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OET (OET-RV) but he’s under guardians and managers until he reaches the age that his father specified.
In the previous section, Paul talked about people from a Jewish background. In this section, he returned to focus on the non-Jews whom he had talked about earlier.
This section has two parts. In the first one (3:26 to 3:29), Paul reminded the non-Jewish Christians in Galatia that they had become children of God through faith. When people become children of God, there is no longer a difference between Jew or non-Jew, male or female, slave or free. He further pointed out that once people have become children of God, they are entitled to all the blessings of the new life in Christ.
In the second part (4:1 to 4:7), Paul compared the time under the law to a time of slavery. But when Christ came, he freed people from slavery. The time under the law ended. So believers in Jesus Christ are God’s sons. They are not slaves to the law. It is no longer necessary to follow the law.
Some other examples for a heading for this section are:
By faith we are sons of God and are rescued from the law
You are not slaves but children of God
No longer prisoners to the law but sons
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.
He is subject to guardians and trustees
He is under the authority of people taking care of him and people in charge of the property
He must obey those who care for him and the possessions/wealth
There is a contrast between 4:1 and 4:2. The contrast is between the future promise and the present reality. Paul introduced this contrast with a Greek conjunction that most English versions translate as “but.” Some other ways to translate this conjunction are:
Instead
Rather
The BSB has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the NIV and NLT, also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 4:2a to 4:1d in a way that is natural in your language.
He is subject to guardians and trustees: In this clause, Paul clarified how the heir is no different from a slave when he is a child. He is no different because he too is under the authority of other people. (The words guardians and trustees are explained below.)
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
He is placed under the control of guardians and trustees (GW)
He must obey guardians and managers
It is possible to translate the two terms guardians and trustees as one term. For example:
He must obey the people who take care of him
guardians: The Greek word that the BSB translates as guardians refers to people whom the father has appointed to look after his son when he is young. These people have authority to give the son orders.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
men who take care of him (GNT)
people who are in charge of him
protectors
This word is similar to the word translated as “guardian” in 3:24a. But it is a different Greek word.
trustees: The word that the BSB translates as trustees refers to those who are responsible for looking after what the son will inherit.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
men who manage the property
men who are in charge of his possessions/wealth
stewards/administrators
until the date set by his father.
until he reaches the time/day decided by his father.
until the time comes when he will become the owner. His father decides when that will be.
until the date set by his father: This clause refers to the time when the heir would no longer be under the authority of guardians and managers. His father had decided when that would be. It was at that time that the heir would control the property that belonged to his father.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
until he reaches the age set by his father
until the day that his father has decided for him to receive his possessions
until the time which his father has chosen for him to receive his inheritance (JBP)
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast
ἀλλὰ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ὑπό ἐπιτρόπους ἐστίν καί οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός)
Here, the word But is introducing a contrast and indicating that what follows is in contrast to what came before it. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: [Rather,]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐστὶ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ὑπό ἐπιτρόπους ἐστίν καί οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός)
Here, the word he refers to the heir mentioned in the previous verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [the heir is]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ὑπὸ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ὑπό ἐπιτρόπους ἐστίν καί οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός)
Here, the word under means “under the authority of.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [under the authority of]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐπιτρόπους & καὶ οἰκονόμους
guardians & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ὑπό ἐπιτρόπους ἐστίν καί οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός)
The terms guardians and stewards refer to two different roles, but these terms do not necessarily refer to two different groups of people since one person could have responsibility for filling both roles. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [someone who is his guardian and steward]
Note 5 topic: translate-unknown
ἐπιτρόπους
guardians
A guardian was a person who had the role of being responsible for a child. This person’s job was to supervise and care for the child of whom they were in charge to make sure that the child was instructed in what they should do. Use a natural phrase or term in your language for describing this role. If you do not have this role in your culture you could describe it for your readers. Alternate translation: [people who are in charge of a child] or [people who are responsible for a minor]
Note 6 topic: translate-unknown
οἰκονόμους
managers
Here, the word stewards refers to people who are entrusted with the role of managing property until the heir is old enough to inherit it. Use a natural phrase or term in your language for describing this role. If you do not have this role in your culture, you could describe it for your readers. Alternate translation: [people who manage a child’s possessions]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός
appointed_time ˱by˲_his father
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [date which his father appointed] or [time which his father appointed]
4:1-7 Paul supports his argument that the law’s purpose for God’s children was fulfilled when Christ came, so that we are no longer bound by it.
OET (OET-RV) but he’s under guardians and managers until he reaches the age that his father specified.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.