How does the tutor illustration apply to Israel under the law in Galatians 4:3?
In Galatians 4:3 the tutor illustration shows Israel under the law was like a child under a tutor: in bondage until the father's appointed time. Paul says “we” as a Jew, meaning Jews under the law, not Gentiles, for only Israel was under Moses’ law. Living under law is always bondage.
Les explains that just as Greek and Roman children were placed under tutors and governors until the father set the time for them to become full heirs, verse 3 says, “Even so, in like manner, so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.” Les teaches that the pronoun “we” refers to Paul as a Jew, so it means Jews who were under the law, not Gentiles as such. The Gentile world was never under the law of Moses; only the children of Israel were. In the same way those children were under a tutor while the father paid little attention, Israel when children—that is, under the law—was in bondage. Les stresses 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
What does Paul's statement in Galatians 4:3 show about the tutor and governor illustration?
Galatians 4:3 shows that the child-under-tutor-and-governor picture in verse 2 is only an illustration, applied 'in like manner' to Israel's bondage.
What does it mean that Israel was in bondage under the elements of the world in Galatians 4:3?
Israel, when they were children under the law, were in bondage under the elements of the world, just as the Greek and Roman child was under the rule of a tutor.