The Law as a “Schoolmaster”
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).
The Greek word translated “schoolmaster” is — παιδαγογός — paidagogos. This word occurs three times in the New Testament, Galatians 3:24, 25, and 1 Corinthians 4:15. Paul selected this word here because it beautifully describes the function of the Law to bring Israel to Christ. The word does not mean a teacher as the King James translation suggests.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary nicely focuses on the meaning. “Here the idea of instruction is absent. “In this and allied words the idea is that of training, discipline, not of impartation of knowledge. The paidagogos was not the instructor of the child; he exercised a general supervision over him and was responsible for his moral and physical well‑being. Thus understood, paidagogos is appropriately used with ‘kept in ward’ and ‘shut up,’ whereas to understand it as equivalent to ‘teacher’ introduces an idea entirely foreign to the passage, and throws the Apostle’s argument into confusion.” (From Notes on Galatians, by Hogg and Vine, pages 163, 164. Compare epitropos, “a steward, guardian, tutor.”) [1],[2]
One of the main purposes of the Law was to keep Israel together as a social unit with a common law and religion in order to conduct them to Messiah in due time. This is exactly the function of a paidagogos. The Law did indeed accomplish this, but the nation collectively was not in the frame of mind necessary to recognize Jesus as their Messiah and consequently was rejected by the Lord (Matthew 23:38, 39).
Hagar, a picture of the Law Covenant, tending Ishmael
It is noteworthy that the Law, under the figure of Hagar (see Galatians 4:25), is still functioning as a paidagogos in conducting Israel to Messiah in modern times. It will, in the end, bring all of the fleshly seed of Abraham to Christ (Zechariah 12:10). The casting out of Hagar and Ishmael by Abraham is another figure of the displacement of Israel in the Gospel Age. Hagar, the Law, is still conducting Ishmael, Israel, during this time and eventually is brought to a well in Beersheva of refreshing, representing the blessings of the New Covenant still future.
— Br. David Stein
[1] Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W. E. Vine, page 265, Fleming H. R. Tevell Company, 1940.
[2] See also a thorough treatment of the subject here: www.digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1
&article=1114&context=sor_fac_pubs