Galatians 3:14–29

¹⁴in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Promise to Abraham and His Descendant

¹⁵Brothers, I am speaking according to a human perspective. Nevertheless, when^* the covenant of a man has been ratified, no one declares it invalid or adds additional provisions to it. ¹⁶Now to Abraham and to his descendant the promises were spoken. It does not say, “and to descendants,” as concerning many, but as concerning one, “and to your descendant,”^h who is Christ. ¹⁷Now I am saying this: the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.

The Addition of the Law

¹⁹Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the descendant should come to whom it had been promised, having been ordered through angels by the hand of a mediator. ²⁰Now the mediator is not for one, but God is one.

²¹Therefore is the law opposed to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, certainly righteousness would have been from the law. ²²But the scripture imprisoned all under sin, in order that the promise could be given by faithⁱ in Jesus Christ to those who believe.

²³But before faith came, we were detained under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. ²⁴So then, the law became our guardian until Christ, in order that we could be justified by faith. ²⁵But after^* faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. ²⁶For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,^{j 27}for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you are Christ’s, then you are descendants of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.