The Law and the Promise

15 (A)To give a human example, brothers:[a] (B)even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now (C)the promises were made (D)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, (E)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came (F)430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as (G)to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but (H)God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:15 Or brothers and sisters

15 Brothers and sisters, I’ll use an example from human experience. No one ignores or makes additions to a validated will. 16 The promises were made to Abraham and to his descendant. It doesn’t say, “and to the descendants,” as if referring to many rather than just one. It says, “and to your descendant,” who is Christ. 17 I’m saying this: the Law, which came four hundred thirty years later, doesn’t invalidate the agreement that was previously validated by God so that it cancels the promise. 18 If the inheritance were based upon the Law, it would no longer be from the promise. But God has given it graciously to Abraham through a promise.

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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. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.(B) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a](C) meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years(D) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;(E) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7