Galatians 3:25
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Original Language Analysis
ἐλθούσης
is come
G2064
ἐλθούσης
is come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
1 of 8
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 8
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστεως
after that faith
G4102
πίστεως
after that faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
4 of 8
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
ὑπὸ
under
G5259
ὑπὸ
under
Strong's:
G5259
Word #:
6 of 8
under, i.e., (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (
Cross References
Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Romans 7:4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Historical Context
The transition from 'under the paidagōgos' to 'no longer under the paidagōgos' corresponds to redemptive-historical epochs: the old covenant (Law-era, Moses to Christ) versus the new covenant (faith-era, Christ onward). Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:26-27 prophesied this transition: the new covenant would replace external Law-tablets with internal Spirit-indwelling. Hebrews 8:6-13 declares the old covenant 'obsolete' now that Christ has inaugurated the new. Believers in the new covenant age are no longer 'under law' but 'under grace' (Romans 6:14).
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean practically that 'we are no longer under a schoolmaster'? How does this affect your daily walk with God?
- How does the arrival of 'the faith' as an objective historical reality (Christ's coming) change the believer's relationship to the Law?
- In what ways might you still be living 'under the <em>paidagōgos</em>' (under law-supervision) rather than enjoying the freedom and maturity of sonship in Christ?
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Analysis & Commentary
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Paul announces the decisive change: 'after that faith is come' (elthousēs de tēs pisteōs, ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς πίστεως)—the genitive absolute construction emphasizes the arrival of the faith-era as an objective historical reality. The aorist participle 'is come' (elthousēs, ἐλθούσης) points to the definitive moment when faith came in Christ's person and work. This is not subjective faith but the objective faith-system, the gospel age inaugurated by Christ's death and resurrection.
The result: 'we are no longer under a schoolmaster' (ouketi hypo paidagōgon esmen, οὐκέτι ὑπὸ παιδαγωγόν ἐσμεν). The emphatic ouketi (οὐκέτι)—'no longer'—marks the end of the Law's custodial authority over believers. The present tense 'we are' (esmen, ἐσμέν) indicates the current reality: believers now exist in a different relationship to the Law. We are not under its condemnation (Romans 8:1), not under its jurisdiction as a way of salvation (Romans 6:14), not under its guardian supervision—we have reached maturity in Christ.
This verse liberates believers from the Law's dominion. The paidagōgos was necessary during childhood; at maturity, his authority ceases. Believers are mature sons of God (v. 26), no longer needing the Law's supervision. This doesn't mean lawlessness (antinomianism)—it means freedom from the Law as a system of justification and sanctification. We are now led by the Spirit (5:18), not driven by Law-commands.