Galatians 3:25

KJV

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} after that faith {G4102} is come {G2064}, we are {G2070} no longer {G2089}{G3765} under {G5259} a schoolmaster {G3807}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But now that the time for this trusting faithfulness has come, we are no longer under a custodian.

Berean Standard Bible

Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

American Standard Version

But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Galatians 3:25 marks a pivotal theological declaration, asserting that with the arrival of faith in Jesus Christ, believers are no longer subject to the Law's temporary, preparatory role as a "schoolmaster" or guardian. This verse encapsulates the profound shift from a covenant of legalistic oversight to one of grace and spiritual maturity, signifying freedom from the Law's condemnation and its function in leading humanity to Christ, as its purpose has now been fulfilled through Christ's redemptive work.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Galatians 3:25 concludes Paul's extended argument concerning the Law's purpose and its relationship to faith. In the preceding verses, particularly [Galatians 3:23-24](/galatians/3-23-24 "Galatians 3:23-24 - The Law as a Guardian"), Paul establishes the Law's temporary function as a "guardian" or "schoolmaster" (Greek: *paidagogos*), which kept humanity "imprisoned and guarded" until faith in Christ was revealed. The Law's role was to lead people to Christ, revealing their sinfulness and their inability to achieve righteousness through their own efforts. Verse 25, therefore, serves as the triumphant conclusion to this analogy, declaring the end of the Law's supervisory period now that "faith is come." It sets the stage for the subsequent declaration of believers' new identity as "sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" in [Galatians 3:26](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26 - Sons of God Through Faith").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The concept of the *paidagogos* (schoolmaster/guardian) was deeply embedded in Greco-Roman society. A *paidagogos* was typically a trusted slave, often an older man, who was responsible for supervising a freeborn boy from childhood until he reached maturity (around age 14-16). His duties included ensuring the boy's safety, accompanying him to and from school, overseeing his conduct, and instilling moral discipline. He was not the primary teacher but a guardian whose authority was temporary, ceasing once the boy came of age and gained his freedom and inheritance. Paul masterfully employs this familiar cultural institution as an analogy for the Mosaic Law. The Law, like the *paidagogos*, was a temporary, disciplinary, and guiding force, designed to prepare God's people for the greater freedom and maturity that would come with the advent of Christ and the era of faith.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Galatians. Foremost is the **Supremacy of Faith over Law**, arguing that justification and salvation are by belief in Christ, not by adherence to legal codes. It highlights the **Temporary Nature of the Mosaic Law's Custodial Role**, asserting that its function as a disciplinary guardian has ceased with Christ's arrival, as seen in [Galatians 3:19](/galatians/3-19 "Galatians 3:19 - The Purpose of the Law"). The verse also underscores **Spiritual Maturity and Adoption**, as believers are no longer under the tutelage of a "schoolmaster" but have come of age as "sons of God" ([Galatians 3:26](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26 - Sons of God Through Faith")). Furthermore, it speaks to the **Freedom in Christ** that believers now enjoy, liberated from the Law's condemnation and the burden of earning righteousness, a theme profoundly explored in [Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Freedom in Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **faith (Greek, _pístis_):** This term signifies persuasion, credence, or moral conviction, particularly reliance upon Christ for salvation. In this context, "faith" refers not merely to a human act of believing but to the advent of the new covenant era inaugurated by Jesus Christ, where righteousness is imputed through belief, rather than adherence to the Mosaic Law.
* **is come (Greek, _érchomai_):** This verb means "to come or go" and denotes the arrival or appearance of something. Here, it refers to the decisive historical event of Christ's coming, His redemptive work, and the subsequent revelation of the Gospel, which brought about the era of faith. It marks a definitive shift in God's redemptive plan.
* **schoolmaster (Greek, _paidagōgós_):** As discussed in the context, this term describes a boy-leader or guardian, a servant whose duty was to supervise and discipline a child until maturity. Paul uses this **metaphor** to illustrate the Law's temporary and preparatory role, leading humanity to Christ. Once Christ (and thus faith) arrived, the Law's function as a disciplinary guardian was fulfilled and ceased to be necessary for justification.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But after that faith is come,"**: This clause marks a decisive chronological and theological turning point. The conjunction "But" (G1161, *dé*) indicates a strong contrast with the preceding state. The phrase "after that faith is come" refers to the historical advent of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the new covenant through His atoning work. It signifies the arrival of the Gospel message and the means of salvation through belief in Christ, which superseded the Law's preparatory function. This "coming" of faith is not merely an individual's act of believing, but the dawning of an entire new redemptive era.
* **"we are no longer under a schoolmaster."**: This declarative statement announces the profound consequence of faith's arrival. The "we" refers to believers, both Jew and Gentile, who are now united in Christ. To be "no longer under a schoolmaster" means that the Law's role as a temporary guardian, disciplinarian, and guide to Christ has been fulfilled. Believers are no longer bound by its strictures as a means of justification or as a temporary custodian. Instead, they have matured into a direct, unmediated relationship with God through Christ, enjoying the full rights and privileges of sons and daughters.

#### Literary Devices
Paul's argument in Galatians 3:25 is powerfully conveyed through the use of **Metaphor**. The central metaphor is that of the **"schoolmaster" (paidagogos)**, which vividly illustrates the Law's temporary and disciplinary role. Just as a child outgrows the need for a guardian once they reach maturity, so too have believers, through faith in Christ, outgrown the Law's preparatory function. This metaphor effectively communicates the idea of progression and fulfillment in God's redemptive plan. The verse also employs **Contrast**, setting the past state of being "under a schoolmaster" against the present reality of being "no longer under" that system, highlighting the radical shift brought about by Christ. This contrast underscores the liberation and spiritual maturity that faith provides.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Galatians 3:25 is a cornerstone of Pauline theology, emphasizing the fundamental shift from a covenant of works to a covenant of grace through faith. It articulates that the Mosaic Law, while holy and good, was never intended as the ultimate means of salvation but served a specific, temporary purpose: to reveal sin and to lead humanity to Christ. With Christ's advent and the establishment of the new covenant, the Law's custodial role is fulfilled, and believers are brought into a direct, mature relationship with God, justified by faith alone. This liberation from the Law's condemnation and its role as a "schoolmaster" underscores the sufficiency and finality of Christ's work on the cross.

* [Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Romans 10:4 - Christ is the End of the Law")
* [Hebrews 7:18-19](/hebrews/7-18-19 "Hebrews 7:18-19 - The Weakness of the Law")
* [2 Corinthians 3:6-11](/2_corinthians/3-6-11 "2 Corinthians 3:6-11 - The Superiority of the New Covenant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Galatians 3:25 offers profound liberation and a call to embrace our mature identity in Christ. It reassures us that our standing before God is not based on our perfect adherence to rules or our performance, but entirely on God's grace received through faith in Jesus. This truth frees us from the burden of legalism, the constant striving to earn God's favor, and the fear of not doing enough. While the Law still provides moral guidance and reveals God's character, it no longer dictates our justification or condemns us. Instead, we are called to live by the Spirit, motivated by love and gratitude for Christ's finished work, walking in the freedom and responsibility of mature sons and daughters of God. This maturity means living not under compulsion, but in joyful obedience that flows from a transformed heart, reflecting the character of Christ in our daily lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you still feel "under a schoolmaster," striving to earn God's approval through your own efforts rather than resting in Christ's finished work?**
* **How does understanding your freedom from the Law's condemnation impact your daily walk with God and your approach to Christian living?**
* **What does it mean practically to live as a "mature son or daughter" in God's family, no longer needing a "schoolmaster"?**

### FAQ

**Does Galatians 3:25 mean the Law is no longer relevant for Christians today?**

Answer: No, Galatians 3:25 does not mean the Law is irrelevant. Instead, it clarifies the Law's *purpose* and *function* for believers. Paul argues that the Law's role as a "schoolmaster" or temporary guardian, leading us to Christ for justification, has been fulfilled. We are no longer "under" its condemnation or its system for earning righteousness. However, the Law still serves vital purposes: it reveals God's holy character and moral standards ([Romans 7:12](/romans/7-12 "Romans 7:12 - The Law is Holy")), exposes sin ([Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - The Law Reveals Sin")), and provides wisdom for righteous living. Christians are called to fulfill the Law's righteous requirements not by legalistic effort, but by walking in the Spirit, as love for God and neighbor is the fulfillment of the Law ([Romans 13:8-10](/romans/13-8-10 "Romans 13:8-10 - Love Fulfills the Law")). Our obedience flows from our new identity in Christ, not as a means to achieve it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Galatians 3:25 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the "faith" that has "come," the very embodiment of the new covenant era that liberates humanity from the Law's temporary guardianship. Before Christ, humanity was held "under the law," imprisoned by its demands and condemned by its inability to perfectly keep it, as described in [Galatians 3:23](/galatians/3-23 "Galatians 3:23 - Held Under the Law"). Christ, however, perfectly fulfilled the Law's demands on our behalf ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Christ Fulfills the Law")), bore its curse by becoming a curse for us on the cross ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems from the Curse of the Law")), and ushered in an age where righteousness is imputed through faith in Him, not through works of the Law. His death and resurrection marked the end of the Law's role as a "schoolmaster" for justification, opening the way for believers to become "children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" ([Galatians 3:26](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26 - Children of God by Faith")). Thus, Christ is the very reason we are "no longer under a schoolmaster," having been brought into a mature, intimate relationship with God through His redemptive work.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 7:4

Wherefore, 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.

Hebrews 10:15

[Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

Hebrews 10:18

Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.

Hebrews 7:11

¶ If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 7:19

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Galatians 4:1

¶ Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;