God's Covenant with Abraham

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted [1] to him for righteousness.

Other Translations of Galatians 3:6

New International Version

God's Covenant with Abraham

6 So also Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."Gen. 15:6

English Standard Version

God's Covenant with Abraham

6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?

The Message

God's Covenant with Abraham

6 Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.

New King James Version

God's Covenant with Abraham

6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

New Living Translation

God's Covenant with Abraham

6 In the same way, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 3:6

Commentary on Galatians 3:6-14

(Read Galatians 3:6-14)

The apostle proves the doctrine he had blamed the Galatians for rejecting; namely, that of justification by faith without the works of the law. This he does from the example of Abraham, whose faith fastened upon the word and promise of God, and upon his believing he was owned and accepted of God as a righteous man. The Scripture is said to foresee, because the Holy Spirit that indited the Scripture did foresee. Through faith in the promise of God he was blessed; and it is only in the same way that others obtain this privilege. Let us then study the object, nature, and effects of Abraham's faith; for who can in any other way escape the curse of the holy law? The curse is against all sinners, therefore against all men; for all have sinned, and are become guilty before God: and if, as transgressors of the law, we are under its curse, it must be vain to look for justification by it. Those only are just or righteous who are freed from death and wrath, and restored into a state of life in the favour of God; and it is only through faith that persons become righteous. Thus we see that justification by faith is no new doctrine, but was taught in the church of God, long before the times of the gospel. It is, in truth, the only way wherein any sinners ever were, or can be justified. Though deliverance is not to be expected from the law, there is a way open to escape the curse, and regain the favour of God, namely, through faith in Christ. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law; being made sin, or a sin-offering, for us, he was made a curse for us; not separated from God, but laid for a time under the Divine punishment. The heavy sufferings of the Son of God, more loudly warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come, than all the curses of the law; for how can God spare any man who remains under sin, seeing that he spared not his own Son, when our sins were charged upon him? Yet at the same time, Christ, as from the cross, freely invites sinners to take refuge in him.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Other Translations of Galatians 3:8

New International Version

8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18

English Standard Version

8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justifyOr count righteous; also verses 11, 24 the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."

The Message

8 It was all laid out beforehand in Scripture that God would set things right with non-Jews by faith. Scripture anticipated this in the promise to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed in you."

New King James Version

8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."

New Living Translation

8 What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 3:8

Commentary on Galatians 3:6-14

(Read Galatians 3:6-14)

The apostle proves the doctrine he had blamed the Galatians for rejecting; namely, that of justification by faith without the works of the law. This he does from the example of Abraham, whose faith fastened upon the word and promise of God, and upon his believing he was owned and accepted of God as a righteous man. The Scripture is said to foresee, because the Holy Spirit that indited the Scripture did foresee. Through faith in the promise of God he was blessed; and it is only in the same way that others obtain this privilege. Let us then study the object, nature, and effects of Abraham's faith; for who can in any other way escape the curse of the holy law? The curse is against all sinners, therefore against all men; for all have sinned, and are become guilty before God: and if, as transgressors of the law, we are under its curse, it must be vain to look for justification by it. Those only are just or righteous who are freed from death and wrath, and restored into a state of life in the favour of God; and it is only through faith that persons become righteous. Thus we see that justification by faith is no new doctrine, but was taught in the church of God, long before the times of the gospel. It is, in truth, the only way wherein any sinners ever were, or can be justified. Though deliverance is not to be expected from the law, there is a way open to escape the curse, and regain the favour of God, namely, through faith in Christ. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law; being made sin, or a sin-offering, for us, he was made a curse for us; not separated from God, but laid for a time under the Divine punishment. The heavy sufferings of the Son of God, more loudly warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come, than all the curses of the law; for how can God spare any man who remains under sin, seeing that he spared not his own Son, when our sins were charged upon him? Yet at the same time, Christ, as from the cross, freely invites sinners to take refuge in him.

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.

Other Translations of Galatians 3:16

New International Version

16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed,"Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7 meaning one person, who is Christ.

English Standard Version

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.

The Message

16 Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his descendant. You will observe that Scripture, in the careful language of a legal document, does not say "to descendants," referring to everybody in general, but "to your descendant" (the noun, note, is singular), referring to Christ.

New King James Version

16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.

New Living Translation

16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn't say "to his children, " as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says "to his child"-and that, of course, means Christ.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 3:16

Commentary on Galatians 3:15-18

(Read Galatians 3:15-18)

The covenant God made with Abraham, was not done away by the giving the law to Moses. The covenant was made with Abraham and his Seed. It is still in force; Christ abideth for ever in his person, and his spiritual seed, who are his by faith. By this we learn the difference between the promises of the law and those of the gospel. The promises of the law are made to the person of every man; the promises of the gospel are first made to Christ, then by him to those who are by faith ingrafted into Christ. Rightly to divide the word of truth, a great difference must be put between the promise and the law, as to the inward affections, and the whole practice of life. When the promise is mingled with the law, it is made nothing but the law. Let Christ be always before our eyes, as a sure argument for the defence of faith, against dependence on human righteousness.

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Other Translations of Galatians 4:22

New International Version

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

English Standard Version

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman.

The Message

22 Abraham, remember, had two sons: one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.

New King James Version

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

New Living Translation

22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 4:22

Commentary on Galatians 4:21-27

(Read Galatians 4:21-27)

The difference between believers who rested in Christ only, and those who trusted in the law, is explained by the histories of Isaac and Ishmael. These things are an allegory, wherein, beside the literal and historical sense of the words, the Spirit of God points out something further. Hagar and Sarah were apt emblems of the two different dispensations of the covenant. The heavenly Jerusalem, the true church from above, represented by Sarah, is in a state of freedom, and is the mother of all believers, who are born of the Holy Spirit. They were by regeneration and true faith, made a part of the true seed of Abraham, according to the promise made to him.

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Other Translations of Galatians 4:26

New International Version

26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

English Standard Version

26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

The Message

26 In contrast to that, there is an invisible Jerusalem, a free Jerusalem, and she is our mother - this is the way of Sarah.

New King James Version

26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

New Living Translation

26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 4:26

Commentary on Galatians 4:21-27

(Read Galatians 4:21-27)

The difference between believers who rested in Christ only, and those who trusted in the law, is explained by the histories of Isaac and Ishmael. These things are an allegory, wherein, beside the literal and historical sense of the words, the Spirit of God points out something further. Hagar and Sarah were apt emblems of the two different dispensations of the covenant. The heavenly Jerusalem, the true church from above, represented by Sarah, is in a state of freedom, and is the mother of all believers, who are born of the Holy Spirit. They were by regeneration and true faith, made a part of the true seed of Abraham, according to the promise made to him.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Other Translations of Galatians 4:28

New International Version

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.

English Standard Version

28 Now you,Some manuscripts we brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

The Message

28 Isn't it clear, friends, that you, like Isaac, are children of promise?

New King James Version

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

New Living Translation

28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 4:28

Commentary on Galatians 4:28-31

(Read Galatians 4:28-31)

The history thus explained is applied. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. If the privileges of all believers were so great, according to the new covenant, how absurd for the Gentile converts to be under that law, which could not deliver the unbelieving Jews from bondage or condemnation! We should not have found out this allegory in the history of Sarah and Hagar, if it had not been shown to us, yet we cannot doubt it was intended by the Holy Spirit. It is an explanation of the subject, not an argument in proof of it. The two covenants of works and grace, and legal and evangelical professors, are shadowed forth. Works and fruits brought forth in a man's own strength, are legal. But if arising from faith in Christ, they are evangelical. The first covenant spirit is of bondage unto sin and death. The second covenant spirit is of liberty and freedom; not liberty to sin, but in and unto duty. The first is a spirit of persecution; the second is a spirit of love. Let those professors look to it, who have a violent, harsh, imposing spirit, towards the people of God. Yet as Abraham turned aside to Hagar, so it is possible a believer may turn aside in some things to the covenant of works, when through unbelief and neglect of the promise he acts according to the law, in his own strength; or in a way of violence, not of love, towards the brethren. Yet it is not his way, not his spirit to do so; hence he is never at rest, till he returns to his dependence on Christ again. Let us rest our souls on the Scriptures, and by a gospel hope and cheerful obedience, show that our conversation and treasure are indeed in heaven.