Galatians 3 Explained

Galatians 3 is the third chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle for the churches in Galatia, written between 49–58 AD. This chapter contains Paul's important argument about Abraham's faith and his 'offspring', a designation for "those belong to Jesus Christ".

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 29 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Old Testament references

15:6 KJV

27:26 KJV; Jeremiah 11:3

21:23 KJV

How to receive the Spirit (3:1–5)

Paul questions whether the Galatians received the Spirit by "works of the law" or by "believing what is heard", because receiving the Spirit is "the basis of their Christian experience" and should be continued in Spirit, not "with the flesh", meaning not on "the basis of carrying out the requirements of the law".

Abraham Believed God (3:6–14)

Abraham is introduced in this part as his story is well-known to the people. The focus is on "Abraham's faith in God as the basis of his standing before God".

Verse 6

just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."[2]

Paul cited from the Old Testament, 15:6 KJV.

Verse 7

You see, then, that those who have faith are Abraham’s real descendants.[3]

Verse 8

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news in advance to Abraham: “In you all the nations will be blessed.” [4]

Verse 10

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."[5] Citation from 27:26 KJV;

Verse 11

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”[6] Citation from:

The Pulpit Commentary paraphrases as "but that in the Law no man is justified with God, is evident," that "be justified" means to be brought out of a state of guiltiness and cursedness into a state of acceptance. This commentary asserts that Paul, assuming every one guilty and under a curse, now shows that the Law offers no means of justification, and thus by "adducing that cardinal aphorism of Habakkuk" substantiates the doctrine of justification by faith (also cited in ;). When in 2 Acts it is read that in the synagogue at the Pisidian Antioch, in close connection with the statement that through believing in Christ a man is justified, Paul cited another passage of Habakkuk (2 Habakkuk), denouncing unbelieving despisers, indicating to the Pulpit Commentary that he had made good his statement about justification by alleging this same probative text.

The "law" is defined in the Pulpit Commentary as "being it", "the sphere and domain of the Law", comparing the use of the same preposition with Romans 2:12 ("As many as have sinned under [Greek, 'in'] the Law;") Romans 3:19 ("It saith to them that are under [Greek, 'in'] the Law."), whereas an exactly parallel construction is found in Acts 13:39 ("From all things from which ye could not by [Greek, 'in'] the Law be justified.").

Noted in the Pulpit Commentary that the preposition "with" (παρά, para) is used similarly in Romans 2:13 ("For not the hearers of the Law are righteous with God"); 1 Corinthians 3:19 ("The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God"), so it is God himself that justifies the sinner (Romans 3:30; Romans 4:5).

Verse 13

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),[8]

Abraham's Offspring (3:15–29)

In this part, Paul states that the interpretation of the promises in 17:8 KJV is not for Abraham's "descendants" (plural), but for his "offspring" (singular; "seed" in Greek), referring to one person, Christ. The true "children of Abraham" are thus "those who are in Christ Jesus".

Verse 16

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.[10] Paul cited from the Old Testament, 12:7 KJV; KJV; KJV. In 22:18 KJV the promise to Abraham says, "In your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed."

Verse 28

See main article: Galatians 3:28.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.[11]

Verse 29

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.[12]

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Aland , Kurt . Kurt Aland

    . Kurt Aland . Aland . Barbara . Barbara Aland . Erroll F. Rhodes (trans.) . The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism . . 1995 . Grand Rapids . 124 . 978-0-8028-4098-1.

  2. 2 Galatians NKJV
  3. 2 Galatians ISV
  4. 2 Galatians LEB
  5. 2 Galatians NKJV
  6. 2 Galatians NKJV
  7. [Pulpit Commentary]
  8. 2 Galatians NKJV
  9. http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/galatians-3-13.html John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, - Galatians 3:13
  10. 2 Galatians NKJV
  11. 3:28 KJV KJV
  12. 2 Galatians NKJV
  13. Note on Galatians 3:29 (also Galatians 3:16) in NET Bible