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The Promise to Abraham

15 Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will[a] has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it.(A) 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring;[b] it does not say, “And to offsprings,”[c] as of many, but it says, “And to your offspring,”[d] that is, to one person, who is Christ.(B) 17 My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.(C) 18 For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise, but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.(D)

The Purpose of the Law

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring[e] would come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ordained through angels by a mediator.(E) 20 Now a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one.(F)

21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. 22 But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through the faith of Jesus Christ[f] might be given to those who believe.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.15 Or covenant
  2. 3.16 Gk seed
  3. 3.16 Gk seeds
  4. 3.16 Gk seed
  5. 3.19 Gk seed
  6. 3.22 Or through faith in Jesus Christ