Galatians 3: 23-29

Galatians 3: 23-29

I will discuss the context, content and concern of Galatians 3: 23-29. First, I will discuss the context. This will include the historical, literary and textual reconstructing of the text. In the historical reconstructing, I will discuss background information concerning this text. In the literary reconstructing, I will identify whether the text is poetic or prose, which genre Galatians is classified under and whether the writing is historical or narrative. In the textual reconstructing, I will provide an outline of Galatians and determine the location of the text within this book and within the Bible.
In the content portion, I will provide a structural analysis of the passage where I will underline main ideas and supporting ideas of the text. I will identify any themes that are recurring in the passage and I will select several pivotal words from the passage to research and study more in depth to help determine its meaning.
Finally, in the concern portion, I will ascertain what Paul intended to say in this passage. I will do this by considering Paul’s tone, use of words and the response of the recipients of this letter. I will also note other scriptures Paul wrote that correspond to his points in Galatians 3: 23-29. To conclude, I will state how the points he makes apply to our lives today and reveal some principles of application.
To begin, according to The NIV Rainbow Study Bible, Galatians dates sometime between A. D. 49 and 55. The author of Galatians is Paul and he possibly wrote this book in Antioch or Ephesus. Paul wrote this book to the Christians at Galatia. Jews greatly outnumbered Gentiles in the early churches. During this time, as non-Jews would come into the church, many questions and issues would arise. Judaizers, a group of Jewish believers, followed Paul as he evangelized. In order for the Gentiles to receive salvation, these Judaizers insisted that Gentile believers submit to circumcision and the laws of Moses. This letter is Paul’s response to this erroneous teaching. He preaches that salvation is a gift of grace, wholly dependent upon faith in Jesus Christ. This book has been called the “Magna Charta” of the church (1, p. 1297).
The writing in this passage in Galatians is prose, which according to class notes, means the writing is straightforward and literal. In addition, Galatians is a letter and therefore, considered in the epistle genre. Since Galatians is an epistle, then I must answer a question. What is the occasion for Paul writing Galatians? You touched on this in class briefly as well. You stated that Paul wrote Galatians concerning freedom in Christ because at the time this letter was written, Galatians were hearing that Jesus plus circumcision or plus something else equaled salvation. However, the true gospel is that Jesus alone can bring salvation plus nothing else. I believe this passage has both historical and narrative characteristics. Historical in that it states facts concerning the law given to lead us to Christ and that Christians are no longer under the law. The narrative, the requirement, however, is that we believe in Christ.
The outline of Galatians is as follows. Gal 1: 1-5 is the salutation. In Gal 1: 6-10, Paul reproves the church and preaches that the only gospel is the gospel of Christ. In Gal 1: 11-24, Paul states that his message is from Jesus Christ and proves his own apostleship. In Gal 2: 1-10, the Jerusalem church accepts Paul. Then, in Gal 2: 11- 4:31, Paul explains grace by faith. This is where the passage of study fits in the outline of the book. In Gal 5: 1- 6:10, Paul teaches about freedom in Christ. Then, in Gal 6:11 – 6:18, Paul gives his final blessings and exhortations to the church at Galatia. Within the Bible, Galatians is located in the New Testament after II Corinthians and before Ephesians. Galatians is one of several letters Paul wrote to various churches.
Next, I will discuss the content of Galatians 3: 23-29. To begin, I will provide a structural analysis of the passage by underlining main ideas and pivotal words. It is as follows: 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So, the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (1, p. 1300). Paul uses words such as prisoners, locked up, put in charge and supervision I think just to drive home the mental image of the law being bondage to us. Then, he uses the words sons, clothed, seed, heirs and promise to show us the stark contrast between having faith in Christ and following the law. It is a clear mental image of a slave compared to a son. I sure get the picture. Hopefully, the Galatians did too.
The themes that are running through this passage are grace, redemption and freedom in Christ. In The NIV Rainbow Study Bible, the author reveals some themes as follows: the law was given to reveal man’s sinfulness and guilt; to live under the law is bondage but to live by faith is freedom and Christians are not bound by the law but Christ has set us free (1, p. 1297).
Paul uses pivotal words as well, which I will discuss next. Some of these words are as follows: justified; faith; baptism; heirs and promise. I will define these words in the concern section of this paper, which follows below.
Now, I will focus on the concern of this passage. What is Paul trying to say in this passage? I believe that Paul is trying to draw the Galatians back to faith in Christ and not faith in the law for righteousness. At one time, the Galatians listened to Paul’s message and lived by faith in Christ but only for a while because then, Judaizers came in and convinced them to follow the law again. This passage is Paul’s plea to the Galatians to understand the difference between trying to become righteous by the law and righteousness through faith in Christ alone. Paul’s tone is one of an appeal to the people of Galatia. In my opinion, Paul probably experienced a myriad of emotions as he wrote this passage. One, he probably felt holy anger towards those who would put this obstacle before the Galatians to turn them away from following Christ. Two, he probably felt great desire and passion in his heart for them to know and live by faith in Christ alone again. Most of all, I think he felt a deep love for these people and a longing for them to live free in Christ and know their identity in Christ.
Not only does Paul use tone in the letter to make his points but also, he uses key words, which I will discuss next. Some of these words are as follows: justified; faith; baptized; heirs and promise. The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible defines these words as follows. The word justified as it is used in verse 24 means to render just or innocent, to free or to be righteous (5, p. 726). Here, the word faith means persuasion, credence or conviction of religious truth or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation (5, p. 407). Baptized means to make overwhelmed for example, fully wet, used only (in the N.T.) in ceremonial ablution, to baptize or to wash (5, p.73). Heirs defined as getting by apportionment, a sharer by lot, inheritor or a possessor (5, p.599). Promise is an announcement or pledge, a divine assurance of good, a message (5, p. 1080).
The reader’s response to this passage is not identified in the letter. Only Paul’s blessings and exhortations are made clear. Personally, I believe the letter would have generated a corrective response from the reader’s who seem to be thirsting and hungering for righteousness at this time.
In Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, the author states that Gal 3: 27-28 illustrates a passage grounded in principles of redemption. While this passage by itself cannot prove that Paul envisioned no distinctions between people in the Church, neither can it be limited to equality in opportunities for salvation. Baptism reflected an outward liberating rite for women that put them on equal public footing with men in a way that circumcision could not (3, p. 417).
In Matthew Henry’s Commentary, the author states that the design of the law is to discover men’s transgressions, and to show them their need for a better righteousness than sin. The great design of the law is then that men will be convinced of the insufficiency of the law to affect righteousness for them and they will be persuaded to believe on Christ, and obtain the benefit of His promise. Now that faith in Christ has come, we have no such need of the law to direct us to him. This faith in Christ is what we profess in baptism, which comes in the room of circumcision. We are baptized into Christ’s death, that as he died and rose again, so shall we die to sin and walk in newness of life. This privilege of being children of God is now enjoyed by all real Christians. There is no difference between us now but instead, we all stand on the same level and are true seed of Abraham, and as such are entitled to the great blessings and privileges of the promise (2, p. 1841).
There are other scripture verses relating to what Paul is saying in Galatians 3: 23-29. For instance, in Romans 3:20-22, Paul writes “Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his (God’s) sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (1, p.1255) In addition, Romans 4:13 & 16 states “It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise…but through the righteousness that comes by faith. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring – not only those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham.” (1, p. 1256) It looks to me as if Paul is trying to get across to the Romans the same message he was trying to teach the Galatians. He repeats himself several times.
The points that Paul makes in this passage apply to our lives today. There are many people who still believe that there own effort or their works is what saves them. Matter of fact, the last sermon I heard at my church was about this very thing. The sermon was about how millions of people today are attracted to mystic Eastern religions, specifically Buddhism, and that these religions are very works oriented and not focused on Christ. If we apply Paul’s message to our lives today, then I think we will not be focused more on our works than on what Christ did for us.
Finally, I will discuss some principles for application for the points Paul makes in this passage. One, in the Life Application Bible for Students, the author states that, “Our natural inclination is to feel uncomfortable around those who are different from us and to spend time with those who resemble us. But, when we allow our differences to separate us from our fellow believers, we disregard clear biblical teaching.” We can make a point of seeking out and appreciating people who are different from us. Then, we may find that we all have a lot in common” (4, p.1108).
In closing, one day in class you presented us with a question for discussion about Christians not being under by the law. I do not remember now exactly how you worded the question but I read something in the Life Application Bible for Students that I think it may apply to the question and reveal further Paul’s intended application for the reader’s of Galatians 3. The author states that in the Old Testament, there were three categories of law: moral, civil and ceremonial laws. The author also states that when Paul says these laws no longer bind Gentiles, he is not saying that the Old Testament laws do not apply to us today. He is saying certain types of laws may not apply to us. For instance, moral law is the direct command of God such as the Ten Commandments and they require strict obedience. These laws reveal the nature and will of God, and they still apply to us today. We are to obey these moral laws, not to obtain salvation, but to live in ways pleasing to God. The civil laws then dictated Israel’s daily living. Because modern culture is so radically different, some of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. However, the principles behind the commands should guide our conduct. There were times when Paul asked Gentile Christians to follow some of these laws, not because they had to, but to promote unity. Finally, ceremonial law related specifically to Israel’s worship. These laws were no longer necessary after Jesus’ death and resurrection. While the ceremonial laws no longer bind us, the principles of worshipping and loving a holy God still apply to us today (4, p. 1109). This helps me to understand what Paul was trying to say in Gal 3:25.

Bibliography

The NIV Rainbow Study Bible: New International Version, Rainbow Studies,
Inc., El Reno, Oklahoma, 1992.

Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary in One Volume, Zondervan
Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1961.

Blomberg, C., Hubbard, R., Klein, W., Introduction to Biblical Interpretation,
Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas, 1993.

Life Application Bible for Students: The Living Bible, Tyndale House Publishers,
Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, 1992.

Strong, James, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible,
Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, 1995.