GALATIANS 3:21-25 Is the law then 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. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
NSB* - The relationship of the law and the promises of God is not a competition, but need and fulfillment. The law was not designed by God to give eternal life and righteousness. Rather, the law showed humanity's need for the promise of life through faith in Jesus Christ (v.9, 2:16), having confined all people under their sin (see Romans 3:23, 6:23).
Note references - Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Against The Promises; Dodson denotes that the word for against here means down from, against, according to, throughout, during. gen: against, down from, throughout, by; acc: over against, among, daily, day-by-day, each day, according to, by way of. The Greek word is κατά kata. Strong's G2596.
The word Promise in this context is defined here. So this part of the verse goes on to say that the law is NOT against the promises of God.
Certainly Not; The King James translation uses the term "God forbid" here. The phrase me genoito, lit., "let it not be" (me, negative, and ginomai, "to become"), is idiomatically translated "God forbid". The Greek word is κωλύω koluo. Vines (def 2), Strong's G2967.
Righteousness; justice, justness, righteousness (usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness. The Greek word used here is δικαιοσύνη dikaiosunē. Strong's G1343.
Moving to Verse 22.
Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Confined; The King James reads "hath concluded all". Strong's defines the Greek word used here for "concluded" as to shut together, i.e. include or (figuratively) embrace in a common subjection to. Thayer expands - 1) to shut up together, enclose 1a) of a shoal of fishes in a net 2) to shut up on all sides, shut up completely. The Greek word is συγκλείω sugkleiō. Strong's G4788.
Under; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)). The Greek word for under used here is ὑπό hupo. Strong's G5259.
Believe; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ). The Greek word used here is πιστεύω pisteuō. Strong's G4100.
My notes - I find it interesting that the definition of belief here has the idea of "entrusting one's spiritual well-being to Christ". So when James 2:19 says "Even the demons believe—and tremble!" it doesn't mean they are entrusting their spiritual well-being. As Thayer suggests the most likely meaning in James is that demons have an intellectual faith, ie, they acknowledge Jesus Christ and fear Him. The resulting actions for them are hatred, rebellion, and disobedience. So James is saying don't be someone who believes but does not respond accordingly as someone trusting in Jesus Christ for their salvation and well-being.
Cross References: Romans 11:32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,
Moving to Verse 23.
Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
NSB* 3:23-25 Paul gives two different illustrations concerning the function of the law until Christ came (4:4,5). The law acted as a jail guard to hold humankind in custody until faith in Jesus Christ was revealed. But the law also served as a tutor. A tutor in ancient Greek culture would accompany the children in his care, instructing and disciplining them when necessary. The law was like a tutor because it both corrected and instructed the Israelites in God's ways until Christ was revealed, and such a tutor was no longer needed. (4:1-2).
Guard; The King James reads "shut up". The Greek word for shut used here means I enclose, shut in, I enclose, shut in, make subject to. The Greek word is συγκλείω sugkleiō. Strong's G4788. I think "guard" works well here because shut in this instance has the idea of being "shut up completely", but both translations are solid.
Revealed; signifies to uncover, unveil" (apo, "from," kalupto, "to cover"); both verbs are used in Matthew 10:26; in Luke 12:2, apokalupto is set in contrast to sunkalupto, "to cover up, cover completely." "The NT occurrences of this word fall under two heads, subjective and objective. The subjective use is that in which something is presented to the mind directly, as, the truth declared to men in the gospel in this instance. Vine's (def 1f), Strong's G601.
Definition references - Matthew 10:26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
Moving to Verse 24 and 25.
Galatians 3:24-25 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Tutor; The King James reads "schoolmaster" instead of tutor here. Strong's defines schoolmaster as a boy-leader, i.e. a servant whose office it was to take the children to school; (by implication, (figuratively) a tutor ("pædagogue")). Thayer expands 1) a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood. The Greek word for schoolmaster is παιδαγωγός paidagōgos. Strong's G3807.
My Notes - Not that I am advocating for living as the Romans did, but this context for schoolmaster or tutor makes it even more comical that we as kids complained about having an 8 or 9-hour school day. These tutors back in the day followed you everywhere.
Acts 13:39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Takeaway - We are now under the grace, (John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.) guidance,(John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.), and hopefully discipline (Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”) of Jesus Christ.
Comments