Friday, May 24, 2013

In Bondage Under the Elements Galatians 4:3 - Equipped for Battle

Paul the apostle has been employing the example of an immature heir to demonstrate the timing for the law of God and the promise of God. Since the church members in Galatia have been infiltrated by Judaizers who were promoting the keeping of the law of God in addition to having faith in God, Paul felt it necessary to be sure the Galatians knew the relationship between them both. In our previous verse Paul explained how an heir was under tutors and governors until maturity was accomplished, and today in chapter four and verse three he likens us to the heirs in training. He said,

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

Just as the heir is under tutors, Paul begins, “Even so we, when we were children,...”. First let us see how Paul identifies himself along with the group of believers in Galatia. He doesn't elevate himself as being superior, but recognizes his own state being common to theirs. All of them were “children” or young at one time, and there were rules that were necessary to follow. Heirs and children must follow guidelines to keep alive and function in immaturity.

Paul goes on to say, “were in bondage under the elements of the world:” When the law was given by Moses, there were many rules, regulations, and rituals that needed to be observed by the people of God. Often there was no reason given for keeping these rules, it was simply understood that all should obey them. There was a “bondage” under the law of God. Paul notes that we were under that “bondage” as we were under the “elements of the world” or the law. The law of God served its purpose in leading us to the knowledge of our own propensity to break it, and it kept society from totally obliterating itself.

In other words, there was an appropriate time for the law to be in place. The law of God is not forsaken, but it rather functioned in the timing of God while we were as children. Paul's idea is to allow the Galatian church members to know the significance of the law of God and the timing of it. There is more to add to his words, but we shall have to wait until our next verse to gain more clarity from Paul's thoughts.

Next time we will look at God's timing for sending His Son, so read ahead, and let us join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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