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Selected Verse: Galatians 4:2 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ga 4:2	Strong Concordance	But [235] is [2076] under [5259] tutors [2012] and [2532] governors [3623] until [891] the time appointed [4287] of the father [3962].
	King James	But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
tutors and governors--rather, "guardians (of the person) and stewards (of the property)." Answering to "the law was our schoolmaster" or "tutor" (Gal 3:24). until the time appointed of the father--in His eternal purposes (Eph 1:9-11). The Greek is a legal term, expressing a time defined by law, or testamentary disposition.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

tutors and governors--rather, "guardians (of the person) and stewards (of the property)." Answering to "the law was our schoolmaster" or "tutor" (Gal 3:24).

until the time appointed of the father--in His eternal purposes (Eph 1:9-11). The Greek is a legal term, expressing a time defined by law, or testamentary disposition.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
But is under - Is subject to their control and direction. Tutors - The word tutor with us properly means instructor. But this is not quite the sense of the original. The word (επίτροπος epitropos); properly means a steward, manager, agent; Mat 20:8; Luk 8:3. As used here, it refers to one - usually a slave or a freedman - to whose care the boys of a family were committed, who trained them up, accompanied them to school, or sometimes instructed them at home; compare the note at Gal 3:24. Such a one would have the control of them. And governors - This word (οἰκόνομος oikonomos) means a house-manager, an overseer, a steward. It properly refers to one who had authority over the slaves or servants of a family, to assign them their tasks and portions. They generally, also, had the management of the affairs of the household, and of the accounts. They were commonly slaves, who were entrusted with this office as a reward for fidelity; though sometimes free persons were employed; Luk 16:1, Luk 16:3,Luk 16:8. These persons had also charge of the sons of a family, probably in respect to their pecuniary matters, and thus differed from those called tutors. It is not necessary, however, to mark the difference in the words with great accuracy. The general meaning of the apostle is, that the heir was under government and restraint.Until the time appointed of the father - The time fixed for his entering on the inheritance. The time when he chose to give him his portion of the property. The law with us fixes the age at twenty-one when a son shall be at liberty to manage for himself. Other countries have affixed other times. But still, the time when the son shall inherit the father's property must be fixed by the father himself if he is living, or may be fixed by his will if he is deceased. The son cannot claim the property when he comes of age.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Tutors (ἐπιτρόπους) Better, guardians. See on Luk 8:3. Only here in Paul. A general term, covering all to whom supervision of the child is intrusted, and should not be limited to παιδαγωγός (Gal 3:24). See 2 Macc. 11:1; 13:2; 14:2. Governors (οἰκονόμους) Better stewards. Lat. dispensatores. More special than guardians, signifying those who had charge of the heir's property. See on Luk 16:1. In later Greek it was used in two special senses: 1. The slave whose duty it was to distribute the rations to the other slaves: so Luk 12:42. 2. The land-steward: so Luk 16:1. Comp. Rom 16:23, ὁ οἰκονόμος τῆς πόλεως, commonly rendered city-treasurer: A.V. chamberlain. In Lucian, Alex. 39, the Roman procurators, or fiscal administrators, are called Καίσαρος οἰκονόμοι; comp. 1 Esdr. 4:49; Est 8:9. The dispensator in the Roman household had charge of the accounts and made the payments (see Cicero, ad Att. xi. 1; Juv. Sat i. 91). He was commonly a slave. Christian teachers are called "stewards of the mysteries of God" and "of the grace of God" (Co1 4:1; Pe1 4:10), as those who have received the counsels of God and impart them to men. A bishop or overseer is also called "a steward of God" (Tit 1:7). The time appointed (προθεσμίας) N.T.o. olxx. In Athenian law the term limited for bringing actions and prosecutions. Προθεσμίας νόμος a statute of limitations. It was also applied to the time allowed a defendant for paying damages, after the expiration of which, if he had not paid, he was called ὑπερήμερος, or ἐκπρόθεσμος, or ὑπερπρόθεσμος one who had gone over his day of payment. Whether Paul's figure assumes that the father is dead or living is a point which does not affect his argument. It is not easy to decide. As Alford justly remarks: "the antitype breaks through the type and disturbs it, as is the case wherever the idea of inheritance is spiritualised." Προθεσμία an appointed time for the termination of the minority, would seem to imply that the father is conceived as living; since, if he were dead, that matter would be regulated by statute.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Tutors (ἐπιτρόπους)

Better, guardians. See on Luk 8:3. Only here in Paul. A general term, covering all to whom supervision of the child is intrusted, and should not be limited to παιδαγωγός (Gal 3:24). See 2 Macc. 11:1; 13:2; 14:2.

Governors (οἰκονόμους)

Better stewards. Lat. dispensatores. More special than guardians, signifying those who had charge of the heir's property. See on Luk 16:1. In later Greek it was used in two special senses: 1. The slave whose duty it was to distribute the rations to the other slaves: so Luk 12:42. 2. The land-steward: so Luk 16:1. Comp. Rom 16:23, ὁ οἰκονόμος τῆς πόλεως, commonly rendered city-treasurer: A.V. chamberlain. In Lucian, Alex. 39, the Roman procurators, or fiscal administrators, are called Καίσαρος οἰκονόμοι; comp. 1 Esdr. 4:49; Est 8:9. The dispensator in the Roman household had charge of the accounts and made the payments (see Cicero, ad Att. xi. 1; Juv. Sat i. 91). He was commonly a slave. Christian teachers are called "stewards of the mysteries of God" and "of the grace of God" (Co1 4:1; Pe1 4:10), as those who have received the counsels of God and impart them to men. A bishop or overseer is also called "a steward of God" (Tit 1:7).

The time appointed (προθεσμίας)

N.T.o. olxx. In Athenian law the term limited for bringing actions and prosecutions. Προθεσμίας νόμος a statute of limitations. It was also applied to the time allowed a defendant for paying damages, after the expiration of which, if he had not paid, he was called ὑπερήμερος, or ἐκπρόθεσμος, or ὑπερπρόθεσμος one who had gone over his day of payment. Whether Paul's figure assumes that the father is dead or living is a point which does not affect his argument. It is not easy to decide. As Alford justly remarks: "the antitype breaks through the type and disturbs it, as is the case wherever the idea of inheritance is spiritualised." Προθεσμία an appointed time for the termination of the minority, would seem to imply that the father is conceived as living; since, if he were dead, that matter would be regulated by statute.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
But is under tutors - As to his person. And stewards - As to his substance.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
But is under tutors - Επιτροπους· Guardians and governors; οικονομους· those who have the charge of the family. These words are nearly similar; but we may consider the first as executor, the last as the person who superintends the concerns of the family and estate till the heir become of age; such as we call trustee. Until the time appointed of the father - The time mentioned in the father's will or testament.

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⁹ Having made known [1107] unto us [2254] the mystery [3466] of his [846] will [2307], according to [2596] his [846] good pleasure [2107] which [3739] he hath purposed [4388] in [1722] himself [846]:
¹⁰ That in [1519] the dispensation [3622] of the fulness [4138] of times [2540] he might gather together in one [346] all things [3956] in [1722] Christ [5547], both [5037] which [3588] are in [1722] heaven [3772], and [2532] which [3588] are on [1909] earth [1093]; even in [1722] him [846]:
¹¹ In [1722] whom [3739] also [2532] we have obtained an inheritance [2820], being predestinated [4309] according to [2596] the purpose [4286] of him who worketh [1754] all things [3956] after [2596] the counsel [1012] of his own [846] will [2307]:

²⁴ Wherefore [5620] the law [3551] was [1096] our [2257] schoolmaster [3807] to bring us unto [1519] Christ [5547], that [2443] we might be justified [1344] by [1537] faith [4102].

⁸ And [2532] the lord [2962] commended [1867] the unjust [93] steward [3623], because [3754] he had done [4160] wisely [5430]: for [3754] the children [5207] of this [5127] world [165] are [1526] in [1519] their [1438] generation [1074] wiser [5429] than [5228] the children [5207] of light [5457].

³ Then [1161] the steward [3623] said [2036] within [1722] himself [1438], What [5101] shall I do [4160]? for [3754] my [3450] lord [2962] taketh away [851] from [575] me [1700] the stewardship [3622]: I cannot [3756] [2480] dig [4626]; to beg [1871] I am ashamed [153].

¹ And [1161] he said [3004] also [2532] unto [4314] his [846] disciples [3101], There was [2258] a certain [5100] rich [4145] man [444], which [3739] had [2192] a steward [3623]; and [2532] the same [3778] was accused [1225] unto him [846] that [5613] he had wasted [1287] his [846] goods [5224].

²⁴ Wherefore [5620] the law [3551] was [1096] our [2257] schoolmaster [3807] to bring us unto [1519] Christ [5547], that [2443] we might be justified [1344] by [1537] faith [4102].

³ And [2532] Joanna [2489] the wife [1135] of Chuza [5529] Herod's [2264] steward [2012], and [2532] Susanna [4677], and [2532] many [4183] others [2087], which [3748] ministered [1247] unto him [846] of [575] their [846] substance [5224].

⁸ So [1161] when even [3798] was come [1096], the lord [2962] of the vineyard [290] saith [3004] unto his [846] steward [2012], Call [2564] the labourers [2040], and [2532] give [591] them [846] their hire [3408], beginning [756] from [575] the last [2078] unto [2193] the first [4413].

⁷ For [1063] a bishop [1985] must [1163] be [1511] blameless [410], as [5613] the steward [3623] of God [2316]; not [3361] selfwilled [829], not [3361] soon angry [3711], not [3361] given to wine [3943], no [3361] striker [4131], not [3361] given to filthy lucre [146];

¹⁰ As [2531] every man [1538] hath received [2983] the gift [5486], even so minister [1247] the same [846] one to another [1519] [1438], as [5613] good [2570] stewards [3623] of the manifold [4164] grace [5485] of God [2316].

¹ Let [3049] a man [444] so [3779] account [3049] of us [2248], as [5613] of the ministers [5257] of Christ [5547], and [2532] stewards [3623] of the mysteries [3466] of God [2316].

⁹ Then were the king's [04428] scribes [05608] called [07121] at that time [06256] in the third [07992] month [02320], that is, the month [02320] Sivan [05510], on the three [07969] and twentieth [06242] day thereof; and it was written [03789] according to all that Mordecai [04782] commanded [06680] unto the Jews [03064], and to the lieutenants [0323], and the deputies [06346] and rulers [08269] of the provinces [04082] which are from India [01912] unto Ethiopia [03568], an hundred [03967] twenty [06242] and seven [07651] provinces [04082], unto every province [04082] according to the writing [03791] thereof, and unto every people [05971] after their language [03956], and to the Jews [03064] according to their writing [03791], and according to their language [03956].

²³ Gaius [1050] mine [3450] host [3581], and [2532] of the whole [3650] church [1577], saluteth [782] you [5209]. Erastus [2037] the chamberlain [3623] of the city [4172] saluteth [782] you [5209], and [2532] Quartus [2890] a brother [80].

⁴² And [1161] the Lord [2962] said [2036], Who [5101] then [686] is [2076] that faithful [4103] and [2532] wise [5429] steward [3623], whom [3739] his lord [2962] shall make ruler [2525] over [1909] his [846] household [2322], to give [1325] them their portion of meat [4620] in [1722] due season [2540]?

²⁴ Wherefore [5620] the law [3551] was [1096] our [2257] schoolmaster [3807] to bring us unto [1519] Christ [5547], that [2443] we might be justified [1344] by [1537] faith [4102].