Galatians 3:19-4:7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Purpose of the Law
19 Why then was the law given?(A) It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels(B) by means of a mediator.(C) 20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one.(D) 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 22 But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power,[a](E) so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ(F) might be given to those who believe.(G) 23 Before this faith(H) came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.(I) 24 The law, then, was our guardian[b] until Christ,(J) so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith(K) has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Sons and Heirs
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment.(L) 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free,(M) male or female;(N) for you are all one(O) in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs(P) according to the promise.(Q) 4 1 Now I say that as long as the heir(R) is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner(S) of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces[c] of the world.(T) 4 When the time came to completion, God sent His Son,(U) born of a woman,(V) born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.(W) 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son(X) into our[d] hearts, crying, “Abba,(Y) Father!”(Z) 7 So you are no longer a slave(AA) but a son,(AB) and if a son, then an heir(AC) through God.
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:22 Lit under sin
- Galatians 3:24 The word translated guardian in vv. 24-25 is different from the word in Gl 4:2. In our culture, we do not have a slave who takes a child to and from school, protecting the child from harm or corruption. In Gk the word paidogogos described such a slave. This slave was not a teacher.
- Galatians 4:3 Or spirits, or principles
- Galatians 4:6 Other mss read your
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