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Galatians 3:15-29
New American Standard Bible
Galatians 3:15-29
New American Standard Bible
Intent of the Law
15 (A)Brothers and sisters, (B)I speak [a]in terms of human relations: (C)even though it is only a man’s [b]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds [c]conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken (D)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “(E)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came (F)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For (G)if the inheritance is [d]based on law, it is no longer [e]based on a promise; but (H)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
19 (I)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the [f]violations, having been (J)ordered through angels (K)at the hand of a [g]mediator, until (L)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now (M)a mediator is not [h]for one party only; but God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? [i](N)Far from it! For (O)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness [j]would indeed have been [k]based on law. 22 But the Scripture has (P)confined [l]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, [m]we were kept in custody under the Law, (Q)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our [n](R)guardian to lead us to Christ, so that (S)we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a [o](T)guardian. 26 For you are all (U)sons and daughters of God through faith in (V)Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were (W)baptized into Christ have (X)clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 (Y)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is [p]neither male nor female; for (Z)you are all one in (AA)Christ Jesus. 29 And if (AB)you [q]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s [r]descendants, heirs according to (AC)promise.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Galatians 3:15 Lit according to man
- Galatians 3:15 Or will; or testament
- Galatians 3:15 Or a codicil
- Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:19 I.e., of God’s commands
- Galatians 3:19 I.e., Moses
- Galatians 3:20 Lit of one
- Galatians 3:21 Lit May it never happen!
- Galatians 3:21 Or would indeed be
- Galatians 3:21 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:22 Lit all things
- Galatians 3:23 I.e., the Jews
- Galatians 3:24 I.e., children’s escort and supervisor
- Galatians 3:25 See note v 24
- Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female
- Galatians 3:29 Lit are Christ’s
- Galatians 3:29 Lit seed
Galatians 3:15-29
New International Version
Galatians 3:15-29
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)
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7
- Galatians 3:23 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus … 23 Before faith came
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