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To illustrate the spiritual immaturity of those who lived under the Mosaic Law, Paul reminded the Galatian believers of certain characteristics of an heir as a minor child (nēpios, “infant, young child”; in contrast with huios, “son,” in 3:7, 26). Though by birthright he owned the whole estate, nevertheless he was kept in subservience like a slave in that he enjoyed no freedom and could make no decisions. In fact the heir as a child was under guardians (epitropous, different from the paidagōgos in 3:24–25) who watched over his person, and trustees who protected his estate. This was true until he came of age as a son, an age that varied in the Jewish, Grecian, and Roman societies. Under Roman law the age of maturity for a child was set by his father and involved a ceremonial donning of the toga virilis and his formal acknowledgement as son and heir.