Galatians 3:23 kjv
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians 3:23 nkjv
But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
Galatians 3:23 niv
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
Galatians 3:23 esv
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
Galatians 3:23 nlt
Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
Galatians 3 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 3:24 | "So the law was our guardian until Christ came..." | Clarifies the role of the law |
| Romans 10:4 | "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone..." | Christ fulfills the law's purpose |
| Galatians 5:1 | "For freedom Christ has set us free..." | Freedom found in Christ |
| 1 Timothy 1:9 | "...the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless..." | Purpose of the law |
| Hebrews 9:15 | "...for this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant..." | Christ as mediator |
| John 1:17 | "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came..." | Grace and truth through Christ |
| Romans 7:1-6 | "Or do you not know, brothers, since the law does not rule..." | Release from the law's dominion |
| Ephesians 2:11-13 | "Therefore remember that formerly you were Gentiles in the flesh..." | Gentiles included through Christ |
| Colossians 2:10 | "and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule..." | Completeness in Christ |
| Deuteronomy 27:26 | "Cursed be anyone who does not uphold the words of this law..." | Curses associated with disobedience |
| Psalm 119:97 | "Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long." | Love for the law (pre-Christ perspective) |
| Galatians 2:16 | "...knowing that a person is not justified by works of the law..." | Justification by faith, not law |
| Acts 13:39 | "And by him everyone who believes is freed from all things..." | Freedom through belief |
| Romans 8:3-4 | "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not..." | Law's inability vs. God's work |
| Galatians 4:1-5 | "I mean that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different..." | Sonship through adoption |
| Hebrews 10:1 | "For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come..." | Law as a shadow of Christ |
| 2 Corinthians 3:7 | "Now if the ministry of death, carved into letters on stone..." | Ministry of death vs. spirit |
| Galatians 3:21 | "Then the law against such as these? No!" | Law cannot justify |
| Matthew 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets..." | Christ's relationship to the Law |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life.'" | Christ as the exclusive way |
Galatians 3 verses
Galatians 3 23 Meaning
The law acted as a guardian or custodian for believers until Christ came. Its purpose was to guide and protect, but its role was temporary. Upon the arrival of faith in Christ, the need for the law as a primary mediator and guide ended, as believers are now justified and have direct access to God through Christ.
Galatians 3 23 Context
In Galatians 3, Paul is arguing against the Judaizers, who insisted that Gentile believers must adhere to the Mosaic Law, including circumcision, to be truly saved and right with God. Paul's argument traces the path of salvation from Abraham's faith, which preceded the Law, to the current reality of life by faith in Jesus Christ. Verse 23 serves as a crucial transition, explaining the Law's former, pedagogical function before the coming of Christ and faith. This chapter emphasizes that salvation is a gift received by faith, not an attainment through legalistic observance. The letter as a whole addresses the church in Galatia, who were being swayed by false teachings that threatened their freedom in Christ.
Galatians 3 23 Word analysis
- N: (Este - "is," "was") - Indicates a state of being, the function of the law in the past.
- hmin: (heōs - "until") - Denotes a time limit; the Law's role was functional until a specific point.
- Criston: (Christou - "Christ") - The Anointed One, Jesus. The arrival of Christ marks the end of the Law's preparatory phase.
- Moulton: (paragoghē): Greek word is likely paidagogos (παιδαγωγός), meaning "child-leader" or "custodian." It refers to a slave who had charge of the children of a household, seeing them safely to school, and was responsible for their training and discipline. This is a more accurate rendering than "guardian." It emphasizes a nurturing, guiding, but subordinate role.
- peitharkei (pisteyēsē): This Greek word typically translates to "in whom we might believe" or "in whom we believe." In some manuscripts, a different reading related to obedience exists, but the common and widely accepted text points to faith.
- auton (autou): Refers back to Christ, the one through whom faith is realized.
Words group analysis:
- "But before faith came": This phrase sets a distinct temporal and experiential boundary. It highlights a time when humanity, under the Law, lacked the direct access to righteousness and spiritual fulfillment that comes through faith in Christ. The Law, while holy, did not offer the solution to sin that Christ provides.
- "we were kept under the law": "Kept under" suggests confinement or subjugation. The Law's function was restrictive in that it revealed sin, enforced obedience, and pointed out humanity's inability to keep God's commands perfectly, thereby holding people accountable. This stewardship was protective by keeping them aware of their need for a redeemer.
Galatians 3 23 Bonus section
The concept of paidagōgos (παιδαγωγός) carries the nuance of a guide and disciplinarian. In the ancient Greco-Roman context, this was often a trusted slave tasked with escorting children to school and overseeing their conduct and education. This slave was not the actual teacher, but an attendant and disciplinarian. Similarly, the Mosaic Law guided the people toward Christ, highlighting their sin and their inability to meet God's standard. It prepared them for Christ's coming by revealing their desperate need for salvation. The Law revealed the sickness, but Christ is the cure. The freedom that Galatians speaks of is not freedom from God's will, but freedom from the curse and bondage of the Law's condemnation due to sin, and freedom to live in the Spirit by faith.
Galatians 3 23 Commentary
The Law was a temporary custodian, not a permanent guide. Its purpose was to safeguard Israel, revealing God's standards and highlighting sin's presence. It functioned as a schoolmaster, demonstrating humanity's inability to achieve righteousness by works. Before faith in Christ, this divine arrangement kept people in a state of awareness regarding their sin and need for a savior. When Christ, the object of faith, arrived, this custodial role of the Law concluded, transitioning believers to a new covenant relationship characterized by grace and direct access to God through faith. The Law's shadow pointed to the reality found in Christ.