Gospel Prayer Ministry

📖 Passage

Galatians 3:15–22
Read Galatians 3:15–22 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

Paul has shown that blessing and the Spirit come by faith like Abraham (Gal 3:1–9) and that reliance on the Law brings a curse overcome only by Christ’s redeeming death (Gal 3:10–14). He now clarifies how the Law relates to God’s promise.

Covenant analogy (3:15): Just as a human covenant, once ratified, cannot be annulled or altered, so God’s covenant promise stands firm. His word to Abraham is unchangeable.
Promise to Abraham and his Seed (3:16): The promise was made not only to Abraham but to his “Seed”—Paul interprets this ultimately as Christ. The inheritance of blessing and justification is secured in Him.
Law came later (3:17): The Law, given 430 years after the promise, cannot invalidate or override what God had already sworn to Abraham (Exod 12:40–41). The promise rests on God’s unilateral grace, not on human performance.
Purpose of the Law (3:19–20): The Law was “added because of transgressions”—that is, it was given to reveal sin more clearly, to restrain evil, and to prepare the way until the coming of the promised Seed (Rom 5:20). It was delivered through angels by a mediator (Moses), highlighting its provisional and secondary role compared to the direct promise.
The Law is good, but limited (3:21–22): The Law is not opposed to the promises of God, yet it cannot give life or righteousness. Instead, it shuts up all under sin, making humanity aware of its bondage, so that the promise might be received through faith in Christ by those who believe.

This section preserves the unity of salvation history: the promise to Abraham was foundational, the Law was temporary and preparatory, and Christ is the fulfillment. The Law drives sinners to despair of self-righteousness, while the promise drives them to Christ for justification and life.

🌿 Key Themes

Priority of Promise — God’s covenant with Abraham came first, 430 years before Sinai, and therefore governs the unfolding story of redemption (Gal 3:17).
Seed = Christ — The promises were made to Abraham and his “Seed,” ultimately fulfilled in Christ, the true heir and representative of His people (Gal 3:16).
Purpose of the Law — The Law was added because of transgressions: it exposes sin, restrains evil, and serves as a temporary guardian until Christ (Rom 5:20).
Law Not Life-Giving — The Law is good but cannot grant righteousness or impart life. Its role is preparatory, not salvific (Gal 3:21).
Scripture’s Verdict — All are imprisoned under sin, so that salvation might be received by promise through faith in Christ alone (Gal 3:22).

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Galatians 3:15 — Covenant Analogy

“Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.”

Unalterable covenant: Even human covenants, once ratified, stand binding. How much more secure is the covenant promise of God.
Pastoral comfort: God’s promise is not fragile or conditional; it rests on His unchanging character, not human performance (Heb 6:17–18).

Galatians 3:16 — To Abraham and His Seed

“…He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.”

Christological fulfillment: The promises are funneled toward Christ, the true Seed of Abraham.
In Him inheritance is secured: All the promises of God find their Yes in Christ (2 Cor 1:20), and those united to Him by faith share His inheritance (Rom 8:17).

Galatians 3:17–18 — Law Cannot Annul Promise

“The law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant…”

Historical priority: The promise given to Abraham predates Sinai by centuries; therefore inheritance is grounded in promise, not Law.
Grace safeguarded: If inheritance depended on obedience to Law, it would cease to be promise—and grace would no longer be grace (Rom 4:14).

Galatians 3:19 — Why Then the Law?

“It was added because of transgressions… ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator, till the Seed should come…”

Because of transgressions: The Law exposes sin’s depth (Rom 3:20), defines its boundaries, provokes rebellion (Rom 7:7–8), and restrains evil within Israel.
Provisional horizon: Its role was temporary, until Christ came—the Law is preparatory, not ultimate.

Galatians 3:20 — Mediator & Promise

“Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.”

Contrast implied: Sinai involved mediation through angels and Moses; the Abrahamic promise rested directly on God’s unilateral word.
Assurance: Because promise depends on God alone, it cannot fail. Salvation’s foundation is divine faithfulness, not human cooperation.

Galatians 3:21–22 — Not Contrary, But Not Saving

“Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! … Scripture has confined all under sin…”

Harmony, not rivalry: The Law and promise are not at odds—they serve distinct purposes. The Law is holy but powerless to give life (Rom 8:3).
Imprisoning function: Scripture declares all imprisoned under sin (Rom 11:32), shutting every door of self-righteousness so that salvation is received through faith in Christ alone.

🔍 Trusted Insight

“The law was given that grace might be sought; and grace was given that the law might be fulfilled.” — Augustine (On the Spirit and the Letter, ch. 19)

Augustine captures Paul’s point: the Law exposes sin and drives us to seek grace, but only the promise in Christ supplies the power to fulfill God’s will.
The Law is not opposed to God’s promises—it serves as a necessary tutor leading to the cure that only Christ provides.

Summary: The Law diagnoses our condition, but only Christ—the promised Seed—heals by grace through faith.

🔍 Definitions

Covenant (διαθήκη, diathēkē) — A binding agreement or promise; Paul likens God’s promise to Abraham to a human will, unalterable once ratified (v.15).
Seed (σπέρμα, sperma) — Singular, pointing ultimately to Christ (v.16), the true heir of the promises.
Added because of transgressions — The Law was given to expose, restrain, and increase awareness of sin (v.19), not to annul the promise.
Mediator (μεσίτης, mesitēs) — One who stands between two parties; contrasts Sinai’s mediated covenant with God’s direct unilateral promise to Abraham (v.20).
Imprisoned under sin — Scripture’s verdict that all are shut up under sin’s power, so that salvation must come by promise through faith (v.22).

🧩 Review Questions

❓ Common Objections

“If the Law came from God, doesn’t it save?”
The Law is holy but not life-giving; it imprisons under sin and points to Christ, who saves (vv.21–22).
“Does ‘Seed’ ignore Israel’s corporate identity?”
No. Christ is the representative Israelite; in Him the many are gathered. The promises reach the nations through union with Christ (cf. Galatians 3:29).
“Is Paul anti-Law?”
Paul rejects the Law as a basis of inheritance, not as a teacher that reveals sin and guides life under grace (cf. Romans 7:12).

🌎 Worldviews

Law-Based Worldview: Sees righteousness as earned through obedience and rule-keeping. In this view, the Law is ultimate and defines belonging. Paul warns this approach results only in being confined under sin.
Promise-Based Worldview: Anchors life in God’s prior commitment and His faithfulness. Believers inherit as heirs of grace, not wage-earners of Law.
Mediator-Heavy Worldview: Puts hope in human systems, priests, or intermediaries to secure favor. Paul reminds us the promise rests on God alone, not on fragile chains of human mediation.
Gospel Worldview: Christ, the Seed, fulfills the promise. The Law has a role but is temporary, preparatory, and subordinate. Real freedom and life come through faith in Him.

🙋 Application Questions

Where do you slip from promise-grounded assurance back into performance anxiety?
How might you use the Law this week to expose sin and lead to Christ, not to manufacture righteousness?
What practices help your church preach promise clearly while honoring the Law’s diagnostic role?

🔤 Greek Keywords

diathēkē (διαθήκη) — Covenant/testament; a ratified arrangement that stands firm (v.15).
sperma (σπέρμα) — Seed/offspring; singular focus on Christ (v.16).
prosetethē (προσετέθη) — “Was added”; the Law’s addition for a purpose (v.19).
diatassō / diatageis (διατάσσω/διαταγείς) — Ordain/arrange, linked to angelic mediation (v.19).
mesitēs (μεσίτης) — Mediator; contrasts Sinai’s mediation with God’s unilateral promise (v.20).
sygkleiō (συγκλείω) — To confine/imprison under sin (v.22).
epangelia (ἐπαγγελία) — Promise; God’s pledged gift of inheritance (vv.16, 18, 21–22).
nomos (νόμος) — Law; good, yet not the giver of life (v.21).

📚 Cross References

Genesis 12:1–3; 15:1–6; 17:1–8 — Promise to Abraham and his seed.
Exodus 19:1–8 — Sinai covenant context.
Deuteronomy 33:2 — Angelic mediation imagery.
Romans 4:13–16 — Inheritance by promise, not Law.
Romans 7:7–13 — Law reveals sin.
Galatians 3:29 — “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed.”

📦 Next Study

Next Study → Galatians 3:23–29 – Sons Through Faith in Christ

Galatians 3:15–22 – Law and Promise