Gal 3:19-25 | 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.
Summary for Gal 3:23-29: 3:23-29 ^ae Paul contrasts the condition of God’s people under the law before Christ with their condition now under Christ. 3:23 ^af Because sin had imprisoned us (3:22 ^ag), the law was a guard, keeping God’s people in protective custody . . . until the way of faith in Christ was revealed. It made God’s requirements explicit, and thus highlights the need for a Savior. The law also restrains sin by making the consequences of sin explicit.
3:24 ^ah The law is like a child’s guardian (Greek paidagōgos, “tutor”). In Greco-Roman culture, a guardian was a faithful slave responsible for training and protecting the heir until he came of age.
3:25 ^ai the way of faith has come: The principle of righteousness by faith was always operative (cp. 3:6-9 ^aj), but the object of that faith and the means of appropriating it are now clear to everyone through Jesus Christ.

• we no longer need the law as our guardian: In Greco-Roman culture, a freeborn child who came of age was no longer under the discipline of a guardian, but was free to rule himself. So, too, those who are “of age” through faith in Christ are free from the guardianship of the law. They serve Christ directly as he leads by his word and Spirit.