Ancient Roman law included the rule of patria potestas or “the power of the father.” Under patria potestas, the male head of the family held absolute power over his wife, children, slaves, and even his descendants in the male line. He controlled their persons and their property. Patria potestas ended only with the death of the father or by his willing act of emancipation.

When writing these verses, Paul possibly had the patria potestas in mind as he continues his inheritance metaphor from chapter 3. Having just made the point that in Christ Jesus there is no Jew or Gentile, slave or free (3:28), Paul compares the status of an underage heir with that of a slave and declares them to be fundamentally and functionally “no different” (4:1).

Paul’s Jewish readers believed they were the heirs of God by birthright. They held an inherently superior position in God’s family and struggled to live in Christian community with the new Gentile converts in Galatia, many of whom had backgrounds in religious syncretism and pagan idolatry. Paul says to them: “You are fundamentally and functionally no different.” Paul explains that even an heir is “subject to guardians and trustees” (v. 2), put into place by the father. The word for “guardian” here is the same paidagogos as in 3:24–25, but this word carries many shades of meaning. It seems to imply a “trustee” who managed the property and finances of the minor “until the time set by the father” (v. 2).

Paul’s main point is this foundational theological truth: God is the sovereign Father. He alone has authority over property and people. He cares for both children and slaves. And He alone determines the terms and timeline of salvation history.

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