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15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring.[a] He doesn’t say, “To descendants[b]”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”,Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7 which is Christ. 17 Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:16 or, seed
  2. 3:16 or, seeds

The Law and God’s Promise

15 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child.[b] And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,[c]” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:15 Greek Brothers.
  2. 3:16a Greek seed; also in 3:16c, 19. See notes on Gen 12:7 and 13:15.
  3. 3:16b Greek seeds.