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Galatians

Chapter 3

Faith, Promise, and the Law's Custody

Paul rebukes the Galatians for beginning by the Spirit and now turning toward the flesh, then argues from their own experience and from Abraham that blessing, righteousness, and the Spirit come by hearing with faith rather than by works of the law. He traces the law's place more narrowly, showing that it cannot undo the prior promise, that Christ has redeemed from its curse, and that in Christ all who believe are Abraham's offspring and heirs of the promise.

This chapter gives the letter's main argument its fuller scriptural shape. After the narrative defense of chapters 1 and 2, Paul now presses directly into the relation between faith, Abraham, the law, Christ, and the identity of God's people.

4 sections·607 words·~3 min read

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Galatians 3

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vv. 1-9

Faith and Belief

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O1 foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing? 5Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?

6So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

vv. 10-14

Christ Has Redeemed Us

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A10ll who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

vv. 15-25

The Purpose of the Law

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B15rothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

19Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one. 21Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. 22But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

vv. 26-29

Sons through Faith in Christ

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Y26ou are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

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  1. 01vv. 1-9Faith and BeliefPaul begins with sharp astonishment that the Galatians could turn away after Christ had been set before them as crucified and after they had received the Spirit by hearing with faith. He then turns to Abraham, showing that righteousness, sonship, and blessing belong with faith, so that those who believe stand with Abraham himself.
  2. 02vv. 10-14Christ Has Redeemed UsPaul says that everyone who relies on works of the law stands under its curse, because the law demands complete continuance and does not operate by faith. But Christ has redeemed from that curse by becoming a curse on behalf of his people, so that Abraham's blessing might reach the Gentiles in him and the promised Spirit might be received through faith.
  3. 03vv. 15-25The Purpose of the LawPaul argues that God's prior promise to Abraham cannot be annulled by the law that came later, since inheritance by promise and inheritance by law are not the same kind of thing. The law was added because of transgressions and functioned for a time under restraint and mediation, but it could never give life; instead it held everything under sin until the promised faith in Christ was revealed.
  4. 04vv. 26-29Sons through Faith in ChristPaul says that through faith in Christ Jesus all are sons of God, clothed with Christ in baptism and gathered into a unity that overtakes the old divisions of Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female. Belonging to Christ means belonging to Abraham's seed as well, and therefore sharing in the inheritance promised from the beginning.
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