Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 4:1

"But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;" — Galatians 4:1 (ASV)

Now I say.—This phrase introduces a further and fuller explanation of what is involved in the state of minority, as compared with that of adult freedom.

A child—that is, an infant, a minor; though the term is not technically chosen.

Differeth nothing from a servant.—Both the child and the slave were incapable of any valid act in a legal sense; the guardian was as entirely the representative of the one as the master of the other. Both the child and the slave were subject to the same restraint, discipline, correction.

Though he be lord of all.—Strictly speaking, the inference from this would be that the father was dead.

This, however, is a point that does not really enter into the Apostle’s thoughts. The illustration does not hold good in all particulars, but in the chief particulars—namely, the state of constraint and subordination in which the minor is placed as long as he is a minor.

On verses 1-7:

A further description, continued from the last chapter, concerns the state of guardianship, with its restraints and servitude, as compared with Christian freedom—the freedom of sons.

The Galatians had been admitted to this freedom through their adoption into the Messianic family by their commitment to Christ.

It may be observed that the allusions to the condition of minors are not in strict accordance with either Jewish or Roman law. It has been suggested that they have reference to a special code prevailing in Galatia. It is, however, far more probable that the Apostle is referring exclusively to neither, but has in his mind a sort of abstraction of the law of minority, such as would present itself to one who had not himself had a legal education.