Adam in Galatians 4

Galatians 4 is clearly about the law’s role as guardian and steward in charge of Israel during her minority. But Paul’s description of Israel applies just as well to Adam. Adam was created a minor son, an infant, but was promised an inheritance. Paul hints at the Adamic dimensions of Israel’s history under the law by saying that the minor child is treated like a slave thought he is “lord of all” (4:1). That’s Adam: under command, though created to have dominion over all other creatures.

The law, then, is in this sense a perpetuation of the Adamic “covenant of works”: The law is a continuation of the minority covenant for a son who has proved rebellious.