Galatians 3:11

3:11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. ¹ 

Galatians 3:15

Inheritance Comes from Promises and not Law

3:15 Brothers and sisters, ²  I offer an example from everyday life: ³  When a covenant ⁴  has been ratified, ⁵  even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

Galatians 4:1

4:1 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, ⁶  is no different from a slave, though he is the owner ⁷  of everything.

Galatians 4:12

4:12 I beg you, brothers and sisters, ⁸  become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

Galatians 5:2

5:2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all!

¹ tn Or “The one who is righteous by faith will live” (a quotation from Hab 2:4).

² tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.

³ tn Grk “I speak according to man,” referring to the illustration that follows.

⁴ tn The same Greek word, διαθήκη (diaqhkh), can mean either “covenant” or “will,” but in this context the former is preferred here because Paul is discussing in vv. 16-18 the Abrahamic covenant.

⁵ tn Or “has been put into effect.”

³ tn Grk “a small child.” The Greek term νήπιος (nhpios) refers to a young child, no longer a helpless infant but probably not more than three or four years old (L&N 9.43). The point in context, though, is that this child is too young to take any responsibility for the management of his assets.

⁴ tn Grk “master” or “lord” (κύριος, kurios).

⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.