Galatians 3:15-4:7

New International Version

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.

¹⁹ Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions^(F) until the Seed^(G) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels^(H) and entrusted to a mediator.^{(I) 20} A mediator,^(J) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

²¹ Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!^(K) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.^{(L) 22} But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(M) 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,^[b] we were held in custody^(N) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.^{(O) 24} So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(P) that we might be justified by faith.^{(Q) 25} Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^(R)

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God^(S) through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(T) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{(U) 28} There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,^(V) nor is there male and female,^(W) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.^{(X) 29} If you belong to Christ,^(Y) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(Z) and heirs^(AA) according to the promise.^(AB)

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^(AC) under the elemental spiritual forces^[c] of the world.^{(AD) 4} But when the set time had fully come,^(AE) God sent his Son,^(AF) born of a woman,^(AG) born under the law,^{(AH) 5} to redeem^(AI) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(AJ) to sonship.^{[d](AK) 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(AL) into our hearts,^(AM) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[e] Father.”^{(AN) 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.^(AO)