From Thayer's Greek Lexicon, comes this definition:
"The schoolmaster was guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans, the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood."The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, provides us with this definition and description:
"Schoolmaster" is a translation of paidagogos, literally, "child-leader." The "paidagogos" was not a teacher but a slave, to whom in wealthy families the general oversight of a boy was committed. It was his duty to accompany his charge to and from school, never to lose sight of him in public, to prevent association with objectionable companions, to inculcate moral lessons at every opportunity.The law of Moses thus served the Jews under that law, as a "schoolmaster" or "child-leader." It was designed to properly train the Jews in preparing them for the coming of the Messiah. It accomplished this through the teaching of the Old Testaments prophets and the many prophecies of the coming Savior. Paul also mentions the fact that when "the faith" is revealed (Gal. 3:23), we are no longer under a schoolmaster or tutor (Gal. 3:25).
"The faith" or system of faith, was revealed and was being preached in the first century (Ephesians 3:1-6; cf. Gal. 1:23; Philippians 1:27). Thus, the law of Moses is not binding on Christians today (Ephesians 2:10-16; Colossians 2:14; cf. Gal. 3:10-14). Christians are today "under the law of Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:21 ESV), "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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