¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years^(A) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

³⁹ These were all commended^(A) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,^{(B) 40} since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us^(C) would they be made perfect.^(D)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,^{(A) 14} saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”^{[a](B) 15} And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.^(C)

¹⁶ People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^{(D) 17} Because God wanted to make the unchanging^(E) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^(F) he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,^(G) we who have fled to take hold of the hope^(H) set before us may be greatly encouraged.

¹³ It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise^(A) that he would be heir of the world,^(B) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.^{(C) 14} For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,^(D)

¹³ Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years^(A) your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved^(B) and mistreated there.

³ What if some were unfaithful?^(A) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?^(B)

⁴ I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.^(A)

⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law^(A) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^(B)

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters,^(A) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.