Galatians 3:18

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

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

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

BSB

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.

KJV

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

ASV

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

BBE

Because if the heritage is by the law, it is no longer dependent on the word of God; but God gave it to Abraham by his word.

Original Greek

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εἰ ei If G1487 γὰρ gar for G1063 ἐκ ek by G1537 νόμου nomou [the] Law [is] G3551 ἡ hē the G3588 κληρονομία klēronomia inheritance G2817 οὐκέτι ouketi no longer G3756 ἐξ ex by G1537 ἐπαγγελίας epangelias a promise G1860 τῷ tō (the) G3588 δὲ de but G1161 Ἀβραὰμ Abraam to Abraham G11 δι di᾽ through G1223 ἐπαγγελίας epangelias a promise G1860 κεχάρισται kecharistai has granted [it] G5483 ὁ ho (the) G3588 θεός.¶ theos God G2316

The early church

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.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Galatians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 15–18

The covenant God made with Abraham, was not done away by the giving the law to Moses. The covenant was made with Abraham and his Seed. It is still in force; Christ abideth for ever in his person, and his spiritual seed, who are his by faith. By this we learn the difference between the promises of the law and those of the gospel. The promises of the law are made to the person of every man; the promises of the gospel are first made to Christ, then by him to those who are by faith ingrafted into Christ. Rightly to divide the word of truth, a great difference must be put between the promise and the law, as to the inward affections, and the whole practice of life. When the promise is mingled with the law, it is made nothing but the law. Let Christ be always before our eyes, as a sure argument for the defence of faith, against dependence on human righteousness.

Read Matthew Henry on Galatians 3 →

Cross-references

14

People & places

Abraham

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.