Galatians 3:15-18 (WEL) Brothers, humanly speaking, even if it is only a human covenant, yet if it is validated, no one can annul it or add to it. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and his seed. He didn’t say, “To seeds,” meaning many, but only of one “To your seed” which is Christ. [Genesis 12:7 KJV and NRSV, 13:15, and 24:7] 17 Now I say this: that the covenant, which was validated previously by God in Christ, cannot be annulled by the law, which came four hundred and thirty years later. The law cannot abolish the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
V15 Brothers, humanly speaking, even if it is only a human covenant, yet if it is validated, no one can annul it or add to it.
A human contract when ratified and validated is enforceable.
The Greek word validate is G2964 κυρόω kuróō, and means (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (Louw & Nida)) “κυρόω (1) to invest something with power or force – to give force to, to validate. κεκυρωμένην διαθήκην οὐδεὶς ἀθετει̂ no one sets aside an agreement which has been put into force or no one sets aside a covenant which has been validated Galatians 3:15. In order to express the meaning of this phrase in Galatians 3:15, it may be necessary in some languages to make more specific the arrangements involved, for example, if people have signed an agreement, no one can disregard it or if an agreement has been confirmed, no one can say it does not exist or, as in some languages, if an agreement has been tied, no one can untie it.”
The word has the idea that an authority has examined and found it legally valid and in force.
Once ratified, it cannot be annulled or added to.
The Scriptures are the same. We have the only source of 100% truth in our hands and hopefully in our hearts (memorized). See Revelation 22:18, Deuteronomy 4:2, and Proverbs 30:6.
V16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and his seed. He didn’t say, “To seeds,” meaning many, but only of one “To your seed” which is Christ.
[Genesis 12:7 KJV and NRSV, 13:15, and 24:7]
The word seed is singular in Genesis 12:7 and in the quote here (first and third word seed). The words are specific that God is not giving the promises to his descendants (Isaac and his half-brothers).
Abraham had no children at the time God pronounced this blessing. The only seed that mattered as far as Abraham knew was Isaac, who is the only child of Abraham and Sarah. The other children were from secondary wives (concubines). The further and complete fulfillment is the seed of God (the only begotten son of God—Jesus Christ). Isaac died, Jesus died, too, but resurrected after 3 days and nights in the tomb.
Comments:
(Ryrie Study Bible Notes) “Since Paul’s argument here is based on the singular form of the word in the OT (Gen. 22:17-18), he must have believed in the accuracy of the very words of Scripture.”
(Holman Commentary) “The Judaizers argued that since the law came after Abraham, then the law had priority over grace (salvation by faith alone). To refute this point, Paul appeals to a permanently binding contract or will. Once a permanently binding contract is written and signed, it cannot be changed. Paul argues that God’s promise of salvation by faith to Abraham was a binding contract and that nothing, not even the law, could change it. This promise of permanence was made to Abraham and his seed, Christ. The singular use of seed (NIV, “offspring”) (compare Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7) was an allusion, not to Abraham’s many physical descendants, but to the coming Messiah who would be the conveyer of blessing (see Matt. 1:1).”
V17 Now I say this: the covenant, which was validated previously by God in Christ, cannot be annulled by the law, which came four hundred and thirty years later. The law cannot abolish the promise.
The covenant with Abraham preceded the Mosaic covenant with Israel. The first covenant with Abraham is the covenant of importance, not the Mosaic covenant which came 430 years later. The first one was irrevocable and cannot be annulled, because God ratified that first covenant.
The Mosaic covenant was given to Israel, not the Gentiles.
Hebrews 7:18-19 (WEL) So there truly is a canceling of the former commandment because of its weakness and ineffectiveness. 19 For the law made nothing perfect. But bringing in a better hope did, by which we draw near to God.
The Amplified Version: “This is my argument: The Law, which began 430 years after the covenant [concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot annul the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the promise and make it void.”
The Abrahamic covenant was given to Abraham because of his faith (Genesis 15:6).
Lehman Strauss points out: “The covenant of faith finds its roots in eternity past.” “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Oliver Greene – GOD’s promises in the Abrahamic Covenant were promises based upon pure grace; there were no conditions attached to them. The fulfillment of the promises did not depend upon anything Abraham did or did not do, nor upon anything his seed did or promised to do. On the other hand, the Law of Moses made ALL of its promises conditional – that is, if Israel practiced obedience, then GOD granted the promise. GOD uses the word “IF” for the first time in Exodus 19:5, in preparation for the giving of the Law. GOD said, “IF ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people….“ The people answered JEHOVAH by saying, “ALL THAT THE LORD HATH SPOKEN WE WILL DO” (Exodus 19:8). But if you will read the history of Israel, you will find that instead of doing everything JEHOVAH commanded, they did just the opposite! Time after time Jehovah GOD chastened Israel severely. This was entirely different from the covenant GOD made with Abraham. Abraham made no promise to GOD – either for himself or for his seed after him. All the promises were made by GOD, and carried with them no conditions whatsoever! Study carefully the Abrahamic Covenant and you will see that what I have just said is one hundred percent correct. (The Abrahamic and the Mosaic Covenants – Galatians 3:15-29)
https://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=WfQVpqj0VgA%3d&tabid=192&mid=630
V18 For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
The inheritance of the land (real estate in the Middle East—Israel) and all of God’s blessings (salvation). No one can perfectly obey Mosaic law to be in the Kingdom of God; it is based on God’s promise. Believing God’s promise is faith.
(Holman Commentary) “The inheritance (that is, justification by faith) was given as an unconditional gift to those who believed. Contrary to what the Judaizers taught, the message of justification given to Abraham is permanent and has priority over the later law.”
We learn:
- The Mosaic Law was weak and never superseded God’s promise to Abraham.
- An example and teaching about faith.
Questions:
- Do you see the difference between a false teacher (these Judaizers) and a true teacher (Paul)?
- How do you define faith?