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Gal_4:2. Ἐπίτροπος means here not guardian ( ὀρφανῶν ἐπίτροπος , Plat. Legg. p. 766 C; Dem. 988. 2; Xen. Mem. i. 2. 40; 2Ma_11:1; 2Ma_13:2; 2Ma_14:2; comp. also the rabbinical àôåèøåôåñ in Schoettgen, Hor. p. 743 f.), as it is explained by all who look upon the father as dead (see, however, on Gal_4:1), but overseer, governor, and that without any more special definition (Herod. i. 108; Pind. Ol. i. 171; Dem. 819. 17; Xen. Oec. 21. 9; and very frequently in classical authors); it is neither therefore to be taken (as in Mat_20:8; Luk_8:3) as synonymous with οἰκονόμος (which would give a double designation without ground for it), nor as equivalent to παιδαγωγός (which would be an arbitrary limitation). The term denotes any one, to whose governorship the boy is assigned by the father in the arrangement which has been made of the family affairs; and from this category are then specially singled out the οἰκονόμοι , the superior slaves appointed as managers of the household and property (Luk_16:1), on whom the νήπιος was dependent in respect to money and other outward wants.
ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός ] Until the appointed time of the father, until the term, which the father has fixed upon for releasing his son from this state of dependence. ἡ προθεσμία , tempus praestitutum, does not occur elsewhere in the N.T., but is frequent in classical authors. See Wetstein; also Jacobs, Ach. Tat. p. 440.