Gal 3:7-14 | RWP | e4.org | The same are sons of Abraham ( ουτο υιο εισιν Αβρααμ ). "These are." This is Paul's astounding doctrine to Jews that the real sons of Abraham are those who believe as he did, "they which be of faith" ( ο εκ πιστεως ), a common idiom with Paul for this idea (verse ; ; ; ), those whose spiritual sonship springs out of ( εκ ) faith, not out of blood. John the Baptist denounced the Pharisees and Sadducees as vipers though descendants of Abraham ( ; ) and Jesus termed the Pharisees children of the devil and not spiritual children of Abraham (not children of God) in .

‏ Galatians 3:7-14

The same are sons of Abraham ( ουτο υιο εισιν Αβρααμ ). "These are." This is Paul's astounding doctrine to Jews that the real sons of Abraham are those who believe as he did, "they which be of faith" ( ο εκ πιστεως ), a common idiom with Paul for this idea (verse 9; Ro 3:26; 4:16; 14:23), those whose spiritual sonship springs out of ( εκ ) faith, not out of blood. John the Baptist denounced the Pharisees and Sadducees as vipers though descendants of Abraham (Mt 3:7; Lu 3:7) and Jesus termed the Pharisees children of the devil and not spiritual children of Abraham (not children of God) in Joh 8:37-44.

Foreseeing ( προιδουσα ). Second aorist active participle of προοραω. The Scripture is here personified. Alone in this sense of "sight," but common with λεγε or ειπεν (says, said) and really in verse 22 "hath shut up" ( συνεκλεισεν ).

Would justify ( δικαιο ). Present active indicative, "does justify."

Preached the gospel beforehand ( προευηγγελισατο ). First aorist middle indicative of προευαγγελιζομα with augment on α though both προ and ευ before it in composition. Only instance in N.T. It occurs in Philo. and Schol. Soph. This Scripture announced beforehand the gospel on this point of justification by faith. He quotes the promise to Abraham in Ge 12:3; 18:18, putting παντα τα εθνη (all the nations) in 18:18 for πασα α φυλα (all the tribes) of the earth. It is a crucial passage for Paul's point, showing that the promise to Abraham included all the nations of the earth. The verb ενευλογεω (future passive here) occurs in the LXX and here only in N.T. (not Ac 3:25 in correct text).

In thee ( εν σο ). "As their spiritual progenitor" (Lightfoot).

With ( συν ). Along with, in fellowship with.

The faithful ( τω πιστω ). Rather, "the believing" (cf. verse 6).

Under a curse ( υπο καταραν ). Picture of the curse hanging over them like a Damocles' blade. Cf. Ro 3:9 "under sin" ( υφ' αμαρτιαν ). The word for "curse" ( καταρα ) is an old one ( κατα, down, αρα, imprecation), often in LXX, in N.T. only here and 13; Jas 3:10; 2Pe 2:14. Paul quotes De 27:26, the close of the curses on Mt. Ebal. He makes a slight explanatory modification of the LXX changing λογοις to γεγραμμενοις εν τω βιβλιω. The idea is made clearer by the participle ( γεγραμμενοις ) and βιβλιω (book). The curse becomes effective only when the law is violated.

Cursed ( επικαταρατος ). Verbal adjective from επικαταραομα, to imprecate curses, late word, common in LXX. In N.T. only here and verse 13, but in inscriptions also (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 96). The emphasis is on "continueth" ( εμμενε ) and "all" ( πασιν ).

In the sight of God ( παρα τω θεω ). By the side of ( παρα ) God, as God looks at it, for the simple reason that no one except Jesus has ever kept all the law, God's perfect law.

The law is not of faith ( ο νομος ουκ εστιν εκ πιστεως ). Law demands complete obedience and rests not on mercy, faith, grace.

Redeemed us ( ημας εξηγορασεν ). First aorist active of the compound verb εξαγοραζω (Polybius, Plutarch, Diodorus), to buy from, to buy back, to ransom. The simple verb αγοραζω (1Co 6:20; 7:23) is used in an inscription for the purchase of slaves in a will (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 324). See also Ga 4:5; Col 4:5; Eph 5:16. Christ purchased us

from the curse of the law ( εκ της καταρας του νομου ). "Out from ( εκ repeated) under ( υπο in verse 10) the curse of the law."

Having become a curse for us ( γενομενος υπερ ημων καταρα ). Here the graphic picture is completed. We were under ( υπο ) a curse, Christ became a curse

over ( υπερ ) us and so between us and the overhanging curse which fell on him instead of on us. Thus he bought us out ( εκ ) and we are free from the curse which he took on himself. This use of υπερ for substitution is common in the papyri and in ancient Greek as in the N.T. (Joh 11:50; 2Co 5:14f.).

That hangeth on a tree ( ο κρεμαμενος επ ξυλου ). Quotation from De 21:23 with the omission of υπο θεου (by God). Since Christ was not cursed by God. The allusion was to exposure of dead bodies on stakes or crosses (Jos 10:26). Ξυλον means wood, not usually tree, though so in Lu 23:31 and in later Greek. It was used of gallows, crosses, etc. See Ac 5:30; 10:39; 1Pe 2:24. On the present middle participle from the old verb κρεμαννυμ, to hang, see on Mt 18:6; Ac 5:30.

That upon the Gentiles ( ινα εις τα εθνη ). Final clause ( ινα and γενητα, aorist middle subjunctive).

That we might receive ( ινα λαβωμεν ). Second final clause coordinate with the first as in 2Co 9:3. So in Christ we all (Gentile and Jew) obtain the promise of blessing made to Abraham, through faith.