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

Galatians 3:20 addresses the nature of the Law compared to the Abrahamic promise. It states that a mediator inherently implies two or more distinct parties involved in an agreement or covenant. In contrast, the verse emphasizes that God is "one," signifying His unique, singular role as the unilateral grantor of the promise to Abraham. This means the Abrahamic covenant was a direct, unconditional pledge from God alone, not requiring an intermediary or the assent of a second party to become effective. The Law, however, was given through a mediator (Moses), indicating a conditional agreement involving both God and Israel.

Galatians 3 20 Context

Paul, in Galatians chapter 3, is vigorously defending the doctrine of justification by faith apart from works of the Law against false teachers who were urging Gentile Christians to be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law. He uses the example of Abraham, arguing that Abraham was justified by faith (Gal 3:6-9), and the Law came much later (430 years, Gal 3:17). A crucial question then arises in Gal 3:19: "Why then the Law?" If the promise to Abraham brings righteousness, what purpose does the Law serve? Paul explains that the Law was added because of transgressions until Christ came. Galatians 3:20 serves as an explanatory clause, distinguishing the nature of the Law's covenant from the Abrahamic promise. The Law, having been delivered through angels by the hand of a mediator (Moses, Gal 3:19), was inherently conditional and involved two parties, whereas God's original promise to Abraham was a unilateral act of His sovereign grace.

Galatians 3 20 Word analysis

• Now / But (δὲ - de): A common conjunction marking a transition or mild contrast, signaling an explanatory statement that sheds light on the previous point about the Law's mediation. It sets up the critical distinction.
• a mediator (μεσίτης - mesitēs):
  • Meaning: An intermediary, arbitrator, one who stands between two parties to effect reconciliation, convey terms, or bind an agreement. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, mediators were crucial in treaties between kings or for legal disputes.
  • Significance: Its very definition necessitates the involvement of at least two separate entities. If a mediator is present, it means there are at least two distinct parties whose interests need to be bridged or an agreement requires negotiation between them.
• is not (οὐκ ἔστιν - ouk estin): A direct negation. The mediator's function cannot be understood in a singular context.
• a mediator of one (ἑνὸς - henos): Refers to a single party. This phrase emphasizes that a mediator, by nature, cannot operate with just one party. If only one party exists, no mediation is needed.
• but God (ὁ δὲ θεὸς - ho de theos): A strong emphatic assertion, pivoting to the nature of God's action in the promise. The 'God' here refers to the God who made the promise to Abraham.
• is one (εἷς ἐστιν - heis estin):
  • Meaning: "He is one." Here, "one" signifies His singularity, His absolute unity of purpose, and His self-sufficiency in making the promise. It evokes the central Hebrew confession of monotheism, the Shema (Deut 6:4).
  • Significance: This statement is crucial. It underscores that in the Abrahamic promise, God was the sole actor, the initiator, the grantor of an unconditional covenant. No mediator was involved or needed because there was only one primary party unilaterally committing to the promise. This contrasts sharply with the Law, which, by its mediation through Moses, implied conditions and the involvement of two parties (God and Israel). The oneness of God highlights His unchanging, unified, and singular will behind the eternal promise of grace, distinct from the temporary and conditional nature of the mediated Law.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now a mediator is not a mediator of one": This clause sets the logical premise. By definition, a mediator is always required when there are two or more distinct parties involved in establishing a covenant or agreement. Their role is to bridge a gap, convey terms, or represent separate interests. Without two parties, there is no need for a mediator. This clarifies why the Law, which had Moses as a mediator, signifies a conditional covenant involving God and humanity.
• "but God is one": This is the theological punchline and antithesis. It asserts God's singularity in the context of the Abrahamic promise. It implies that in making the promise, God acted solely, unilaterally, without the need for an intermediary or the assent of another party. His oneness here speaks to His indivisible will, His self-contained sovereignty, and the absolute nature of His grace in the Abrahamic covenant, which makes it distinct from the later Law, whose mediation bespoke a different kind of, more conditional, relationship.

Galatians 3 20 Bonus section

The statement "but God is one" also subtly counters any notion that the God who gave the Law was different from the God who made the promise. By affirming "God is one," Paul asserts the continuity and consistency of God's character across both dispensations, even if His method of relating to humanity differed through promise and Law. The underlying, singular nature of God ensures that His ultimate purpose (salvation by faith in Christ) remains unified despite the temporary introduction of the Law. Some interpretations, especially historically, connected this to the unified nature of the Divine Essence, making it a precursor to understanding God's nature that aligns with the Trinity – One God existing in three persons, all acting in perfect unity of purpose regarding salvation history, but Paul's immediate focus is on God's singular role in covenant making.

Galatians 3 20 Commentary

Galatians 3:20 is a profound theological statement that succinctly articulates a crucial distinction between the Abrahamic covenant and the Mosaic Law. Paul is not denying the unity of God as a basic tenet of faith, but rather applying this attribute to the nature of God's covenantal actions. When God made the promise to Abraham (Gen 12, 15), it was a unilateral declaration of divine intention and grace. God acted as the one party making an unconditional pledge, exemplified by God passing alone between the sacrificed animals (Gen 15:17-18). No mediator was present or required because God alone guaranteed its fulfillment. This covenant established a relationship based on faith in God's sole faithfulness. In contrast, the Mosaic Law, delivered through a mediator (Moses) at Sinai (Gal 3:19), established a covenant with two parties: God and the people of Israel, with explicit conditions and obligations on both sides. Thus, the Law's very structure, through mediation, indicates its conditional nature, distinct from the grace-based, unilateral promise given to Abraham. This verse thereby reinforces the supremacy and unchanging validity of the Abrahamic promise of justification by faith, emphasizing that the Law, while having its own divinely ordained purpose (Gal 3:19, 24), does not supersede or alter this prior, foundational promise of grace from the One, unified, and utterly faithful God.