Disciplinarian

The Lectionary translation of today's first reading (Galatians 3:22-29) uses a rather unusual word

The law was our disciplinarian for Christ...

With all due respect to the translators, it is an unfortunate choice.

Strangely enough, the original Greek word has come down to us through the millennia virtually unchanged in the English word "pedagogue" (in fact, this is the word given in the Douay-Rheims translation).

Unfortunately, both words may be unfamiliar to many people, who might half-hear them and misunderstand (for that reason, other translations have used words such as tutor, teacher, or schoolmaster [the usually reliable RSV has the unfortunate choice of "custodian"]).

In ancient times, the pedagogue was a slave who walked everywhere the pupil went, teaching him as they walked.

With this understanding, Paul's words become somewhat clearer.

But now that faith has come,
we are no longer under a pedagogue.
For through faith
you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus is our pedagogue.

Christ Jesus is now the one with whom we walk and in whom we walk.

May we always walk closely with Christ.