Galatians 4:1-7 "Son or Slave" 2/4/2024

So, the heir is under a guardian until it is determined by his father that he is ready to become the heir…
And until that day…while he is under a guardian, he is no different than a slave.
With me so far?
Here is where further research, context, and an understanding of the culture of the people who are reading this letter in Galatia comes in handy.
As we have already discovered, a child is still a child from 8 to 17 years of age.
At the age of seventeen, the family would hold what was called a liberalia which was sort of a coming-of-age celebration.
It marked a son's graduation from childhood into adulthood and thereby made him eligible to take over his father's estate.
We learned last week in verse 3:23 that in ancient Rome and Greece, an educated slave was made the children's guardian.
And was trusted with making sure the children went to school and received an education.
The work of their guardian was to prepare them for maturity.
Once the child came of age, they no longer needed a guardian…for a son it was seventeen years of age.
But here is why Paul says that a child under a guardian is no different than a slave…
Because the guardian was over the child…they could order them around and discipline them…making them no different than a slave.
But when the son came of age…and the father was confident that he could handle the estate…he took over the estate as the heir.