Who is the 'we' in Galatians 4:3 that were in bondage under the elements of the world?
The “we” refers to Paul himself as a Jew and to Israel, the Jews who were under the law of Moses. It does not include Gentiles as such, since the Gentile world was never under the law. Their condition under the law is described as bondage under the elements of the world.
Les teaches that verse 3 is only an illustration. Just as Greek and Roman children were under tutors and governors until the father was satisfied they had reached the time of becoming full heirs, so Paul uses the pronoun “we” to refer to himself as a Jew, not the Gentiles per se, but Jews who were under the law. Israel, when they were children, that is, under the law, were in bondage. The Gentile world was never under the law of Moses; only the children of Israel were. Les emphasizes that to live under the law is always a bondage.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
More Questions
Who is Paul referring to with the pronoun 'we' in Galatians 4:3?
In verse 3 the pronoun 'we' refers to Paul himself as a Jew, so he means Jews who were under the law, not Gentiles.
What are "the elements of the world" in Galatians 4:3?
The phrase 'the elements of the world' in Galatians 4:3 refers to the whole world system.
What is Paul illustrating with the tutors and governors in Galatians 4?
Paul uses the Greek and Roman custom of a child being under tutors and governors as an illustration ('even so') for Israel's condition under the law.