From slaves to sons and heirs (4:1–7)

Says “as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything”. He is “subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father” (ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους (hypo epitropous esti kai oikonomous, “under guardians and stewards”); ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός (achri tēs prothesmias tou patros, “until the appointed time of the father”)). “when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world” (ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου (hypo ta stoicheia tou kosmou, “under the stoicheia of the world”)). The wording of the stoicheia is treated in The heir as a child, and the stoicheia (4:1–3). The household picture is treated in Guardians, trustees, and the heir (4:1–2) and Under a guardian until Christ.

Says “because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”” (printed εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν (eis tas kardias hēmōn, “into our hearts”); RP 2018 and the TR read ὑμῶν, see ἡμῶν / ὑμῶν). “you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God” (κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ (klēronomos dia theou, “an heir through God”); RP 2018 and the TR read θεοῦ διὰ Χριστοῦ, see διὰ θεοῦ / θεοῦ διὰ Χριστοῦ). The wording of the cry is treated in Abba, Father, and heir through God (4:6–7) and αββα.

Implies Because the heir is under others “until the date set by his father”, the change from child to heir is set by the father. Those who are sons are heirs through God, not slaves (see Sons, heirs and one in Christ and Led by the Spirit: adoption, "Abba! Father!", the Spirit's witness, and heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14–17)).