Galatians 3:10-25
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Law and Promise
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,(A) because it is written:(B) Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed.(C)[a] 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live(D) by faith.(E)[b] 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.(F)[c] 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,(G) because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.(H)[d] 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.(I)
15 Brothers, I’m using a human illustration.[e] No one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant[f] that has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,(J)[g] who is Christ. 17 And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later,(K) does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God[h] and cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.
The Purpose of the Law
19 Why then was the law given?(L) 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(M) by means of a mediator.(N) 20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one.(O) 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,[i](P) so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ(Q) might be given to those who believe.(R) 23 Before this faith(S) came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.(T) 24 The law, then, was our guardian[j] until Christ,(U) so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith(V) has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Galatians 3:10 Dt 27:26
- Galatians 3:11 Hab 2:4
- Galatians 3:12 Lv 18:5
- Galatians 3:13 Dt 21:23
- Galatians 3:15 Lit I speak according to man
- Galatians 3:15 Or will, or testament
- Galatians 3:16 Gn 12:7; 13:15; 17:8; 24:7
- Galatians 3:17 Other mss add in Christ
- 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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