BibleTools
Galatians 3:17
Compare all

The Changeless Promise

15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: aThough it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.  
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of aone, b“And to your Seed,” who is cChrist.  
17 And this I say, that the law, awhich was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God1 in Christ, bthat it should make the promise of no effect.  
18 For if athe inheritance is of the law, bit is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.  

Purpose of the Law

19 What purpose then does the law serve? aIt was added because of transgressions, till the bSeed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was cappointed through angels by the hand dof a mediator.  
20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, abut God is one.  
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
22 But the Scripture has confined aall under sin, bthat the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law,1 kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  
Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
<< Galatians 3:16   Galatians 3:18 >>


Galatians 3:17

Now this I say (touto de legw). Now I mean this. He comes back to his main point and is not carried afield by the special application of sperma to Christ.

Confirmed beforehand by God (prokekurwmenhn upo tou qeou). Perfect passive participle of prokurow, in Byzantine writers and earliest use here. Nowhere else in N.T. The point is in pro and upo tou qeou (by God) and in meta (after) as Burton shows.

Four hundred and thirty years after (meta tetrakosia kai triakonta eth). Literally, "after four hundred and thirty years." This is the date in Exodus 12:40 for the sojourn in Egypt (cf. Genesis 15:13). But the LXX adds words to include the time of the patriarchs in Canaan in this number of years which would cut the time in Egypt in two. Cf. Acts 7:6. It is immaterial to Paul's argument which chronology is adopted except that "the longer the covenant had been in force the more impressive is his statement" (Burton).

Doth not disannul (ouk akuroi). Late verb akurow, in N.T. only here and Matthew 15:6; Mark 7:13 (from a privative and kurov, authority). On katarghsai see I Corinthians 1:28; I Corinthians 2:6; I Corinthians 15:24, I Corinthians 15:26.




Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Galatians 3:17:

Matthew 15:6
Mark 7:13
Acts 7:6
Hebrews 8:6
Hebrews 9:10

 

<< Galatians 3:16   Galatians 3:18 >>

DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.

Join 137,263+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

Close
E-mail This Page