Galatians 3:15-18
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.
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7
Galatians 3:15-18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 Brothers, I’m using a human illustration.[a] No one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant[b] 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,(A)[c] who is Christ. 17 And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later,(B) does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God[d] 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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
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