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[size=large]Kept Under Law[/size]
In Galatians 3:23, Paul writes that "before faith came, we were kept under the law." By we Paul is referring to the Jewish believers in the Galatian churches. They are the ones acquainted with the law, and Paul has been speaking to them in particular since Galatians 2:15. This can be seen in the contrast between the we in Galatians 3:23 and the you in Galatians 3:26.
Galatians 3:23
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
Galatians 2:15
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Galatians 3:26 Sons and Heirs
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:23 reads, "Before faith came"; but in the literal Greek it reads, "before the faith" came. Because Paul is contrasting the place of the law before and after Christ, in Gal. 3:24, "the faith" is most likely a reference to Jesus Himself and not a reference to Christian faith in general.
Paul says the Jews were kept "under the law" before the coming of Christ. What does he mean by "under the law"? Compare Gal. 3:22, 23 with Rom. 6:14, 15; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 4:4, 5, 21; 5:18.
Galatians 3:22-23
22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
Romans 6:14-15
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
1 Corinthians 9:20
20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Galatians 5:18
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Paul uses the phrase "under the law" twelve times in his letters. Depending on its context, it can have a couple of different connotations.
1. "Under the law" as an alternative way of salvation (Gal. 4:21). The opponents in Galatia were trying to gain life-giving righteousness by obedience. However, as Paul has already made clear, this is impossible (Gal. 3:21, 22). Paul later will even point out that, by desiring to be under the law, the Galatians were really rejecting Christ (Gal. 5:2-4).
Galatians 4:21 Two Covenants
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
Galatians 3:21-22
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Galatians 5:2-4
2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
2.
In Galatians 3:23, Paul writes that "before faith came, we were kept under the law." By we Paul is referring to the Jewish believers in the Galatian churches. They are the ones acquainted with the law, and Paul has been speaking to them in particular since Galatians 2:15. This can be seen in the contrast between the we in Galatians 3:23 and the you in Galatians 3:26.
Galatians 3:23
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
Galatians 2:15
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Galatians 3:26 Sons and Heirs
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:23 reads, "Before faith came"; but in the literal Greek it reads, "before the faith" came. Because Paul is contrasting the place of the law before and after Christ, in Gal. 3:24, "the faith" is most likely a reference to Jesus Himself and not a reference to Christian faith in general.
Paul says the Jews were kept "under the law" before the coming of Christ. What does he mean by "under the law"? Compare Gal. 3:22, 23 with Rom. 6:14, 15; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 4:4, 5, 21; 5:18.
Galatians 3:22-23
22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
Romans 6:14-15
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
1 Corinthians 9:20
20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Galatians 5:18
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Paul uses the phrase "under the law" twelve times in his letters. Depending on its context, it can have a couple of different connotations.
1. "Under the law" as an alternative way of salvation (Gal. 4:21). The opponents in Galatia were trying to gain life-giving righteousness by obedience. However, as Paul has already made clear, this is impossible (Gal. 3:21, 22). Paul later will even point out that, by desiring to be under the law, the Galatians were really rejecting Christ (Gal. 5:2-4).
Galatians 4:21 Two Covenants
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
Galatians 3:21-22
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Galatians 5:2-4
2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
2.