4:2a
There is a contrast between 4:1 and 4:2. The contrast is between the future promise and the present reality. Paul introduced this contrast with a Greek conjunction that most English versions translate as “but.” Some other ways to translate this conjunction are:
Instead
-or-
Rather
The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the New International Version and New Living Translation (2004), also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 4:2a to 4:1d in a way that is natural in your language.
He is subject to guardians and trustees: In this clause, Paul clarified how the heir is no different from a slave when he is a child. He is no different because he too is under the authority of other people. (The words guardians and trustees are explained below.)
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
He is placed under the control of guardians and trustees (God’s Word)
-or-
He must obey guardians and managers
It is possible to translate the two terms guardians and trustees as one term. For example:
He must obey the people who take care of him
guardians: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as guardians refers to people whom the father has appointed to look after his son when he is young. These people have authority to give the son orders.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
men who take care of him (Good News Translation)
-or-
people who are in charge of him
-or-
protectors
This word is similar to the word translated as “guardian” in 3:24a. But it is a different Greek word.
trustees: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as trustees refers to those who are responsible for looking after what the son will inherit.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
men who manage the property
-or-
men who are in charge of his possessions/wealth
-or-
stewards/administrators
4:2b
until the date set by his father: This clause refers to the time when the heir would no longer be under the authority of guardians and managers. His father had decided when that would be. It was at that time that the heir would control the property that belonged to his father.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
until he reaches the age set by his father
-or-
until the day that his father has decided ?for him to receive his possessions?
-or-
until the time which his father has chosen for him to receive his inheritance (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
© 2016 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.