Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 21st, 2024
the Third Week of Advent
the Third Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Abbott's Illustrated New Testament Abbott's NT
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
These files are public domain.
Bibliographical Information
Abbott, John S. C. & Abbott, Jacob. "Commentary on Galatians 3". "Abbott's Illustrated New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ain/galatians-3.html. 1878.
Abbott, John S. C. & Abbott, Jacob. "Commentary on Galatians 3". "Abbott's Illustrated New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/
Whole Bible (50)New Testament (18)Gospels Only (1)Individual Books (13)
Verse 1
Verse 1
Bewitched you; deluded you.--Evidently set forth; plainly preached.
Verse 3
Verse 3
Are ye now made perfect by; are ye going to end in.
Verse 5
Verse 5
By the works of the law; by Judaism.
Verse 7
Verse 7
Are the children of Abraham; whether Jews or not. If they share in the faith of Abraham, God considers them as his children.
Verse 8
Verse 8
All nations; that is, the Gentiles; thus showing that the extension of the offers of salvation beyond the Jewish communion was the design of God from the beginning.
Verse 12
Verse 12
That doeth them; that is, that fully obeys the requirements of the law.--Shall live in them; shall be saved by them.
Verse 13
Verse 13
The curse of the law; the terrible penalty of the law.--Being made a curse for us; in the condemnation, sufferings, and death, which be endured for us.--Cursed, &c.; Deuteronomy 21:23.
Verse 14
Verse 14
The blessing of Abraham; the blessing pronounced upon Abraham.
Verse 15
Verse 15
Though it be, &c. The meaning of this and the following verses is, that even human covenants, once made and confirmed by the usual forms, are not affected by subsequent transactions; and the promises made to Abraham being conditioned originally on faith, these conditions could not subsequently be altered by the giving of the law, centuries later.
Verse 16
Verse 16
And to seeds, as of many. There has been great diversity of opinion in respect to this passage. The argument would seem to be, that the seed of Abraham, in whose favor the promise was made, was regarded as one community, to be saved on one common principle, so that all, whether they lived before the law, or during the continuance of the law, or under the gospel, constitute but one seed, to be saved in one way; and that way must be by faith.--Which is Christ; the whole body of believers in Christ. The word Christ is used in a similar sense in 1 Corinthians 12:12, and in other places.
Verse 18
Verse 18
Of promise; that is, in fulfilment of a promise.
Verse 19
Verse 19
Because of transgressions; to restrain transgressions.--The seed should come; that is, until the generation should come in which the kingdom of Christ was to be established, and the promises of the covenant fulfilled.--Was ordained, &c. The latter clause of this verse, together with the verse which follows, is a passage which has in all ages baffled the learning and ingenuity of commentators. Various conjectures have been offered, but they throw but little light upon the meaning.
Verse 24
Verse 24
The law was our schoolmaster; that is, the law was only the means of preparatory training, by which the Jewish nation was led on to salvation by Christ.
Verse 27
Verse 27
Have put on Christ; that is, have become all so united with Christ as to form one body of believers in him.