Galatians 3 20

Galatians 3:20 kjv

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Galatians 3:20 nkjv

Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

Galatians 3:20 niv

A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

Galatians 3:20 esv

Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

Galatians 3:20 nlt

Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.

Galatians 3 verses

Galatians 3 20 Meaning

The mediator of a covenant implies a single party is involved in the act of mediation. However, a covenant inherently involves at least two parties. Therefore, where there is a mediator, there are necessarily two parties. The Law, introduced through Moses, involved God and Israel. Yet, the Law was mediated by Moses and also involved human intermediaries. Paul argues that this mediation through Moses signifies a division and separation, not the singular, unified mediation that is characteristic of God's promise through Abraham and then ultimately fulfilled in Christ. The promise of God to Abraham, on the other hand, is singular and unconditional, making Christ its sole and sufficient mediator.

Galatians 3 20 Context

Galatians chapter 3 continues Paul's passionate defense of the Gospel against Judaizing agitators who insisted Gentile believers must be circumcised and adhere to the Law of Moses. Paul asserts that salvation is not by the Law but by faith in Jesus Christ. He uses the example of Abraham, emphasizing that Abraham was declared righteous by faith before the Law was given. Paul argues that the Law was introduced 430 years later, not to annul God's promise to Abraham, but to reveal humanity's sinfulness and serve as a temporary tutor. This verse (3:20) serves as a pivot, contrasting the nature of the Mosaic Law's mediation with the singular, unmediated nature of God's promise to Abraham, which is fulfilled in Christ. The argument leads to the conclusion that believers are Abraham's true offspring through faith, not by adherence to the Law.

Galatians 3 20 Word Analysis

• Mediator (μεσίτης - mesites): An intermediary; one who stands between two parties, especially to negotiate or reconcile. In a legal context, an arbiter. In Galatians 3:20, Paul uses it to highlight that the Law had intermediaries (Moses and human priests), implying a divided relationship and not direct access. This contrasts with Christ, who is the sole mediator.
• One (ἑνός - enos): While this word grammatically modifies "covenant" and points to "one covenant," the logical force is that the promise, which established this singular covenant with Abraham, was not mediated by "many." The singularity is important; God's promise stands. The implied contrast is to the plurality of intermediaries involved in the Law.
• Mediator (μεσίτης - mesites): Repeated for emphasis, stressing the concept of standing between. The repetition highlights that the presence of a mediator implies two parties who are not in direct communion, necessitating someone to bridge the gap.
• Covenants (διαθήκης - diathēkēs): Generally translated as covenant or testament. Refers to a solemn agreement, often confirmed by sacrifice or oath, establishing a relationship between parties. God's covenant with Abraham was unilateral and unconditional, based on God's promise and Abraham's faith. The covenant at Sinai, mediated by Moses, was conditional on Israel's obedience.
• Covenant (διαθήκη - diathēkē): Used here in its singular form, referring to the promise to Abraham. The core argument is that God’s foundational promise to Abraham was one, singular, and unbroken by subsequent legalistic frameworks.
• God (θεοῦ - theou): Refers to the one true God of the Bible.
• Group of words: "Mediator of one... mediator of many" – This powerful antithesis underscores Paul's argument. The Law, mediated by Moses and administered through a system of laws and priests, implied many intermediaries and a broken relationship. In contrast, God’s promise to Abraham, grounded in God’s faithfulness and received by faith, points to Christ as the singular mediator, bridging the gap between God and humanity directly. This structure emphasizes a deficiency in the Law’s mediating capacity compared to God's singular promise fulfilled in Christ. The original audience would understand "many" as representing the fractured human system and "one" as representing God's divine, unified plan.

Galatians 3 20 Bonus Section

The rhetorical force of this verse relies on a precise understanding of "mediator." In ancient Near Eastern treaties, a mediator could be a king's representative or an ambassador, someone acting on behalf of a superior, and often the agreement itself had provisions for their ongoing involvement. The Mosaic covenant was characterized by a mediation that kept the people at a distance from God, as seen in the terror on Mount Sinai and the explicit command for Moses to mediate. The promise to Abraham, however, was based on God's unilateral oath and Abraham's faith, creating a covenant directly with God without a human intermediary between God and Abraham concerning its foundational legitimacy. Paul is showing that the Law's structure with its multiple intermediaries inherently pointed to a need for a more perfect, singular mediation, which only Christ fulfills. This leads into the discussion of Christ as the fulfillment of the promise and the true offspring of Abraham.

Galatians 3 20 Commentary

Paul starkly contrasts the mediation of the Law with the nature of God's promise. The Law, enacted through Moses, was a mediator, implying a separation between God and the people. Moses stood between them. This mediation signified human intermediaries and a broken relationship that required constant regulation. This system, therefore, implied "many" mediators, both Moses and the subsequent priestly lineage. Conversely, God's promise to Abraham was singular and established a direct relationship rooted in faith. It did not require multiple human intercessors. The absence of a human mediator in God’s original promise to Abraham signifies a more immediate and personal relationship with God, which is perfectly realized in Christ. Christ, as the sole mediator, bridges the gap definitively, not as a third party requiring further mediation, but as the one through whom direct access to God is made possible. His mediation is not about bringing two divided parties together with many steps, but about restoring the unified communion that God originally intended. This distinction highlights the supremacy of God’s grace and promise over the Law’s conditional system.