Galatians 3:21
in Galatians 3Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Galatians 3
Commentary
14 notes on this verse(v21 onwards) So is the law 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. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
This site's exposition
Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God?
on Galatians 3:21-22
Paul heads off the inference that law and promise are rivals: Certainly not! The law fails to justify because it was never given to give life. Instead the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, a jailer's word.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
— [GENNADIUS] Therefore the promises bless, but the law makes accursed; consequently the law was given against the promises of God, that is, to hinder them from blessing. [end of the excerpt by Gennadius] — This indeed resolves the opposition, both by what follows and …
Since God gave the law, it is not plausible that that same law should be seen as having been given against the promises. It is certainly against the promises if it embroils us in other things, namely, that we should fulfill the works required by …
We have said that the law given by Moses teaches nothing but sins, admonishing us what sins are and how they are to be avoided. And Scripture draws no other conclusion but lays down all its precepts in the light of and with reference to …
For if the blessing is given in the seed of Abraham, but the Law brings in the curse, it must be contrary to the promises. This objection he meets, first, by a protest, in the words, "God forbid:" And next he brings his proof; "For if there had been a law given which could make alive. verily righteousness would have been of the Law." His meaning is as follows; If we had our hope of life in the Law, and our salvation depended on it, the objection might be valid. But if it save you, by means of Faith, though it brings you under the curse, you suffer nothing from it, gain no harm, in that Faith comes and sets all right. Had the promise been by the Law, you had reasonably feared lest, separating from the Law, you should separate from righteousness, but if it was given in order to shut up all, that is, to convince all and expose their individual sins, far from excluding you from the promises, it now aids you in obtaining them. This is shown by the words...
The Medieval Church1 voice
If the promises communicated blessing, and the law subjected to cursing, then obviously, if we had accepted it as having force, it would have destroyed the promises of God, which give blessing. But let it not be so. Listen further in order. Then, he says, …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Here, the Apostle raises the other question, namely, whether the Law is injurious to grace. First, he raises the question, saying, "Was the law then against the promises of God?" As if to say: If the Law was set because of transgressions, does the Law …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
They are well consistent. But yet the law cannot give life, as the promise doth. If there had been a law which could have given life - Which could have entitled a sinner to life, God would have spared his own Son, and righteousness, or justification. with all the blessings consequent upon it, would have been by that law.
The law is by no means inconsistent with the promise, but subservient to it, as the design of it is to discover men's transgressions, and to show them the need they have of a better righteousness than that of the law.
Is the law then against the promises of God?....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"Is the law (which involves a mediator) against the promises of God (which are without a mediator, and rest on God alone and immediately)? God forbid." life--The law, as an externally prescribed rule, can never internally impart spiritual life to men naturally dead in sin, and change the disposition.
Is the law then against the promises of God? - Is it possible that the intervention of the law, in reference to one part of the Abrahamic seed, should annul the promise made to the other? It is impossible. For if there had been a law, etc. - If any law or rule of life could have been found out that would have given life - saved sinners from death, and made them truly happy, then righteousness- justification, should have been by that law.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Is the law then against the promises of God? - Is the Law of Moses to be regarded as opposed to the promises made to Abraham? Does this follow from any view which can be taken of the subject? The object of the apostle in asking this question is, evidently, to take an opportunity to deny in the most positive manner that there can be any such clashing or contradiction. He shows, therefore, what was the design of the Law, and declares that the object was to further the plan contemplated in the promise made to Abraham.
The words behind it
24 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὁ | ho | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| νόμος | nomos | Law | G3551 → | 192 times |
| κατὰ | kata | [is] contrary to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπαγγελιῶν | epangelion | promises | G1860 → | 52 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ; | theou | of God? | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| μὴ | me | Never | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| γένοιτο. | genoito | would it be! | G1096 → | 667 times |
| εἰ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐδόθη | edothe | was given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| νόμος | nomos | a law | G3551 → | 192 times |
| ὁ | ho | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δυνάμενος | dunamenos | is being able | G1410 → | |
| ζῳοποιῆσαι, | zoopoiesai | to impart life, | G2227 → | |
| ὄντως | ontos | indeed | G3689 → | |
| ἐκ | ek | from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| νόμου | nomou | [the] law | G3551 → | 192 times |
| ἂν | an | then would | G302 → | |
| ἦν | en | was emerging | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δικαιοσύνη· | dikaiosune | righteousness; | G1343 → | 92 times |
ὉThe
hoG3588 →19766 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
νόμοςLaw
nomosG3551 →192 times
κατὰ[is] contrary to
kataG2596 →468 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐπαγγελιῶνpromises
epangelionG1860 →52 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ;of God?
theouG2316 →1312 times
μὴNever
meG3361 →1066 times
γένοιτο.would it be!
genoitoG1096 →667 times
εἰIf
eiG1487 →508 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐδόθηwas given
edotheG1325 →412 times
νόμοςa law
nomosG3551 →192 times
ὁwhich
hoG3588 →19766 times
δυνάμενοςis being able
dunamenosG1410 →
ζῳοποιῆσαι,to impart life,
zoopoiesaiG2227 →
ὄντωςindeed
ontosG3689 →
ἐκfrom
ekG1537 →911 times
νόμου[the] law
nomouG3551 →192 times
ἂνthen would
anG302 →
ἦνwas emerging
enG1510 →2333 times
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
δικαιοσύνη·righteousness;
dikaiosuneG1343 →92 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 2:21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
it leads to
- Romans 11:6
And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
- Hebrews 7:11
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of…
- 1 Corinthians 15:14
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.
- Galatians 2:16
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in…
- Galatians 5:2–4
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
- Romans 11:6
Through
Galatians 2:19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
it leads to
- Romans 7:4
Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear…
- Romans 6:2
Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:10
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
- Romans 7:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies39
On this verse
On this chapter
- Abraham
- The Abrahamic Covenant
- The Bronze Serpent
- The Covenant Lawsuit: When God Sues His People
- Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism
- The Fruit of the Spirit
Show the next 6 titles
- Generational Curses
- Gerizim and Ebal: the blessing and the curse
- God and the Nations, from Abraham to the New Jerusalem
- Hanged on a tree
- Haran
- The Mosaic Covenant
Show the next 6 titles
Show the next 6 titles
- The Covenant of the Pieces
- The Crucifixion
- The Daughters of Zelophehad
- The Death Penalty in the Law of Moses
- The devoted thing (herem)
- The Fall & the Protoevangelium
Show the next 6 titles
About Galatians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 2.3.21; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Galatians; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Galatians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Galatians.