Galatians 3:19-26
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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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.
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