Note 4 at Gal. 4:4: The NIV translates this phrase as, "when the time had fully come." The Simple English Bible translation says, "But when the right time came." Each of these translations is emphasizing that Jesus was sent at a specific time. The entrance of Jesus into the physical realm was not a random thing occurring at a haphazard time.

The word "fullness" literally means, "the maximum or complete size, amount, or development" (New American Heritage Dictionary). There were developments which had to take place before Christ could come to the earth and redeem man. The Father sent His Son to the earth at the earliest possible time. Any time prior to the time that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, would have been premature.

Note 5 at Gal. 4:4: Notice that Paul is not saying that God created His Son when He appeared on earth. No. God the Son had existed as God forever prior to that time (see note 3 at Jn. 1:3, p. 2, hardbound LFT only). God the Father sent the already existent Son, Jesus, to the earth through the virgin birth.

Note 6 at Gal. 4:4: The virgin birth of Christ was an essential part of the redemption process (see note 1 at Lk. 1:27, p. 40; see note 18 at 2 Cor. 5:21, p. 1007).

Note 7 at Gal. 4:4: Christ was born under the dispensation of the Old Testament law. He is the only person who ever kept that law flawlessly (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22). He already had righteousness as God before becoming man. Then he earned the righteousness that comes through the law through being perfect. He bore our curse and punishment that we should have received for breaking the law and thereby redeemed us out from under the law (see note 19 at Gal. 3:13, p. 1067). We now have received the perfect righteousness of Jesus by faith (see note 9 at Rom. 8:4, p. 793).