Galatians 3:17

And this I say This is what I mean. St Paul here reverts to, and continues the argument of Galatians 3:15, which had been interrupted by the explanatory words, -He saith not … is Christ".

confirmed before of God Confirmed by oath (see Hebrews 6:17-18). This does not refer to the repetitionof the promise to Isaac and Jacob, although by such repetition the promise may be regarded as extending over the patriarchal period down to the going down into Egypt. This makes the four hundred and thirty yearsagree with the duration of the sojourn in Egypt, as recorded Exodus 12:40. Into the difficulty of reconciling this with the period arrived at by a calculation of the genealogies, it is not necessary to enter. (See Alford's and Lightfoot's notes.) For St Paul's argument it is only necessary that the giving of the law should have been long afterthe announcement of the covenant promise.

in Christ These words are probably a gloss; and are properly omitted in R.V. If retained, they should be rendered, "unto (i.e. with a view to) Christ".

The covenant, ratified before by God, the law, having come into existence after the lapse of 430 years, cannot cancel so as to invalidate the promise.