But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Parallel translations
- WEB but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
- BSB He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.
- NKJV but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
- NASB but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.
- NLT They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The young heir lives under guardians and managers until the time his father has set. So too God's people were under the law until the appointed time of Christ's coming.
Overview
Continuing the illustration, Paul notes that the heir's subjection has a fixed end determined by the father. This stresses that the law's authority was always meant to be temporary and was governed by God's timing. The 'day appointed by the father' points forward to the 'fullness of time' in verse 4, when God acted to bring His children to maturity in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
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Original language
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