Tyndale Open Study NotesGalatians 3

Paul now defends the truth of his message that a right relationship with God comes by faith in Christ alone. He argues against the idea that non-Jewish people must follow the law to be accepted by God.

Paul compares the Galatians' spiritual experience (see 3:1–5) with Abraham's (3:6–9). He shows that both were made right with God through faith, not by following the law (Ephesians 2:8–9).

• O foolish Galatians! Their foolishness was both intellectual and spiritual (compare Luke 24:25; see 1 Samuel 25:1–38). They stopped trusting in Christ and trusted in the law (Galatians 1:6).

• The Galatians were misled by the teachers’ persuasive arguments (compare Genesis 3:1–7). It was not actual witchcraft, but convincing words.

• Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified: When Paul told people about Jesus, he clearly explained how Jesus died and why his death was so important for everyone (see Romans 10:14–17). Paul helped people understand what the death of Jesus means for them.

The Galatians, like all Christians, received the Spirit by faith in Christ, not by obeying the law of Moses (see Acts 2:38–39; Romans 8:9–11; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:11–14; compare Acts 10:44–48; 11:15–18). God accepted the Galatians because they believed the good news about Jesus (compare Romans 10:14–17). This made their return to the law unreasonable (Galatians 3:3–4).

are you now finishing in the flesh: Paul used clever word play to make an important point. The Galatians were trying to become perfect by human effort by following the law about circumcising the flesh of the male foreskin.

Have you suffered so much for nothing? This might mean suffering, but the Galatian church's history does not suggest that. Paul likely referred to the spiritual experiences the Galatians had through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:3, 5). Depending on the law of Moses for a right relationship with God makes the Spirit's work seem meaningless.

work miracles: See 1 Corinthians 12:4–11. The Holy Spirit is with believers and in the church because they have faith in the good news about Jesus.

Abraham's story shows that faith has always been the basis for a relationship with God and for receiving God's promises.

This quote is from Genesis 15:6, where God made his covenant (special agreement) with Abraham (see Genesis 15:1–21; 17:1–27). This statement is essential to explain God's relationship with people (see Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 4:1–8, 17–22).

Non-Jewish believers in Jesus are truly part of Abraham's family. They become part of Abraham's family not by following the laws of Moses, but by trusting in God just as Abraham did (see Romans 4:9–17, 23–25; compare Matthew 12:48–50).

The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith: By faith, Abraham expected the coming Messiah (see John 8:56). He received the message that "all the families of the earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18). God would accept all nations through Abraham's descendant, the Messiah (God's chosen one), in the same way God accepted Abraham—by faith.

The Galatians thought they needed to be circumcised to please God. By doing this, they were trying to follow all of God's laws to be accepted by him. Those who seek to be right with God through the law are under a curse. They cannot follow the entire law, so they cannot receive blessings from it.

Paul here quotes Deuteronomy 27:26. This verse explains the curse Israel would experience if they did not follow all of God's commands in their covenant with him (see Deuteronomy 27:9–26; compare Deuteronomy 28:15–68; 31:26; Joshua 1:8; Malachi 2:2; see also Genesis 3:14–19; 4:10–12). Sinful humans cannot fully obey God's will (see Romans 3:9–20).

• Scripture makes it clear, even if the Galatians or false teachers did not understand, that circumcision is not required for non-Jewish believers.

• "The righteous will live by faith": Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4, in which the prophet waits in faith for God's promise to come true.

The law itself is not opposed to faith (see 3:19–25; Romans 7:7–13), but trying to be righteous by following the law opposes righteousness by faith in Christ. Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5 to show that life under the law of Moses requires obedience rather than belief. It is impossible to be accepted by God by trying to obey the law of Moses perfectly (Galatians 3:10–11).

Unlike those who rely on the law (see 3:10–12), people who have faith in Christ receive God's life and blessings freely.

• redeemed us: Christ freed his people by paying the price for them (see 4:4–5; 1 Peter 1:18–20).

• "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree": Paul quotes Deuteronomy 21:23, in which criminals who were killed and had their bodies displayed in public were considered to be under God's curse (see study note on Deuteronomy 21:22). When Jesus was nailed to the cross, he took on God's curse that should have fallen on all sinners (compare 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus Christ has given the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) the same blessing promised to Abraham, as described in 3:6–13. Paul says this blessing is receiving the promised Holy Spirit (3:2–6; see also Romans 8:1–17, 23; Ephesians 1:13–14).

Jesus, not the law, has fulfilled the promise and agreement (covenant) made with Abraham.

When a person dies, their written instructions about who should receive their property (called a will) cannot be changed. These instructions must be followed exactly as they were written.

The promises to Abraham were mainly received by him and his child (literally his seed). This "seed" was the promised Messiah (God's chosen one), who is Abraham's ultimate descendant. The word "seed" can mean one descendant or many (see Genesis 12:7; 13:15). Although the promise can refer to many descendants (see Galatians 3:29; Genesis 13:15–16; 15:5–6; 17:7–8), it specifically points to one descendant, Christ, who fully fulfilled the promise. The heirs of the promise are not Jacob’s physical children but the spiritual children of Christ, by the Spirit through faith.

• Just as human covenants cannot be canceled (3:15), the terms of God's covenant with Abraham were not changed when God gave Moses the law.

• 430 years: See study note on Exodus 12:40.

The inheritance cannot come from obeying the law, because that would cancel God’s promise to Abraham (see 4:1–7). This promise was accepted by faith before God gave the law to Moses.

Paul's argument might make those hearing his message think the law of Moses has no purpose. However, Paul emphasizes the law's true purpose in order to correct false teaching about the law.

• If people do not receive God's inheritance through the law, why was the law given to Moses? It was to show people their sins and make it clear that sinful actions are wrongs done against God. People cannot rely on their own goodness to save them. Instead, they must trust in God (see Romans 3:19–20; 4:15; 5:20; 7:7–13).

• until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred: See Galatians 3:16. While the promise is permanent, the law of Moses was temporary. With Christ’s coming, the law was fulfilled (see Matthew 5:17–20; compare Matthew 3:13–15; John 19:30). God's acceptance is based entirely on faith in Christ.

• through angels: Deuteronomy 33:2 in the Greek version (the Septuagint) describes the Lord's coming from Sinai “with myriads of holy ones, angels with him at his right hand.” See also Psalm 68:17; Acts 7:38, 53; Hebrews 2:2.

• By a mediator: The mediator was Moses (see Exodus 20:19; Deuteronomy 5:24–27). As a mediator, Moses spoke to God for the people and spoke to the people for God.

• The law of Moses was given through angels and a mediator (Moses). The law required agreement between God and the people. The law was conditional, with blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. In contrast, God gave his promise directly to Abraham without a mediator. It was God's promise alone, and God did not require anything in return.

• but God is one: Paul used the basic Jewish creed (see Deuteronomy 6:4) to persuade non-Jewish Christians not to convert to Judaism.

See Romans 7:7–13.

There is no conflict of purpose between law and promise or between law and faith. The law works with the promise to help people believe in Jesus. The purpose of the law is to show that people are trapped by their sins (3:19, 22). It is also meant to help people not sin (3:23–25).

In Galatia, the Judaizers tried to convince non-Jewish Christians that the law could do something it was never meant to do. The law was never meant to give new life and make people right with God. God does these things based on faith in his promise, which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (see 3:22).

all things confined by sin. See Romans 3:9; 7:1–13; 11:32. Following the law of Moses cannot save us. Only believing in Jesus Christ can free us from sin.

Paul compares two different times: how God's people lived when they were under the law before Jesus came, and how they live now that they belong to Christ and follow him.

Because sin had imprisoned us (3:22), the law of Moses acted as a guard, keeping God's people safe (held in custody) until faith in Jesus was revealed. It clearly showed God's requirements and emphasized the need for a Savior. The law also kept sin under control by clearly showing its consequences.

The law is like a child's guardian. (The Greek word is paidagōgos, meaning "tutor.") In Greco-Roman culture, a guardian was a loyal servant who trained and protected the heir until adulthood.

• Now that faith has come: Righteousness by faith was always in effect (see 3:6–9), but now, through Jesus Christ, the object of that faith and how people can receive it are clear.

• we are no longer under a guardian: In Greco-Roman culture, a child who reached adulthood was no longer under a guardian's control and could govern themselves. Similarly, those who mature through faith in Christ are free from the law's guardianship. They follow Christ directly as he guides them through his word and Spirit.

Because of Christ, our condition under faith is different from our condition under the law (3:23–24).

Those who are God's children through faith in Jesus Christ (see also 4:4–7; John 1:12; Romans 9:8) have come of age as heirs to his promises (see Galatians 3:24–25, 29). They have received a part of that inheritance (3:14; Ephesians 1:14). The Galatians acted unwisely by trying to gain access to God through circumcision (Galatians 3:1). As God's children by faith, they already had the best possible access to him.

• For all of you who were baptized into Christ: See Romans 6:3–4. Baptism symbolizes the death (or end) of an old life and the birth (or beginning) of a new one. In this new life, the law's curse no longer affects us (compare Romans 7:1–6).

• clothed yourselves with Christ: Christ covers us and gives us a new identity. Compare Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

• Now, everyone comes to Jesus and receives God's promises in the same way (see 1 Corinthians 12:12–13; Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:11).

• male nor female: Refer to Genesis 1:27.

• you are all one: Believers form one community, the body of Christ (see Romans 12:4–5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 2:15–16, 19–22).

• in Christ Jesus: See Colossians 2:6–3:11.

Jesus is the ideal descendant of Abraham (3:16). So, those united with Jesus are also Abraham's children and inherit all his promises (3:27–28).