Paul's "Paidagogos"
So I have recently been very intrigued in the study of the article of (what else) justification. (Isn't that what Lutherans are here for? :) But seriously, it led me obviously through Paul's letters, especially Romans and Galatians. Studying Galatians, I came across Paul's use of the Greek word "paidagogos" in Galatians 3, in reference to the law. It's generally translated "guardian" in English, but I think the real concept of the picture Paul is trying to create is either lost by the translation, or it is just simply not as clear as the original Greek. I got a little insight to this topic from a lecture on Galatians one the CTSFW website, and it really prompts some thought.
The "paidagogos" was basically a slave that was in charge of getting a child to and from school; the child was his responsibility during the travel to school and back, so the "paidagogos" was generally not a well-liked person since he was so strict. It seems to me that the picture Paul is trying to create is the "law" serving as our "paidagogos" to keep us in line, until something better comes that can release us from this law. Paul says that "faith" releases us from the "paidagogos" in the person of Christ. Thus, where Christ is, the Christian is free from the law that formerly was in place to "keep him in line," and now he is free to serve Christ in the "free" way that Adam would have before the fall. He almost seems to be saying, "Why do you wish to go back to your 'paidagogos'? You have been freed from the law by faith in Christ, now serve him freely as a result of His obedience and grace!" I thought this was a really interesting concept (which I am still trying to really grasp), and I hope this can provoke some thought. Any insight to this matter would be greatly appreciated!
Tags: Galatians, Paul, Romans, guardian, justification, paidagogos
Views: 84
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Dave Gosse on -
Hi Joe
I had a look at the Greek lexicon and found this
a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.
In the context that Paul uses the term it appears that you are more or less correct. We are under the supervision of the Law until we are baptized into the Jesus. "You only have to do it until you want to do it, then you don't have to do it any more."
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Muench on -
Thanks Dave,
Glad to know I was pretty much on the right track. I'm not quite up on my Greek, but I am working on it! : )
Thanks for bringing up baptism too, I kind of overlooked that as I was looking into this! A crucial point, and I missed it...
Dave Gosse said:Hi Joe
I had a look at the Greek lexicon and found this
a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.
In the context that Paul uses the term it appears that you are more or less correct. We are under the supervision of the Law until we are baptized into the Jesus. "You only have to do it until you want to do it, then you don't have to do it any more."
-
Permalink Reply by James Robertson on -
VERSE 24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.
This simile of the schoolmaster is striking. Schoolmasters are indispensable. But show me a pupil who loves his schoolmaster. How little love is lost upon them the Jews showed by their attitude toward Moses. They would have been glad to stone Moses to death. (Ex. 17:4.) You cannot expect anything else. How can a pupil love a teacher who frustrates his desires? And if the pupil disobeys, the schoolmaster whips him, and the pupil has to like it and even kiss the rod with which he was beaten. Do you think the schoolboy feels good about it? As soon as the teacher turns his back, the pupil breaks the rod and throws it into the fire. And if he were stronger than the teacher he would not take the beatings, but beat up the teacher. All the same, teachers are indispensable, otherwise the children would grow up without discipline, instruction, and training.
But how long are the scolding and the whippings of the schoolmaster to continue? Only for a time, until the boy has been trained to be a worthy heir of his father. No father wants his son to be whipped all the time. The discipline is to last until the boy has been trained to be his father's worthy successor.
The Law is such a schoolmaster. Not for always, but until we have been brought to Christ. The Law is not just another schoolmaster. The Law is a specialist to bring us to Christ. What would you think of a schoolmaster who could only torment and beat a child? Yet of such schoolmasters there were plenty in former times, regular bruisers. The Law is not that kind of a schoolmaster. It is not to torment us always. With its lashings it is only too anxious to drive us to Christ. The Law is like the good schoolmaster who trains his children to find pleasure in doing things they formerly detested.
Luther's Commentary on Galatians
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Muench on
-
Wow, I don't think anyone could explain that better than Luther. So beautifully put! That commentary is a work of art.
I would think this picture of Paul's must have really struck Luther with his background. Trained under the law that persecuted him day and night and allowed him no peace, the law was the perfect "trainer" for him. Had he not been so beaten down by the law, the Gospel would certainly not have had the same effect on him as we know it did when God opened his mind to it.
© 2012 Created by Norm Fisher.
Powered by
