Introduction
The epistle to the Galatians highlights the relation of the believers in Jesus and God. It makes an accent on the differences that occurred after a human being accepted the grace of God. The primary purpose of the paper is to critically evaluate the epistle to the Galatians 4:1-7 and to provide the detailed analysis and interpretation of the proposed passage.
Main body
The author of the Epistle is Paul. In the first chapters, Paul provides the information regarding the way he received the message from God. Paul aims to share the true message of God with Galatians. The passage under analysis is taken from the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians. Galatians 4:1-7 highlights the topic regarding the evaluation of the benefits of heirs and slaves on the one hand and grace and law from the other. The message provided by Paul in the passage contributes to better understanding of the difference between the life of slavery and the opportunity, that society has already, received to become the children of God.
He also highlights that God acts through his Son, Jesus. The major message is that people used to be slaves; however, with the acceptance of the grace of God, everyone turns to the son and heir. As slaves, people could not feel the true meaning of happiness and freedom of choice. The most interesting aspect of the story is that it teaches that everything is possible if there is a place for God in a human’s heart. God has already given us everything; all the society has to do is to believe and enter the God’s family. The pure gift of God gave people a second chance. Every person can get it only with faith inside. It seems essential to note that the message to Galatians is relevant even for the modern times.
To get better involved in the topic, the in-depth analysis of the passage should be provided. Aiming to demonstrate the spiritual imperfection of those who were under the Law of Moses, Paul provides the example of the heir being a child “what I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate”. The heir was supposed to inherit everything that belonged to his parents. Acting this way, the heir can be considered as a slave while he had no freedom for actions and could not take independent decisions.
In fact, Paul stresses that the heir is dependent on the guardians and tutors “the heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father”. He was watched by the time he received the property. This time was commonly determined by the father. After the ceremony, the heir was awarded the male toga, the symbol of recognition of son and his rights.
I do not profess to be an expert regarding the subject, but I am strongly convinced that the provided example was essential to demonstrate the difference between the position of the human being before the faithful reformation and their current status. Earlier, being spiritually immature like children, they were slaves. Paul stressed that there was a lack of freedom. Enslavement was the biggest issue “so also, when we were underage, we were in slavery”.
Paul speaks regarding the divine intervention in the affairs of the world, carrying the hope of humanity and liberation. The words “but when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son” can be compared to the way a father was choosing the time for a son to be recognized as an adult. God appointed the time his Son came to Earth so that people can be set free from the law of slavery and get the spiritual status. God sent his Son, who existed before the creation of the world and left the Heaven to Earth on a mission for the redemption of the human race. The Son has not only the divine nature but human as well because he was born of a woman.
I would like to point out that sending his Son on Earth, God had two objectives, namely to redeem and to set free from the enslavement of the Moses’ system as a whole. As Paul puts it “to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship”. The incarnation of Christ and his death provided the humanity with the sonship. That is, all the joys and privileges, which an adult son has in the family, became the property of those who entered the family of God, and came under the mercy of Christ’s redemption.
God sent to people not only the Son but the Holy Spirit as well “because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts”. Thus, the whole Trinity is involved in the salvation of mankind. God provides every believer with the Holy Spirit. The sons and daughters of God cannot exist without the Holy Spirit. It is present in the heart of the believer, witnessing that the person belongs to the family of God. Spirit makes the believer pray to God, listen to him, saying “Abba, Father”. The word “Abba” in Aramaic means “father”. This word corresponds the diminutive form of the word that is usually used by children who refer to the father. The usage of this word has the shade of intimacy and trust. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of people makes us closer and linked to God.
In Gal 4:7, Paul stresses that in case people became the God’s children there is no way and need to come back to the old life, the life of slavery. Being children of God, people become the heirs of everything that God promised “since you are his child, God has made you also an heir”.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be stressed that Paul states that people should not come back to the life of slavery. The Son of God redeemed the human being from the law and provided us with the opportunity to become God’s children. Although the society cannot deserve this right, it will never be revoked. The only thing people can do is to appreciate this pure gift and thank for it. The humanity was awarded with an unbelievable opportunity, to become free and start a new chapter of life. Gal 1:4-7 reveals the life before and after God has sent his Son and highlights that there is no need to come to the old life as God shared the divine gift with us.
Bibliography
Gaventa, Beverly, and David Petersen. The New Interpreter’s Bible One-volume Commentary. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010.
Ngewa, Samuel. Galatians. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.