Galatians 3:23 BSB — MannaFest

Galatians 3:23

Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

KJV

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

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Commentary

3 voices

Clement of Alexandria

The Instructor Book 1 (215)

For that faith is the one universal salvation of humanity, and that there is the same equality before the righteous and loving God, and the same fellowship between Him and all, the apostle most clearly showed, speaking to the following effect: "Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed, so that the law became our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Jerome

Commentary on Galatians (420)

(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.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But before faith came,.... This is to be understood, not of the grace of faith, which was under the former dispensation, as now; the Old Testament saints had the same Spirit of faith, and the same grace of faith, as for its nature, object, and use, as New Testament saints have; Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, &c. believed in Christ, and were justified by faith in his righteousness, as we are.

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Came, we were kept - As in close custody. Under the law - The Mosaic dispensation. Shut up unto the faith which was to be revealed - Reserved and prepared for the gospel dispensation.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2402: “Under Arrest” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1895)

THIS is a condensed history of the Jews before the Gospel was fully preached to them. Before the clear and plain revelation of the way of salvation—that is to say, before Jesus Christ, Himself, actually appeared among the sons of men—the Hebrew nation was put under the tutorship and governance of the Mosaic Law. So far as salvation was to be obtained by it, that Law was a total failure. It did not make the Jews a holy people—whenever they reached any point of excellence, they soon went back from it, for they were bent on backsliding.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

15 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Πρὸ	Pro	Before	G4253 →
τοῦ	tou	<the>	G3588 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
ἐλθεῖν	elthein	coming	G2064 →
τὴν	tēn	<the>	G3588 →
πίστιν	pistin	faith	G4102 →
ὑπὸ	hupo	under	G5259 →
νόμον	nomon	[the] Law	G3551 →
ἐφρουρούμεθα	ephrouroumetha	we were held in custody	G5432 →
συγκλειόμενοι	sugkleiomenoi	being locked up	G4788 →
εἰς	eis	until	G1519 →
τὴν	tēn	which	G3588 →
μέλλουσαν	mellousan	is being soon	G3195 →
πίστιν	pistin	faith	G4102 →
ἀποκαλυφθῆναι.	apokaluphthēnai	to be revealed.	G601 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Galatians 3:19
Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.
leads to
- Acts 7:53
  you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
- Romans 7:7–13
  What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting…
- Hebrews 2:2
  For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,
- Galatians 3:16
  The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
- Romans 5:20–21
  The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Through
Romans 11:32
For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.
leads to
- Galatians 3:22
  But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
Through
Galatians 5:18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
leads to
- Romans 8:14
  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
- Romans 6:14–15
  For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

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The Covenants

Six covenants in succession, cumulative rather than replacing. Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New. Each narrowing the line of promise while widening the scope of fulfillment.

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On Galatians 3:23

The Law as Tutor, MannaFest

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Walks through Galatians 3

The Abrahamic Covenant: Genesis 12 · 15 · 17, MannaFest

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The Bronze Serpent

Christ's own chosen picture of his death. A four-moment story across 1,400 years: sin and plague, command and cure, idolatry and smashing, crucifixion and fulfillment.

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Walks through Galatians 3

The Covenant Lawsuit: When God Sues His People

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The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 names a singular fruit (karpos, not fruits) with nine visible facets. Gifts are distributed; fruit is unified. Every believer bears the whole fruit. The grammar is the theology.

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About Galatians

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Galatians: the study guide →Read chapter 3 →The featured study →

Continue: Galatians 3 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Galatians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Galatians