Promise before law

Faith, Promise, and Heirs · Galatians 3

Story guide: A sealed document and stone tablets illustrate Paul’s distinction between the earlier promise and the later law.

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15Brothers, I am speaking in human terms: even a covenant ratified by a man, no one sets aside or adds to it.

16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” as referring to many, but as referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Messiah.

17This is what I mean: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise.

18For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from a promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through a promise.

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