BCM Summer Missions 2009: Kaneohe, Hawaii

Okay, so here goes part 2.

So Paul goes on to talk further about the relationship between a child, their Paidigogos, and what happens after. Continuing on Paul is talking in Galatians 4:1-2-

"Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all. But is under his tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father."

The first aspect that needs to be understood that carries over from the last post is that the Paidigogos is the primary care taker of a child, therefore, the child is under the authority of the servant, cared for by the servant, and lives among the servant's own children. That's what the first verse is talking about is that, although the child is of the rich family, it still is under the constraints and authority of the Paidagogos, just like the Paidagogos' own family.

The second part to this is based on Greek traditions. In the Greek society, it is the childs father who decideds when he is a man and bestows apon him the position of full-grown son. (Im about to tie in the prodigal son here in just a second, its gunna be pretty cool.) At this point of recognition, the father throws an awesome party for the young man called "toga virilis". This party is basically to celebrate that the sone has reached the age of maturity and authority in the family. The father gives the son a toga and a ring with his special insignia. This ring means the son now has equitable power and authority over his fathers possesions. This is where the prodigal son comes in. You know that party the father of the prodigal son threw? Well it was a "toga virilis". Upon the prodigal son's return, he had shown his father that he has experienced the things his father tried to teach him and now is worthy to have the mark of his father, where as before when he ran away from home he was stubborn and cocky.

Now weve gotten to the good part! To explain the significance of this metaphore should be easy now. Now knowing that as an official son of the father, and that you gain his power, I hope you have made the connection. The child has now become higher than the Paidagogos' auhority, and is now the servants' authority. This is the significance of why we call our selves sons and daughters of Christ! We have been given the power that is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Those of the Faith are now above any condemnation the Law could throw at us.

This is some good heavy stuff eh?
~D-Rice