Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 4:2

"but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father." — Galatians 4:2 (ASV)

Under tutors and governors.—The distinction between these two terms is that between guardians of the person and stewards of the property. It would be better to translate, guardians and stewards.

Until the time appointed of the father.—From this it would appear that the length of the minority was determined by the father. This, however, was not the case in either Greek or Roman law; and the suggestion that the father may have had larger powers in Galatia than elsewhere, though supported by some remote indications, seems to be one of those subtleties in which learning sometimes overreaches itself, as it is unlikely that the Apostle's short sojourn in Galatia would have been enough to familiarize him with the technicalities of the Galatian code. It is more probable that the application of the analogy has, in this instance, served to modify the statement of the analogy itself. The minority of the human race is fixed by the heavenly Father, though the earthly father, in making provisions for his children, has to conform to a law other than his own will.