I have started a study of Galatians chapter 3. I am looking for agreement or disagreement on my exegesis. Or any additional insights.
It seems like the overall theme of the chapter is about faith vs works of the law. However, there are some interesting points that Paul makes.
Paul is telling the Galaitians that the 'physical' seeds of Abraham are not the seeds of the promise.
One of Paul's key points seems to be that the gospel promise, which Paul equates to a covenant (Gal 3:15-16), came before the law was given to Moses. In this way, the gospel promise of faith (Gal 8:-9) cannot be replaced by the law, i.e., legalism. In other words, God said to Abraham that right standing would be by faith. Therefore, God did not send the law to replace that fact. For "no one annuls" the covenant of faith given to Abraham "or adds to it once it has been ratified" (in this case to be ratified is to have the promise of God).
Paul appears to make this point, that the gospel promise which is like a covenant, cannot be changed by anything that comes after it. Paul says,
After all this, Paul anticipates the question of "v19 Why then the law?". This would seem to be the logical next question. That is, if God had already established through a promise (i.e., covenant) to Abraham that right standing with God would start with faith. Then why was the law given? This is the right anticipated question of Paul's time because many of the Jewish people had understood the law as legalism, i.e., one starts right standing through works first toward the law. The thought of the day was that the law made one in right standing before God. But Paul makes the argument that this was never the case.
The reason Paul gives, at least in Galatians chpt 3 is...
So as to not make this first post so long, I'll stop there for now.
Peace by to you my brothers
It seems like the overall theme of the chapter is about faith vs works of the law. However, there are some interesting points that Paul makes.
Paul is telling the Galaitians that the 'physical' seeds of Abraham are not the seeds of the promise.
Then Paul goes on to say that the gospel promise came before the law. What? The gospel came before the law? Paul writes,"7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham."
In Galatians 3:10-14 Paul talks about those in right standing with God will live by faith. And then in Galatians 3:15 Paul gives an example to explain what he is talking about. That is, the gospel (the promise of faith) was given before the law. Paul says,8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed.""9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."
It seems that Paul is saying, in his example, that the gospel promise is like a covenant that came before the law. Once that promise, or covenant, was given to Abraham then nothing can be added or taken away from that promise. So if the gospel promise was like a covenant, then the promise that right standing was to be by faith cannot be removed or annulled or replaced. Right standing in the eyes of God is to be by faith (starting with the promise to Abraham)."15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ."
One of Paul's key points seems to be that the gospel promise, which Paul equates to a covenant (Gal 3:15-16), came before the law was given to Moses. In this way, the gospel promise of faith (Gal 8:-9) cannot be replaced by the law, i.e., legalism. In other words, God said to Abraham that right standing would be by faith. Therefore, God did not send the law to replace that fact. For "no one annuls" the covenant of faith given to Abraham "or adds to it once it has been ratified" (in this case to be ratified is to have the promise of God).
Paul appears to make this point, that the gospel promise which is like a covenant, cannot be changed by anything that comes after it. Paul says,
Paul continues this argument by adding, v18 "For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.""the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void." (Gal 3:17).
After all this, Paul anticipates the question of "v19 Why then the law?". This would seem to be the logical next question. That is, if God had already established through a promise (i.e., covenant) to Abraham that right standing with God would start with faith. Then why was the law given? This is the right anticipated question of Paul's time because many of the Jewish people had understood the law as legalism, i.e., one starts right standing through works first toward the law. The thought of the day was that the law made one in right standing before God. But Paul makes the argument that this was never the case.
The reason Paul gives, at least in Galatians chpt 3 is...
"vs19...It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made"
So as to not make this first post so long, I'll stop there for now.
Peace by to you my brothers