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.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:22 Lit under sin
  2. 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.

19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions(A) until the Seed(B) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels(C) and entrusted to a mediator.(D) 20 A mediator,(E) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!(F) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.(G) 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,(H) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

23 Before the coming of this faith,[a] we were held in custody(I) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.(J) 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came(K) that we might be justified by faith.(L) 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.(M)

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God(N) through faith,

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:23 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus … 23 Before faith came