Galatians 3:23-29

The Tutor

Table of Contents

The Guardian and Trainer

Heirs of the Promise

Galatians 3:23-29 (Four Translations)

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (New American Standard)

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (KJV)

Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (NIV)

But before fidelity (belief) came, we were being guarded by (Levitical) Torah, having been shut off from the fidelity (belief) about to be revealed.  Therefore the torah became our trainer unto Messiah, in order to be declared right by fidelity (belief).  And after fidelity (belief) has come, we are no longer under a trainer.  For you are all sons of Elohim through trusting fidelity (belief) in Messiah.  For as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah.  There is not Yehudi nor Greek (the 2 sticks are made one), there is not slave nor free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Messiah. And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise. (My Translation)

The Guardian and Trainer

But before fidelity (belief) came, we were being guarded under (Levitical) Torah, having been shut off from the fidelity (belief) about to be revealed. Galatians 3:23

This verse is usually understood by the prevailing scholars of our day to mean that the Law of Moses imprisoned us and put us under bondage. This Law, then, is a bad thing for those who were under it. And with the coming of Messiah and the work he accomplished, we are now set free from that bad Old Testament Law!

But let's return to our text and the context we've been reviewing for a better understanding and translation of what Paul wrote. First, the meaning of the Greek word used here, usually translated "held prisoner," is explained to us by the Friberg Greek Lexicon:

froure,w/ - transitively in the NT; (1) guard, keep watch over something (2C 11.32); (2) hold in custody, confine; metaphorically and passive, of the effect of supervision by law be kept under strict control, be restrained (GA 3.23); (3) garrison, guard; figuratively protect, keep; in a transferred sense (PH 4.7)

The theologians have translated this word as "held in custody" or "confined" because their theology dictates this rendering. But the first definition of this term is to "guard" or "keep watch over something." This is the meaning which fits the whole context better and thus we have adopted this rendering.

Paul has been describing the "added law" which we've identified as the Levitical Law instituted at Sinai. This Law was not a bad thing. In fact, it was Elohim's temporary solution to the sin problem until the permanent solution could be resolved with the death of Messiah on the tree. So what Paul is saying here is that the Levitical Law was guarding us, or watching over us, until the Seed was to come.

This is a positive message for us because Elohim's plan was good. Yahuwah was literally watching over his people with the Levitical Law until he sent his Son. That Law was not bondage, but actually freed his people to pursue Him!

The next phrase usually translated something like "shut up" or "locked up" from the true faith needs a little tweeking at well. The Greek word employed here is:

sugklei,w/ - literally encircle, enclose, as fish in a net (LU 5.6); figuratively restrict, cause to happen within imposed restrictions, confine, used of the compelling force of God's will in working out the issues of his grace and mercy (RO 11.32)

The better understanding of this word should express the thought that the Levitical Law was "encircling us" or "enclosing us" unto the about to be revealed Faith of Messiah. As a guardian of his people, the Levitical Law was covering us (as a temporary stop gap for sin) until the time of Messiah!

So this brings us to "the Tutor." What Paul has been describing to this point is that Yahuwah cared enough for his people that he instituted a measure to cover sin until Messiah would eradicate it. So, Paul continues:

Therefore the Torah became our trainer unto Messiah, in order to be declared right by fidelity (belief). And after fidelity (belief) has come, we are no longer under a trainer. Galatians 3:24-25

What, then, is this "Tutor" or "Trainer"? The Greek word is:

παιδαγωγός (paida-gogos) - a guide and guardian of boys. Among the Greeks and Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood 

Paul is appealing to his readers with this well known concept of a guardian of under age boys who stood to inherit.

The logic here is as follows: Elohim put his people under the supervision of the Levitical Law until, coming of full age of inheriting, Messiah came and brought us to the complete faith through his death on the tree. And since Yahusha finished his work of atonement, we are brought to full age to inherit along with him (a point he had emphasized earlier). So, once again, Paul reiterates that Messiah is the recipient of the inheritance, and we inherit with him if we have trusting faith in him.

The Tutor or "trainer" or "schoolmaster" was the Law of the Levitical priesthood. All of the various details and instructions about making atonement for the sins of the people were all shadow pictures and illustrations of what Messiah would accomplish with his death on the tree. Therefore, the sacrificial system was leading us to or pointing us in the direction of Messiah.

Heirs of the Promise

Galatians 3:26-29  For you are all sons of Elohim through trusting fidelity (belief) in Messiah.  For as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah.  There is not Yehudi nor Greek, there is not slave nor free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Messiah.  And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.

This faith that we have in Messiah's atonement does not nullify our need to now walk in the faithfulness of covenant loyalty – keeping his commandments. Our baptism is symbolic of our being clothed with Messiah. As such, all that he did we will do. We walk and live and talk like Messiah.

Certainly, our conversion does not negate our biology. Men are still men and women are still women. But, in messiah, the class distinctions disappear – we are all equally family members, no second class citizens!

Those who belong to Messiah will inherit alongside Messiah. He is the rightful heir and Seed according to the promise. And we are heirs who belong to Messiah.

END