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Galatians 3:18

in Galatians 3

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.

KJV

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

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This verse in Galatians 3

Commentary

14 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Galatians · Written before 1107.

If the law, he says, grants blessing and makes heirs of life and righteousness, then the promise given to Abraham is consequently abolished and destroyed. But this would make no sense: the law appeared later, so how can it annul a covenant that existed before …

This site's exposition

The law that came 430 years later

on Galatians 3:17-18

The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God. A later instrument cannot cancel an earlier ratified one. God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

This site's exposition

if the inheritance depends on the law

Inheritance and promise belong together, and law and promise work by opposite means. An inheritance given by promise rests on the giver's word alone. Freely granted translates kecharistai, a gift of grace stated in the perfect tense.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Galatians · Written before 420.

(V. 15 seqq.) Brothers, I speak in human terms: yet no one rejects or adds to a man's covenant, which has been confirmed. The promises were made to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, 'and to seeds,' referring to many, but referring to one, 'and to your seed,' who is Christ. Now I say this: the covenant, which was confirmed by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate the promise, so as to abolish it.

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 3.18.1-3 · Written before 384.

proposed

The Jews maintain two opposing tenets. For in no way and by no argument can they be persuaded that the promise to Abraham was rendered void by the law, and they are right. But in their short-sighted vanity they maintain another contrary principle, thinking that …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Galatians 3 · Written before 407.

proposed

Thus God made a covenant with Abraham, promising that in his seed the blessing should come upon the heathen; and this blessing the Law cannot turn aside. As this example was not in all respects appropriate to the matter in hand, he introduces it thus, "I speak after the manner of men," that nothing might be deduced from it derogatory to the majesty of God. But let us go to the bottom of this illustration. It was promised Abraham that by his seed the heathen should be blessed; and his seed according to the flesh is Christ; four hundred and thirty years after came the Law; now, if the Law bestows the blessings even life and righteousness, that promise is annulled. And so while no one annuls a man's covenant, the covenant of God after four hundred and thirty years is annulled; for if not that covenant but another instead of it bestows what is promised, then is it set aside, which is most unreasonable.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Galatians · Written before 550.

proposed

"For if the inheritance is of the law." He himself so interpreted it. For if the blessing came through the law and not through Christ, the promise and covenant of God is annulled and terminated. He gave by the promise. He gave the blessing, he …

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Galatians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then when he says, "For, if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise," he shows how from the foregoing it follows that the Law would nullify the promises, if the Law were necessary for justification or for the blessing to …
6 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

And again - This is a new argument. The former was drawn from the time, this from the nature, of the transaction. If the eternal inheritance be obtained by keeping the law, it is no more by virtue of the free promise - These being just opposite to each other.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

For if the inheritance be of the law,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

For if the inheritance - The inheritance promised to Abraham. The sum of the promise was, that “he should be the heir of the world;” see Rom 4:13, and the note at that verse. To that heirship or inheritance Paul refers here, and says that it was an essential part of it that it was to be in virtue of the promise made to him, and not by fulfilling the Law. Be of the law - If it is by observing the Law of Moses; or if it come in any way by the fulfilling of law. This is plain.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

the inheritance--all the blessings to be inherited by Abraham's literal and spiritual children, according to the promise made to him and to his Seed, Christ, justification and glorification (Ga 4:7; 1Co 6:9). but God, &c.--The Greek order requires rather, "But to Abraham it was by promise that God hath given it." The conclusion is, Therefore the inheritance is not of, or from the law (Ro 4:14).

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

For if the inheritance be of the law - See the preceding arguments, in which this is proved.

The words behind it

17 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Ephesians 1:11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,10 works1 Peter 1:4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,7 worksGenesis 22:18And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”7 worksRomans 4:13–16For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.6 worksGalatians 2:21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.5 worksHebrews 6:12–15Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.5 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 105:42For He remembered His holy promise to Abraham His servant.4 worksGenesis 21:10and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!”4 worksLuke 1:72–73to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,3 worksRomans 8:17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.3 worksGalatians 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.3 worksLuke 1:54–55He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,3 worksPsalms 105:6–12O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.3 worksLuke 10:25One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”3 worksGalatians 3:12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”2 worksGalatians 3:10All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”2 worksGalatians 3:16The 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.2 worksMicah 7:18–20Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 2:21

    I 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.

    • Galatians 3:21

      Is 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.

    • 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…

  • Through

    Psalms 105:42

    For He remembered His holy promise to Abraham His servant.

    it leads to

    • Exodus 2:24

      So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

    • Luke 1:72–73

      to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

    • Luke 1:54–55

      He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,

Where this verse is studied

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About Galatians

Conversion on the Way to Damascus, Caravaggio, about 1600 to 1601. Public domain.
Conversion on the Way to Damascus, Caravaggio, about 1600 to 1601. Public domain.
Galatians: the study guide →Read Galatians 3 →
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 3.18.1-3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians; John Calvin, Commentary on Galatians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 3; 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.

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