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Galatians 3:15-4:7
New International Version
Galatians 3:15-4:7
New International Version
The Law and the Promise
15 Brothers and sisters,(A) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.(B) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a](C) meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years(D) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;(E) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions(F) until the Seed(G) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels(H) and entrusted to a mediator.(I) 20 A mediator,(J) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!(K) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.(L) 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,(M) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith,[b] we were held in custody(N) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.(O) 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came(P) that we might be justified by faith.(Q) 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.(R)
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God(S) through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ(T) have clothed yourselves with Christ.(U) 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,(V) nor is there male and female,(W) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(X) 29 If you belong to Christ,(Y) then you are Abraham’s seed,(Z) and heirs(AA) according to the promise.(AB)
4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(AC) under the elemental spiritual forces[c] of the world.(AD) 4 But when the set time had fully come,(AE) God sent his Son,(AF) born of a woman,(AG) born under the law,(AH) 5 to redeem(AI) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(AJ) to sonship.[d](AK) 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(AL) into our hearts,(AM) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[e] Father.”(AN) 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(AO)
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7
- Galatians 3:23 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus … 23 Before faith came
- Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles
- Galatians 4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
- Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father
Galatians 3:15-4:7
King James Version
Galatians 3:15-4:7
King James Version
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
New International Version (NIV) 
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