Galatians 3:21

Translations

Modern

Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

Traditional

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Literal

Is the law, therefore, contrary to the promises of God? Never may it be! For if a law were given being able to make alive, then righteousness indeed would have been from out of the law.

Latin

Lex ergo adversus promissa Dei? Absit. Si enim data esset lex, quæ posset vivificare, vere ex lege esset justitia.

Original

Greek

English

Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

Notes

Galatians 3:21

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).

Galatians 3:19–22

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.

Galatians 3:21–25

See Romans 7:7 –13.

Theme notes and profiles

Abraham Paul (Saul) Biblical Law The Limitations of Law

Related verses

Galatians 2:21
I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Romans 9:31
…but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
Romans 3:20–22
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
Galatians 2:19
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
Romans 10:3–6
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Galatians 2:17
But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!
Romans 7:7–13
What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
Romans 3:31
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.
Matthew 5:17–20
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
Romans 3:4
Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
Philippians 3:6–9
…as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
Romans 3:6
Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?

Galatians 3:21

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