John Calvin on Galatians 3:29

29. Then are ye Abraham’s seed. This is not intended to convey the idea, that to be a child of Abraham is better than to be a member of Christ, — but to repress the pride of the Jews, who gloried in their privilege, as if they alone were the people of God. They reckoned no distinction higher than to belong to the race of Abraham; and this very distinction he makes to be common to all who believe in Christ. The conclusion rests on this argument, that Christ is the blessed seed, in whom, as we have said, all the children of Abraham are united. He proves this by the universal offer of the inheritance to them all, from which it follows, that the promise includes them among the children. It deserves notice, that, wherever faith is mentioned, it is always his relation to the promise.

CHAPTER 4

Galatians 4:1-5

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;

1. Dico antem: quamdiu haeres puer est, nihil differt a servo, quum tamen sit dominus onmium;

2. But is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father.

2. Sed sub tutoribus et curatorbus est, usque ad tempus a patre definitum.

3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

3. Sic et nos quum essemus pueri, sub elementis mundi in servitute eramus.

4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

4. Quando autem venit plenitudo temporis, misit Deus Filium suum, facturn ex muliere, redactum sub Legem;

5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

5. Ut eos, qui sub Lege erant, redimeter, ut adoptionem reciperemus.