GALATIANS CHAPTER 3
(A Bible Study Commentary compiled by Don Krow)
GAL 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Paul begins this chapter with the statement, "O foolish Galatians!" "Foolish" carries the idea of someone who is seeing things from a distorted viewpoint and has lost the Divine perspective.
The reason that the Galatians had lost the Divine viewpoint is because of spiritual bewitchment. Can a born again, spirit-filled Christian be bewitched? The Galatians were. Like victims of a magic or evil spell. What happened? Their spiritual eyes were re-directed away from grace and unto law, so that in a real sense they had fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4).
The phrase "before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you" was a term in Paul's day that had to do with the writing or posting of a public announcement on something similar to a billboard. Paul is saying that you came to saving faith in Christ on the basis of Christ and him crucified, it was so clear to you, now why have you embraced a different message?
GAL 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Oh Galatians, even though I instructed you in the way of the gospel and was your teacher, this is what I want to learn from you. Did you receive the Holy Spirit because I instructed you to observe the law of Moses? or did I instruct you in the gospel of Christ and you believed it? Obviously you received the gift of the Holy Spirit by faith!
GAL 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
You began this race with the Spirit's power, your now trying to end it with human effort, i.e. self- effort. You began with dependence upon God's Spirit {i.e. faith} you have now turned to the works of the law for justification and Christian living (See Rom. 7). How could you be so foolish?
The NIV translates "made perfect by the flesh" by the phrase "to attain your goal by human effort."
GAL 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
The Galatians had suffered many things for the sake of the gospel (Acts 13:45, 50; 14:2, 5, 19, 22). Now they are ready to throw it all overboard by accepting a different gospel, a different message. It would be like a politician taking a stand against abortion and suffering much because of it. But now he has turned pro-abortion. He's suffered so much in vain. Paul says of the Galatians, "I can hardly believe what you've done!" (LB).
GAL 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
The "He" in this verse may be the apostle Paul but more correctly it is God Himself who supplies the Spirit and works miracles among the Galatians. God does so on the basis of faith, not by the works of the law or human effort. "Peter...answered unto the people, ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we made this man to walk?...His name (Jesus Christ), through faith in His name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all" (Acts 3:12, 16).
GAL 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
In verses 1-5 of this chapter Paul has been appealing to the previous experience of the Galatians. It was through faith that God supplied them the Spirit, worked miracles among them, etc.
Paul is now introducing the Old Testament example of Abraham being put right with God through faith. He will continue this reasoning until the end of chapter 4. His main point will emphasize that we also are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Judaizers had claimed the Old Testament scriptures to be on their side against Paul's message of Grace. Paul is now going back some 430 years further than Moses to consider Abraham. Abraham was considered the father of the Jewish nation, not Moses. Paul's point is that Abraham was justified by faith not law, so also will his descendants be saved in the same manner. Paul is quoting Gen. 15:6 in the Old Testament to prove that Abraham was justified through faith in the promises of God (Gen. 15:1-5). The promise that Abraham was given was concerning a son {a seed}. This was the content of his faith. At that moment when Abraham believed, God put to his account something that he did not have before, i.e. righteousness.
This scripture is quoted again in Romans 4:3 as an example of justification by faith (See Rom. 4:1-11, 18-25).
GAL 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Paul is stating, Don't you Galatians realize that the real children of Abraham are those who have the same characteristics that Abraham had, i.e. faith and reliance upon God (See Romans 2:28-29).
GAL 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
The scripture "foresaw" that God would justify the Gentiles through faith. The word "foreseeing" carries the idea of "predicting or declaring ahead of time" this good news of the gospel. The scripture that is cited is Genesis 12:3 in which God said that Abraham would be used in bringing blessing to all people on the earth. This blessing would ultimately come through Abraham's Seed, Jesus Christ.
GAL 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Abraham believed and was blessed. So also those who believe are blessed as Abraham was. Part of the blessing of our spiritual inheritance is described in Romans 4:6-11. We are blessed with the same things that Abraham was blessed with, justification through faith and the promise of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:14).
GAL 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
The 2 key words in this passage is "continueth" and "all" things that are written in the book of the law to do them. The Judaizers claimed justification and blessing on anyone who obeyed the law. But in reality the law brought a curse and God's wrath (Rom. 4:15). The curse lay dormant as long as the law was obeyed perfectly, but as soon as it was violated it's curse came into effect (Dt. 27:26; 28:15-68). A "curse" is that which invokes calamity or evil. It's the opposite of "blessing." "Blessings" are a gift of Divine favor. Justification by law, either wholly or in part is that which brings on Divine disapproval, wrath, and ultimate alienation from God. "Ye are severed from Christ ye (that) would be justified by the law" (Gal. 5:4 ASV).
GAL 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
If the law brought a curse (v. 10) then it is evident that it cannot bring justification. That no man was ever justified by the law is made plain by the scripture itself in Habakkuk 2:4. "There are 2 ways of rendering the quotation: either "the just shall live by faith" (NAB, J.B.Phil), or "the just through faith shall live." (TEV, NEB, RSV)" (UBS Handbook, p. 64). Faith is what imparted spiritual life, not works of the law.
GAL 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
When Paul is speaking about faith he is also implying grace. He now states that "the law is not of faith" or grace. Romans 4:4 states, "Now to him that worketh (the principle of law) is the reward (or wages) not reckoned of grace (favor) but of debt (an obligation)." In other words, under law you get what you deserve, under grace you receive God's favor. Romans 11:6 also states, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace." Faith receives what grace has provided, The law is not of faith and gives you what is due (a curse and spiritual death).
Paul is now quoting Lev. 18:5 which Paul also quotes in Rom. 10:5 (See Rom. 10:3-10). In Romans 10, Paul makes the contrast of the law saying, DO and you shall live, Faith says, DONE and receives what grace has provided {salvation for all mankind}.
GAL 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Any failure to obey the law, brought on the laws curse. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of disobedience to the law. The law could bring "blessing" if obeyed or "cursing" if disobeyed. Any failure to obey the law, brought on the laws curse (Dt. 28:15-68).
Paul cites Dt. 21:23 to show that justice was satisfied when Jesus died for the law we broke, thus paying it's penalty and baring it's curse. There is no condemnation awaiting us from the law, for we died in Him.
There are 3 basic Greek words for "redeemed" (1) AGORAZO which means "to buy in the slave market" {we were slaves to the law}. (2) EX-AGORAZO which means "to buy OUT OF the slave market" {it would remove us out from under the principle of the law}. (3) LUTROO means "to SET FREE or RELEASE by a payment {Christ death paid in full the justice the law demanded}. We are now free from the law to be in union with another, Jesus Christ (See Rom. 7:4). What the law was to the Jew {they thought eternal life}, Jesus is to the believer. "Search the scriptures {O.T. law and prophets}; for in them ye THINK YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE: and they are they which testify of me" (Jn. 5:39). Jesus Christ has replaced the law by Himself becoming the full manifestation of the will of God (Heb. 1:1-2).
GAL 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
You can't be cursed and blessed at the same time. A curse is the opposite of blessing. Christ first removed the curse of a broken law by baring it's penalty. So that by receiving the law's curse and punishment as our substitute the blessings of grace and faith that Abraham received can be ours. The blessing {Divine Favor} of Abraham is manifest to us in at least 2 ways: (1) By our faith in Christ accounted to us for righteousness (See Rom. 4:9, 6-9). (2) We have the indwelling, abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts by faith (v. 14).
GAL 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Paul is now saying, I'm going to use a human illustration, If a man's covenant, contract or agreement was drawn up and ratified i.e. you have done whatever is necessary to give it legal force, then no man can break the agreement or add conditions to it.
If it was a contract to build a house for $75,000, the contractor can't come in and say, I'm not making enough money on this and write in $100,000. Nor can the buyer add in an extra room at the same price.
Paul gives the spiritual application to this in the following verses.
GAL 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Paul has been arguing from verse 15 that the promise or covenant given to Abraham is still in force {because no man can add to or take away from a legal covenant}.
The promises or covenant was made with Abraham and his "Seed" {singular} (Gen. 12:2-3; 13:14-15; 15:1, 5-6, 18; 17:2, 7; Rom. 4:6-9; 13-14; 22-25; Gal. 3:14, 22, 29). The promises were not given to Abraham and his "seeds" {referring to the Jewish people, his descendants} but to his "Seed," his ONE descendant which is Christ. "The promises... spoken to Abraham and to his seed...found fulfillment in Christ and are in effect forever" (BKC, p. 598).
The Greek word "seed" is SPERMA which means "the seed, i.e. the grain or kernel which contains within itself the germ of the future plants" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). Paul is going to later argue that believers were the future plants so to speak that were in the one seed Christ. "Thus Abraham personally and to all those who by faith in Christ are brought into salvation, were the promises made" (Wuest's Word Studies, Vol. 1, p. 101) (See Gal. 3:29). God's promise of justification through faith was given long before the introduction of the law.
GAL 3:17-18 [17] And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. [18] For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Paul is now stating what his words really mean as he began his argument in verse 15. If a man's covenant cannot be added to or taken away from, then God's covenant of promise to save men through faith in Christ cannot be affected through the introduction of the law some 430 years after God's promise.
In verse 18 Paul says, that if God's blessings (inheritance) depends on keeping the law then they can't be given by a promise. But God blessed Abraham simply because He promised to do so.
The Living Bible paraphrases verses 17-18 in the following way: "Here's what I am trying to say: God's promise to save through faith - and God wrote this promise down and signed it - could not be canceled or changed 430 years later when God gave the 10 commandments. If obeying those laws could save us, then it is obvious that this would be a different way of gaining God's favor than Abraham's way, for he simply accepted God's promise."
GAL 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
If the law was not given to save us either partly or wholly, Then why was it given? It was added too the covenant of grace to define transgression, to show the real nature of sin and wrongdoing. So that we would be ready to hear about the covenant of grace (Gal. 3:24). It was to remain valid and in force until the coming of the one true descendant of Abraham, i.e. Christ. The law was from God and given to angels (Heb. 2:2; Acts 7:38) to give to Moses who gave it to the people.
So we can say, The law was only a temporary measure. How temporary? "Till" Christ should come. God was twice removed from it's recipients (God-angels-Moses-the people). Whereas in the covenant of faith or grace God alone walked between the pieces of cut animal (Gen. 15) to establish a direct covenant with Abraham's Seed Jesus Christ {while Abraham slept}. This establishes the fact that this covenant is unconditional, and eternal because the 2 parties involved are God the Father and Abraham's seed Jesus Christ. Man can't mess this one up, it's of promise, whereas the covenant of law is conditional based upon men's ability to obey.
GAL 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
"Now a mediator is not a mediator of one." The word "mediator" literally means "to be in the middle or midst." It carries the idea of one who intervenes between two or more and acts as a go-between (Wuest's Word Studies, Vol. 1, p. 106). Paul's main point here is that the covenant of promise is superior to the law because that go-betweens were used in dealing with the people whereas under grace God dealt directly with Abraham.
The thought about "God is one" apparently means God acted alone, directly with Abraham.
GAL 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Because of all that has been said in the negative concerning the law, if I were ask the question, "Is the law against the promises of God?" I would probably reply, "Yes!" But notice Paul's reply was, "No! God Forbid, May it never be."
You see, "Paul is able to give a negative answer to this question because he not only allows that the law has a function, but that function is even related to the fulfillment of God's promise. Already he has said that the law functions as showing what wrongdoing is (v. 19), and later he takes up other functions of the law: as teacher (v.v. 23-25) and as guardian (4:1). But the function of the law is not the same as the function of the promise. The function of the promise is to bring LIFE. If the law could do that, then it would be competing with the promise. But the law cannot bring life, because it was not given for such a purpose" (UBS Handbook, p. 77).
In the Greek there is no definite article before "law" which indicates that Paul is speaking about religious law in general. No religious law has the power to bring forth life, and produce the right standing that God requires for salvation. Justification does not and cannot come by law.
GAL 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
The O.T. scripture has "concluded all under sin" (See Rom. 3:9-20). This phrase "concluded all under sin" is a technical term used for prisoners being confined or imprisoned. Paul is speaking of all mankind being imprisoned and subject to sin and it's bondage. This could be translated "everybody in the world is controlled by his strong desire to sin" (UBS Handbook, p. 79). Promised deliverance from sin and righteousness comes not by observance of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ (See Rom. 7:24- 25; 11:32).
GAL 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
"But before faith came," is not faith in general which Abraham exercised 430 years before the law. This is faith described in verse 22 "faith in Jesus Christ." Men have always been saved by faith but the content of their faith has been somewhat varied. Verse 25 reveals that "faith has come" i.e. the understanding of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
"We were kept under the law, shut up" waiting for saving faith in Christ to be revealed. The word "kept" in the Greek carries the idea of a jailer who has imprisoned us under guilt and condemnation. We are always aware of the consciousness of sin and always looking inward at ourselves. It is only faith in Jesus Christ that has the key that unlocks the door to the laws harsh imprisonment of guilt and condemnation (See 1 Cor. 15:56-57).
GAL 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The law is now stated to be our "schoolmaster" bringing us to Christ so that we might be justified by faith in Him.
The Greek word for "schoolmaster" is PAIDAGOGOS and described a slave in either Greek or Roman households who's job it was to conduct a young child to and from school {to the real teacher}, as well as supervise the life and morals of the child until reaching maturity. Although the PAIDAGOGOS may instruct, his real job was to supervise by strict enforcement of rules and regulation. So until Christ came the law was like someone trying to make us behave.
GAL 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Paul is now stating that the law has served it's function. We are no longer under the law that would bring guilt and condemnation. We are now under the Saviour, Christ Himself.
GAL 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
We are no longer a young child supervised by the PAIDAGOGOS {schoolmaster}. We now have liberty, privilege and rights as full grown children. The law said in a figurative manner: Go to bed at 8:00 p.m., look both ways before crossing the street, eat your vegetables, brush your teeth, etc. As full grown sons we have much more freedom but not freedom to indulge in the lust of the flesh but to walk in love before God and man. Our responsibly is directly related to the relationship we have to the one who loves us and to the one we love.
GAL 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
"The word BAPTIZO primarily has to do with identification. It was a term that was used in the first century for dipping a light-colored garment into dye that was, let's say, scarlet. Once the fabric was dipped into the scarlet dye, it would be changed in it's identity from it's original color to scarlet. The act of dipping it, resulting in changing it's identity, was called BAPTIZO. It is the Greek term from which we get our English word BAPTISM" (The Grace Awakening, by Charles Swindoll, p. 117).
I was once in Adam, I am now in Christ. My identity has changed through faith in Him, when I was baptized into Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
GAL 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.
Distinctions created by religious law that separated Jew and Gentile, male and female, etc. no longer exist in Christ Jesus (See Eph. 2:13-16). Through union with Christ Jesus we have all been made one. The One New Man, the body of Christ joined together by faith in Christ Jesus (See Eph. 1:22-23).
GAL 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Going back to verse 16 we discover that promises were made to Abraham and his seed Christ. Christ was participating in the covenant agreement actually as our representative. The promises were made to Abraham and Christ but Christ had no need of being justified through faith. Therefore as our representative the promise was made to Him and since we are "in Him" we receive the benefits. We are also guaranteed the success of the covenant {we can't mess it up} because the promise was made to Christ {we receive the benefits of being "in Him"}.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(Sources cited and consulted)
(NIV) The New International Version. By International Bible Society, Colorado Springs, CO.
(LB) The Living Bible. A paraphrase by Kenneth N.Taylor. Tyndale House Publishers.
(ASV) The American Standard Version of 1901.
(NAB) The New American Bible.
(J.B.Phil) The New Testament in Modern English, translated by J. B. Phillips.
(TEV) Today's English Version, American Bible Society, New York, N.Y.
(NEB) The New English Bible, Oxford University Press.
(RSV) Revised Standard Version, Collins' Clear-Type Press.
(UBS Handbook) A Handbook on Paul's Letter to the Galatians. By Daniel C. Arichea & Eugene A. Nida. United Bible Societies, New York.
(BKC) The Bible Knowledge Commentary, by John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck, Victor Books.
(Thayer's Greek Lexicon) The New Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, by Joseph Henry Thayer, D.D., Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA 01961.
(Wuest's Word Studies) Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament. Vol.1, by Kenneth S. Wuest. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49502.
(The Grace Awakening) The Grace Awakening, by Charles R. Swindoll, Word Publishing.
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