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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Galatians 3:21

Against the promises

(κατα των επαγγελιων). A pertinent question again. Far from it (μη γενοιτο).Which could make alive

(ο δυναμενος ζωοποιησα). First aorist active infinitive of ζωοποιεω, late compound (ζωος, alive, ποιεω, to make) verb for which see 1 Corinthians 15:22. Spiritual life, he means, here and hereafter.Verily

(οντως). "Really" (cf. Mark 11:32; Luke 24:34). Condition and conclusion (αν ην) of second class, determined as unfulfilled. He had already said that Christ died to no purpose in that case (Galatians 2:21).

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See also Galatians 3:21 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    GALATIANS 3:21 @tou/ qeou/# {C} The words tou/ qeou/ are absent from several early and important witnesses (î46 B itd Ambrosiaster Marius Victorinus). On the one hand, since the shorter reading is te...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 21. _IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES OF GOD?_] Is it possible that the intervention of the law, in reference to one part of the Abrahamic seed, should annul the promise made to the other? I...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES OF GOD? - Is the Law of Moses to be regarded as opposed to the promises made to Abraham? Does this follow from any view which can be taken of the subject? The obje...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    II. CONTRASTS BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The gift of the Spirit not by the works of the law, but by hearing of faith. (Galatians 3:1)_ 2. Righteousness not bestowed by the law, but by fai...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    The promise having once been given, no subsequent enactment like the Law can interfere with it. (Similarly Heb. emphasizes the priority in time of Melchizedek to Aaron.) Even in human affairs, a scrap...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE GIFT OF GRACE (Galatians 3:1-9)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Why, then, have the law at all? The law was added to the situation to define what transgressions are, until the seed should come, to whom the promise, which still holds good, had been made. That law w...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    AGAINST. Greek. _kata_. App-104. GOD FORBID. See Galatians 2:17. GIVEN LIFE. Greek. _zoopoieo_. See John 6:63....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Having thus sharply contrasted the two covenants, the Apostle anticipates an objection -You say that God is One. He is the Author both of the law and of the promises. How then can there be the opposit...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    21. [ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂] omitted by B. ἘΝ ΝΌΜΩΙ B Cyrador 54. ἐκ νόμου (W. H. margin) appears to be read by all other authorities. If ἐκ νόμου be genuine ἐν νόμῳ may be due to the similar passage in Galatians...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    19–22. _The true place and purpose of the Law. It was subordinate to the promise, and preparatory, by developing the sense of sin_ (Galatians 3:19) (If the inheritance is by the Promise, not by the La...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΓΈΝΟΙΤΟ _aor._ opt. _med. (dep.) от_ ΓΊΝΟΜΑΙ (G1096) становиться, быть. Opt. используется для отрицания ложного вывода (_см._ Galatians 2:17). ΕΔΌΘΗ _aor. ind. pass. от_ ΔΊΔΩΜΙ (G1325) давать. Ind. и...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2068 THE TRUE USE OF THE LAW Galatians 3:21. 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 sho...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHICH COULD HAVE GIVEN LIFE,— _Which could have put into a state of life._ The word Ζωοποιησαι signifies, _to make alive:_ St. Paul considers all men here as in a mortal state; and to be put out of th...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT 3:21, 22 (21) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. (22) But the scr...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    _VERSE 21. IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES OF GOD?_ VERSE 21. God forbid. VERSE 21. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the l...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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. "Is the law (which involves...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    3 Paul now appeals to the experience of the Galatians themselves. Before the Judaisers came they received the Spirit of God, and suffered for the evangel, and did mighty works quite apart from the law...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    3:21 able (d-21) Or 'such as was able to quicken,' an emphatic phrase....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    It does not follow because the Law and the promise are of different rank that they are contrary....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JUSTIFICATION IS BY FAITH, NOT WORKS 1-14. The Apostle upbraids the Galatians with their speedy change from faith to legal observances, reminding them of the fact that their reception of the Spirit h...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE GALATIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 3 LIVE BY GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT, NOT BY YOUR OWN EFFORTS V1 You Galatians are foolish. You behave as if someone has used magic powers to lead...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    God’s laws would be opposite to his promises if people could receive *spiritual life by means of the laws. But people do not receive *spiritual life when they obey God’s laws. The function of God’s pr...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (21-24) If the Law was thus inferior to the promise, does it therefore follow that it is contrary to it? By no means. The Law could not indeed give life; it could not justify, or place in a state of r...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE PROMISES. — Here, as in Galatians 3:16, the plural, because the promise to Abraham was several times repeated, and afterwards ratified to his descendants. FOR IF... — The argument which follows b...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 14 THE DESIGN OF THE LAW. Galatians 3:19 "WHAT then is the law?" So the Jew might well exclaim. Paul has been doing nothing but disparage it.-"You say that the Law of Moses brings no righteo...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    In view of the continuity of divine providence the suggestion that the Law contravened or nullified the previous covenant of God with Abraham and the patriarchs is dismissed as monstrous. It was incom...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    THE LAW WAS A TEMPORARY ENACTMENT ORDAINED TO DEAL WITH THE OFFENCES WHICH IT DENOUNCES UNTIL THE COMING OF THE PROMISED SEED. THE GOD FROM WHOM IT PROCEEDED WAS THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, BUT HE PROMULGATED...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE LAW LEADS TO CHRIST Galatians 3:20 The Mosaic law was not designed to be the final code of the religious life, but to prepare the soil of the human heart to receive Jesus Christ in all the fullne...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here begins the second division of the epistle, in which Paul deals with the doctrine of liberty. He begins with the exclamation, "O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you?" He then inquired, Did they...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (25) [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. (25) The conclusion utt...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (21) 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. (22) But the scripture ha...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Galatians 1:1-24. We saw the second of Corinthians characterized by the most rapid transitions of feeling, by a deep and fervent sense of God's consolations, by a revulsion so much the more powerful i...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    21._Is the law then against the promises of God? _The certainty and steadiness of the divine purpose being admitted, we are bound equally to conclude that its results are not contrary to each other. S...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    What a loss, dreadful and irreparable, to lose such a Christ, as we, under grace, have known Him; such a righteousness; such a love; the Son of God our portion, our life; the Son of God devoted for us...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES OF GOD?.... If the law was added because of transgressions, and curses for them, and if the inheritance is not of it, but by promise, were it, it would not be by p...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _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. Ver. 21. _Have given life_]...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Is the law then_ Which requires perfect obedience, and subjects all that in any respect violate it, to the curse, _against_, or contrary to, _the promises of God_ Wherein he declares that he will jus...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES? was it designed to open another way of life, or in any degree to conflict with the promises? Certainly not, but to aid in their accomplishment....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    IS THE LAW, THE N, 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....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PROOFS FOR THE LIBERTY OF A CHRISTIAN FROM THE NATURE AND MEANING OF THE LAW. The secondary office of the Law:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    FAITH IS THE ONE PRINCIPLE OF BLESSING (vs.1-9) "0 foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?" (v.1). Little wonder, as Paul considers the principles and tremendous issues involved, that he speaks out...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    The law is not against the promise of God. It is part of that promise. The law was not an end in itself. If the law could fulfil the promise of God, Jesus' death would not be necessary....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    19-22 If that promise was enough for salvation, wherefore then serveth the law? The Israelites, though chosen to be God's peculiar people, were sinners as well as others. The law was not intended to...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES OF GOD? GOD FORBID: though it be thus, yet there is no such opposition between the law and the promises, as that either of them make the other useless. Far be it f...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

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

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Galatians 3:21 law G3551 then G3767 against G2596 promises G1860 God G2316 not G3361 G1096 (G5636) For...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    WHAT THEN WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW? (GALATIANS 3:19). He now raises the question as to what the purpose of the Law is....

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Is the Law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a Law given which could make alive, truly righteousness would have been of the Law.' Is the Law then in opposition to th...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Galatians 3:21. If the law had the power to break sin and to impart righteousness and life, it would indeed be a rival of the promise and enter into conflict with it. But this is not the aim of the la...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The Educational Mission of the Law_. Paul now assumes a milder tone, and reasons with the Galatians from the common dealings of men. Even a human covenant is sacred and cannot be set aside, much more...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    RIGHTEOUSNESS (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 10:10). _...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    3:1. _O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?_ These Galatians thought that...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 3:1. _O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I lea...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 3:1. _O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,_ Paul writes as if they had come under some kind of witchcraft, and been deluded by it. This seemed to astonish the apostle, so he cries o...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Paul, writing, to those changeable Galatians, who had so soon deserted the faith, says to them in this chapter Galatians 3:1. _O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Gift of Spirit by faith apart from law-works. Man under law-works is under the law curse. Christ bears the law curse that we might have the faith blessing. The true intent of the law. CHARA...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Galatians 3:1. _Oh foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you:_ εβασκανε, who hath fascinated, beguiled, or seduced you by subtlety and cunning, and sought by ingenious malice to draw you from the trut...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    DOES THIS MEAN: "The Law is not in competition with God's promise, because The Law does not give life at all! If it could give life, then The Law could be said to be _against_ God's promise. The Law,...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Is the law, then, against the promises of God?_ THE HARMONY BETWEEN THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL I. The gospel gift of righteousness is not made of none effect by the law. Abraham was justified by faith....

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER S. Paul proceeds to prove by five reasons that we are justified not by the law, or the works of the law, but by Christ. I. The first proof is drawn (ver. 2) from e...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _Is the law then against the promises of God_? Jerome correctly points out that this is an answer by anticipation to the objection to which S. Paul had exposed himself in verse 19, when he said, "The...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Galatians 3:22. THE SCRIPTURE HATH CONCLUDED ALL UNDER SIN.—The written letter was needed so as permanently to convict man of disobedience to God’s command. He is shu...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GALATIANS 3:1 O FOOLISH GALATIANS (ὦ ἀνόητοι Γαλάται). In thus apostrophizing them, the apostle brands their present behaviour, not any lack of intelligence on their part in general...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now in our Bibles to Galatians chapter three. Background: Paul the apostle had been in the area of Galatia. Galatia was a general area like a county or a state. It was not a city. There...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Galatians 2:17; Galatians 2:19; Galatians 2:21; Hebrews 11:7;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Against the promises [κ α τ α τ ω ν ε π α γ γ ε λ ι ω ν]. Does it follow from the difference between the law and the promises that they are in antagonism? Paul supposes this objection on the part of a...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE CROSS AND ITS OBJECTIVES Galatians 3:10; Galatians 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The Cross must ever stand forth in the limelight of Bible and spiritual study. Apart from Christ's Calvary work we have...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Will it follow from hence that the law is against, opposite to, the promises of God? By no means. They are well consistent. But yet the law cannot give life, as the promise doth. If there had been a l...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Another objection is here made by the apostle: The Jews might possibly say, "That the law given by Moses was against the promise of God made to Abraham." The apostle answers, No; that the law is not c...

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Old Testament