Gal. 3:22-4:5, “Under” in Romans and Galatians (2)

We are continuing our study of the Greek preposition hupo.

·       Rom. 13:1: “the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”  “God” is genitive and there is a verb connection.  Thus, the idea of agency.

·       15:15: “because of the grace given to me by God.”  Again, a verb and genitive.  This was important for Paul, that God was the agent/source of his calling.

·       15:24: “to be helped on my way there by you.”  Paul desired the Church at Rome (plural “you”) to be the agency of his ministry when he went on to Spain.

·       16:20: “God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”  Again, accusative.  Satan’s place will be under their feet.  If the Head of the Body has cast out Satan (Jn. 12:31), then the Body will experience his defeat as well.

·       Gal. 1:11: “the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.”  Genitive, Paul was the source of this message; thus hupo is agency, by.

·       3:10: “as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.”  Those, whose “source” is the works of the law, are found in the place of the curse.  In Romans, the law and sin and grace were rulers over those “under” them.  So here then, the curse has authority over those who are trying to do the works of the law.

·       3:17: “the covenant that was confirmed by God.”  Genitive, of course.  This is the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. v16) that promised Christ.  Faith in Christ was always the means of salvation, even for Abraham (Rom. 4:1ff).  The later “covenant of law” could not annul this.

·       3:22: “Scripture has confined all under sin.” This builds on Rom. 3:9, saying that the result is that all who were under sin (all humanity) are saved only by faith.

·       3:23,25; 4:2,3: “kept under guard by the law;” “we are no longer under a tutor;” “under guardians and stewards until the time appointed;” “in bondage under the elements of the world.”  Paul speaks of the role of the law for Jews, in leading them to salvation.  All are accusative.

·       4:4,5: “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law;” “to redeem those who were under the law.”  Those under the law assumed that their righteousness was to found in keeping the law, which was not the case.  Jesus, born in the same context, under law, walked in the Spirit and by faith, etc.  He satisfied the righteous demands of the law (Rom. 8:1-4) but was righteous by His faith (Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:20).

·       4:9: “known by God.”  Genitive, can be translated “known of God.”

·       4:21: “you who desire to be under the law.”  These are the Judaizers who afflicted the churches of Galatia. Accusative. We need to put off this attitude.

·       5:15: “beware lest you be consumed by one another.”  Genitive. Agency.

·       5:18: “if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  Lastly, we need to put on this truth.  In so-doing we will put on Christ because this is how He lived.