Bible Dictionary
TUTOR
A tutor is properly a guardian or supervisor, especially of a child. In the New Testament the term describes guardians or custodians under whose care a child remained until maturity, and it is also translated “schoolmaster” in some passages.
Definition
A tutor is properly a guardian or custodian, especially one responsible for a child. In modern English the word commonly means an instructor, but its biblical usage emphasizes supervision and guardianship.
Biblical Usage
In Galatians 4:2, the term refers to a guardian over a child until the appointed time. Related passages use it for a custodian or guide and are translated “schoolmaster” in the King James Version.
Historical Background
The New Testament terms translated “tutor” do not uniformly mean private teacher. One means guardian, while another denotes a person responsible for supervising a child.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>tu'-ter: In modern English an "instructor," more particularly a private instructor, but the word properly means a "guardian." Hence its use in Ga 4:2 the King James Version for epitropos, here "guardian" (so the Revised Version (British and American)), and 1Co 4:15; Ga 3:24,25 the Revised Version (British and American) for paidagogos.</p><p>See SCHOOLMASTER.</p>