Paragraph 4:1–7
In this paragraph, Paul further explained that the period of the law was temporary. He compared the period under the law to a period of slavery. When Christ came, he redeemed the people who were in slavery. They are no longer slaves. Instead, they are now adopted as God’s sons and are his heirs. The time of the law is over.
4:1a
What I am saying is that: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as What I am saying is that introduces an explanation of what it means to be an heir of God (in 3:29b).
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
Let me explain further. (God’s Word)
-or-
Think of it this way. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
My point is this: (New Revised Standard Version)
In 3:17a and 5:16a, Paul used a similar expression to introduce an explanation of a previous statement.
4:1b
as long as the heir is a child: The word child refers to a young person who is not yet an adult. This entire clause refers to the time when a child is too young to receive the inheritance.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
when the heir is a young child
-or-
during the time when the son who will receive his father’s possessions is very young
-or-
before the boy who will one day own his father’s possessions becomes an adult
the heir: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heir refers to the son who will eventually receive his father’s possessions. In this case, it probably does not mean that the father has already died. This is perhaps a situation where the father has decided to give some of his possessions to his son when the son becomes an adult. The father will do this even if he is still alive.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
the son who will later inherit/get his father’s possessions
-or-
the son who will receive his father’s property (Good News Translation)
-or-
the son who will one day own his father’s possessions
This same word occurs in 3:29c.
4:1c
he is no different from a slave: The clause he is no different from a slave is a figure of speech called a hyperbole. Paul exaggerated to make a point. In one sense, a boy who will inherit possessions is very different from a slave. But they are similar in that both are under rules and regulations. While the heir is a child, he has no control over what will one day be his.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
is like a slave
-or-
it is as if he were just a servant/worker
-or-
he is under authority like a slave ?who is under authority?
-or-
is no better than a slave (Revised Standard Version)
4:1d
although he is the owner of everything: This clause refers to the fact that the child will one day become the owner of his father’s property. This will happen when the father chooses to give it to him. The son’s status of being like a slave is only temporary. In some languages, it may be more natural to use the future tense here.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
even though he owns everything (God’s Word)
-or-
even though everything the father owns/has will someday be his
General Comment on 4:1b–d
In some languages, it is more natural to reorder the clauses of 4:1b–d. For example:
d The heir will eventually get all his father’s possessions. b ?But? while he is a child, c he is no different than a slave.
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