.