Gal 3:19-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gal 3:19-22: 3:19-22 Paul’s argument so far might lead his readers to believe that the law had no purpose. Here, however, Paul emphasizes the law’s proper role in order to correct false teaching about the law. 3:19 If people do not receive God’s inheritance through the law, why, then, was the law given? It was to show people their sins and make it clear that sinful actions are offenses against God. People cannot rely on their own goodness to save them, but must turn to God in faith (see Rom 3:19-20 ; 4:15 ; 5:20 ; 7:7-13 ). • until the coming of the child who was promised: See Gal 3:16 . While the promise is permanent, the law was temporary. With Christ’s coming, the law was fulfilled (see Matt 5:17-20 ; cp. Matt 3:13-15 ; John 19:30 ) and God’s acceptance is based entirely on faith in Christ. • through angels: Deuteronomy 33:2 in the Greek version describes the Lord’s coming from Sinai “with myriads of holy ones, angels with him at his right hand.” See also Ps 68:17 ; Acts 7:38 , 53 ; Heb 2:2 . • Moses, who was the mediator: See Exod 20:19 ; Deut 5:24-27 .

Summary for Gal 3:19-22: 3:19-22 ^a Paul’s argument so far might lead his readers to believe that the law had no purpose. Here, however, Paul emphasizes the law’s proper role in order to correct false teaching about the law. 3:19 ^b If people do not receive God’s inheritance through the law, why, then, was the law given? It was to show people their sins and make it clear that sinful actions are offenses against God. People cannot rely on their own goodness to save them, but must turn to God in faith (see Rom 3:19-20 ^c; 4:15 ^d; 5:20 ^e; 7:7-13 ^f).

• until the coming of the child who was promised: See Gal 3:16 ^g. While the promise is permanent, the law was temporary. With Christ’s coming, the law was fulfilled (see Matt 5:17-20 ^h; cp. Matt 3:13-15 ⁱ; John 19:30 ^j) and God’s acceptance is based entirely on faith in Christ.

• through angels: Deuteronomy 33:2 ^k in the Greek version describes the Lord’s coming from Sinai “with myriads of holy ones, angels with him at his right hand.” See also Ps 68:17 ^l; Acts 7:38 ^m, 53 ⁿ; Heb 2:2 ^o.

• Moses, who was the mediator: See Exod 20:19 ^p; Deut 5:24-27 ^q.
3:20 ^r The law, given through angels and a mediator, required agreement between God and the people. The law was conditional, with blessings and curses attached to keeping or not keeping its statutes. In contrast, God gave his promise to Abraham directly; he did not use a mediator. It was God’s unilateral and unconditional commitment.

• God, who is one: Paul used the basic Jewish creed (Deut 6:4 ^s) to convince Gentile Christians not to become Jewish converts.
Summary for Gal 3:21-25: 3:21-25 ^t See Rom 7:7-13 ^u. 3:21 ^v No conflict of purpose exists between law and promise, or between law and faith. Law partners with the promise in bringing people to faith in Christ. Law has its proper roles of declaring people prisoners of sin (3:19 ^w, 22 ^x) and of restraining sin (3:23-25 ^y). In Galatia, the Judaizers tried to convince Gentile Christians that the law could do something it was never intended to do—give ... new life and make people right with God. God does these things on the basis of faith in his promise, which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (see 3:22 ^z).
3:22 ^aa we are all prisoners of sin: See Rom 3:9 ^ab; 7:1-13 ^ac; 11:32 ^ad. Keeping the law is of no use in bringing salvation; only believing in Jesus Christ can bring freedom.