Font Size
Galatians 3:19-4:7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Galatians 3:19-4:7
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.
Sons and Heirs
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment.(L) 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free,(M) male or female;(N) for you are all one(O) in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs(P) according to the promise.(Q) 4 1 Now I say that as long as the heir(R) is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner(S) of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces[c] of the world.(T) 4 When the time came to completion, God sent His Son,(U) born of a woman,(V) born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.(W) 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son(X) into our[d] hearts, crying, “Abba,(Y) Father!”(Z) 7 So you are no longer a slave(AA) but a son,(AB) and if a son, then an heir(AC) through God.
Footnotes
- 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.
- Galatians 4:3 Or spirits, or principles
- Galatians 4:6 Other mss read your
Galatians 3:19-4:7
New International Version
Galatians 3:19-4:7
New International Version
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, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ(O) have clothed yourselves with Christ.(P) 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,(Q) nor is there male and female,(R) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(S) 29 If you belong to Christ,(T) then you are Abraham’s seed,(U) and heirs(V) according to the promise.(W)
4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(X) under the elemental spiritual forces[b] of the world.(Y) 4 But when the set time had fully come,(Z) God sent his Son,(AA) born of a woman,(AB) born under the law,(AC) 5 to redeem(AD) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(AE) to sonship.[c](AF) 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(AG) into our hearts,(AH) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[d] Father.”(AI) 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(AJ)
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:23 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus … 23 Before faith came
- Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles
- Galatians 4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
- Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.