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THE LETTER TO THE GALATIANS
CHAPTER THREE:
“THE LAW AND FAITH”
[“Curse and Blessing”]
Key Word: Faith
Theme Verse: 12
Galatians 3:1-6 – An Evil Influence
GA3:1 O you senseless,58
Galatians! Who bewitched you?59
Those of you who saw with your own eyes Jesus Christ publicly executed?60
58
Senseless: Or, Foolish [RSV] senseless [MOF], stupid [NEB]. The Greek is ANEOTOS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #453] and means
“without understanding”.
59
Who has bewitched you: Or, cast a spell [KNX], fascinating you [TCN]. The Greek is BASKAINO [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #940, to bring evil on one by feigning praise or an evil eye]. It is those Christian Judaizers mentioned earlier.
60
Executed: Or, depicted [TCN], placarded [MOF], exposed to view [KNX], openly displayed [NEB], so graphically presented [BER]. The Greek is PROGRAPHIO [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4270, to depict, portray, paint, before the eyes] Either through Paul’s preaching [1 Corinthians 1:23] or as eyewitnesses. [Acts 2:9]
GA3:2 Permit me to ask one question: Did you receive the Pneuma because of works of the Law [of Moses]? Or, was it rather by obedient listening in faith?61
61
Deep conviction: Or, obedience to the call of faith [KNX]. The Greek AKOES for “hearing” may infer “oral instruction.”
[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #189] Compare John 3:36.
GA3:3 Are you so foolish? You began spiritually but are you now ending up fleshly?62
62
Fleshy: By submitting to the Law of Moses to which they have died?
GA3:4 Did
you endure so much for no purpose at all? If it was without purpose.
GA3:5 Tell me, does the One who continues to supply you the Pneuma – working miracles within and among you – do this because of works of the Law [of Moses]? Or, is it by obedient listening in faith?
GA3:6 Even so
Abraham believed God and was accounted to him as righteousness. [Genesis 15:6]
Review Questions
Why does Paul call the Galatians foolish?
Who influenced the Galatians? (Galatians 5:7)
Does God supply spirit for works or faith? (Romans 10:17)
What is verse 6 quoting?
Galatians 3:7-9 – Justification by Faith Foretold
GA3:7 Are you not aware that it is persons of deep conviction who are the children of Abraham?63
63
Children of Abraham: Not observers of the Law of Moses. Because one traces his lineage to Abraham does not mean he is a true child of
Abraham. Note the words of John the Baptist. [Matthew 3:9]
GA3:8 And so the Scripture – seeing beforehand that The God would pronounce innocent64
the non-Jews because of deep conviction – declared the Gospel in advance to Abraham, saying:
“In you will all the non-Jews become blessed.” [Genesis 12:3]
64
The Scripture: The Greek “foreseeing” is a long Greek word PROEUAGGELIZOMA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4283,
to announce or promise glad tidings beforehand], that is, before + good + message [angel]. This is Paul’s inspired interpretation of Genesis 12:3 – the Gentiles or non-Jews are those who become disciples of Jesus Christ.
GA3:9 Therefore, everyone who are persons of deep conviction are being blessed with faithful Abraham.
Review Questions
To whom was the Gospel of justification first mentioned?
Who were to be so blessed? (Acts 3:25)
What is the quotation in verse 8?
Does Paul view the Book of Genesis as “scripture”? (2 Timothy 3:16)
Galatians 3:10-14 – Law’s Curse and Faith’s Blessing
GA3:10 For anyone who relies on works of the Law [of Moses] are under a curse.65
Because it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who does not remain in all those things66 written
in the book of the Law in order to keep them.”
[Deuteronomy 27:26]
65
A curse: Thus, all Jews are under a curse as observers of the Law of Moses.
66
Cursed: Paul uses Deuteronomy 27:26 to prove that all Jews are under a curse because not “all things” are observed.
GA3:11 Now it is obvious that no one is pronounced innocent before The God by means of the Law [of Moses]. For [it says],
“the righteous person will live because of faith.” [Habakkuk 2:4]
GA3:12 However, the Law [of Moses] does not rely on faith,67
but rather,
the person who does them will live because of them. [Leviticus 18:5]
67
Law does not rely on faith: Paul cites Leviticus 18:5 as proof that Law has nothing to do with faith, but rather either obeying or disobeying
them.
GA3:13 Christ removed us [Jews] from the curse of the Law68
[of Moses] because he became a curse in our place. For it is written,
“Cursed is anyone hung on a tree.”69
[Deuteronomy 21:23].
68
Christ removed us from the curse of the Law: Or, ransomed [TCN]. By “us” he means Jews.
69
Tree: Or, gibbet [KNX]. The Greek is XYLOU [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3586, a beam from which any one is suspended… a log or
timber… tree] or literal “wood” or a piece thereof. It is something of a synonym for STAUROO [stake or pole] that has traditionally been by the Latin “cross” indicating the Catholic influence.
GA3:14 This was so that by means of Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might be realized by the non-Jews,70
so that all of us might receive
the promise of the Pneuma [Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:28] by reason of deep conviction.
70
Realized the non-Jews:
The Jews are released from the Law’s curse by the death of Messiah on a tree. The non-Jews are blessed by means of a faith like Abraham’s.
Review Questions
What “curse” does Paul mention?
Which justifies – law or faith?
Does the law rest on faith?
How did Christ redeem the Jews?
What would come to the non-Jews?
What are some of the scriptures Paul quotes?
Galatians 3:15-18 – No One Changes a Contract
GA3:15 To illustrate this with a human example,71
brothers, no one sets aside even a human contract,72
nor adds to it after it has been agreed upon.
71
Human example: Or, manner of men [KJV], illustration from every-day life [WEY], argument from common life [KNX].
72
Human contract: Or, men’s covenant [KJV], human covenant [WEY], a valid legal disposition made by an ordinary human [KNX], a man’s
will and testament [NEB].
GA3:16 Now these promises were made with Abraham and his seed.73
It does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as if many, but only to One –
and to your Seed74
[Genesis 12:7] – who is Christ.
73
To Abraham and to his offspring: Or, to Jews.
74
And to your Seed: In Hebrew this is ZERA in the singular [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2233]. The Greek is SPERMATI [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4690, the product of this semen, seed, children,
offspring, progeny], singular masculine as in the LXX.
GA3:17 So this is my meaning: the Law [of Moses] – which came into existence 430 years later – does not put aside a contract
already agreed upon by God, so as to make the promise worthless.
GA3:18 Because if the inheritance is by the Law [of Moses] it is no longer because of a promise. However, The God gave that contract to Abraham through a promise.
Review Questions
What human example does Paul give? (Hebrews 9:17)
Who is the Seed of Abraham?(Genesis 49:10)
Did the Law Covenant annul the Abrahamic Covenant? (Romans 4:14)
Is the inheritance by law or promise?
Galatians 3:19-22 – Law Added until Promise Fulfilled
GA3:19 So, what then, is the purpose of the Law [of Moses]? It was added75
later to identify transgressions until the Seed should arrive76
to whom the promise had been made. This Law was orderly arranged through angels by means of a mediator.
75
It was added: To the Abrahamic Covenant.
76
Seed should arrive: That is, Christ. The word “come” is from the Greek ELTHE in Nestle-Aland, and ERCHOMAI [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2064, used both of persons arriving and of those returning…
to appear, make one’s appearance, come before the public].
GA3:20 Now this mediator suggests another – the one God.77
77
One God: Not, three.
GA3:21 Is the Law [of Moses] opposed to God’s
promises? Absolutely not! Because if a law had been provided that would result in life, then righteousness would surely have been through the Law [of Moses].
GA3:22 However, the Scripture shut up everything under sin so that what was promised resulting from deep conviction in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Review Questions:
Why was the Law added? (1 Timothy 1:9)
How was the Law ordained? (Acts 7:38, 53; Deuteronomy 5:5)
How many is God? (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 2:5)
Why is the Law not against God’s promise? (1 Timothy 1:8, 9)
The promise is for whom? (Romans 4:11)
Galatians 3:23-25 – No Longer under the Law as Tutor
GA3:23 However, now before this faith arrived, we [Jews] were kept under guard,78
held in restraint79
until this faith would be revealed.80
78
Under guard: Or, keep [KJV], shut up [CON], imprisoned [PME]. The RT has PHROUREO [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5432, to guard,
protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight] while W-H have EPHROUROUMETHA [kept under watch]
79
Held in restraint: Or, shut up [KJV], in ward [CON], under the power of [PME]. The Greek is SYNKLEIOMENOI in W-H, while the RT uses SUGKLEIO [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4788, to shut up on all sides, shut up
completely]. The Law protected the Israelites and Jews by isolating and insulating them as a people from the non-Jews. They traveled through history as with a wall around them until that moment when the Messiah, the Seed of Abraham should appear.
80
Revealed: From, APOCALYPSIS, to unveil.
GA3:24 So that the Law [of Moses]
was the childhood guide and custodian [of us Jews] until Christ arrived and then we could be pronounced innocent because of deep conviction.
GA3:25 But how that this faith has arrived we [Jews] are no longer under81
the watchful guard of a childhood custodian.82
81
No longer under: That is, “No longer under the Law of Moses.” Or, completely free from [PME]. Compare Romans 7:1-4.
82
Childhood custodian: Or, schoolmaster [KJV], tutor [WEY], strict governess [PME]. The Greek is PAIDAGOGON [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3807, a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.] That is, no longer under the Law of Moses, the pedagogue. By “we” Paul means Jews.
Review Questions
Who were confined under the Law? (Colossians 2:14)
Confined until when? (Romans 10:4)
The Law is compared to what? (Hebrews 10:1)
And what of the “custodian”? (Romans 7:1-4)
Galatians 3:26-29 – Who Are the Seed of Abraham?
GA3:26 So in union with Christ Jesus all of you are God’s sons83
because of deep conviction.
83
Sons: Or, children [KJV].
GA3:27 For all of you who were immersed
into Christ have taken Christ upon yourselves.84
84
Have taken Christ upon yourselves: Or, clothed yourselves [TCN], taken on the character of [MOF], put on the family likeness of [PME],
identified with [NWT ftn]. The Greek is ENEDOUSASTHE [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1746, to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one’s self]. The person immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene rises as a New Person patterned
after the image of God’s Son. Such a person carries Christ into daily life as though wearing his garments of faith and love.
GA3:28 None [in Christ] are viewed as Jews or non-Jews,85
as slaves or freeman,86
as male or female.87
Because all of you are one in union with Christ Jesus.
85
Jew nor non-Jews: There are Jews and non-Jews in the Church. But, the differentiation of Jew or Greek [non-Jew] does not exist in the
Church. The Church is neither Jew nor Greek. There can be no part of the Church which insists upon observing the Law of Moses as “Jewish” Christians.
86
Slave nor freeman: There were slaves and freemen in the early Church [1 Corinthians 7:21; Colossians 3:22], but the Church itself cannot be classified or characterized as such.
