Galatians 3:18

For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise.

For {G1063} if {G1487} the inheritance {G2817} be of {G1537} the law {G3551}, it is no more {G3765} of {G1537} promise {G1860}: but {G1161} God {G2316} gave {G5483} it to Abraham {G11} by {G1223} promise {G1860}.

For if the inheritance comes from the legal part of the Torah, it no longer comes from a promise. But God gave it to Avraham through a promise.

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.

Commentary

Galatians 3:18 is a pivotal verse in Paul's letter, forcefully contrasting two fundamental ways of relating to God concerning salvation and the divine inheritance: through the Law or through God's promise.

Context

Paul is passionately defending the doctrine of justification by faith against false teachers in Galatia who insisted that Gentile Christians must adhere to the Mosaic Law, including circumcision, to be truly saved. Having already established that the Galatians received the Spirit by hearing of faith, not by works of the law (Galatians 3:2), Paul turns to the example of Abraham. He argues that Abraham was declared righteous by faith long before the Law was given at Sinai. This verse serves as a logical conclusion to his argument: if the inheritance (God's blessing and salvation) were dependent on keeping the Law, it would nullify the original, unconditional promise God made to Abraham.

Key Themes

  • The Incompatibility of Law and Promise: Paul asserts that these two principles are mutually exclusive when it comes to receiving the inheritance. If salvation is earned by fulfilling legal requirements, it cannot simultaneously be a free gift based on God's grace and promise. One negates the other. This highlights a core theological distinction Paul emphasizes throughout his epistles.
  • God's Unconditional Promise to Abraham: The verse explicitly states that God "gave it to Abraham by promise." This underscores the sovereign and gracious nature of God's covenant with Abraham, which predates the Law by 430 years (Galatians 3:17). The inheritance is therefore a gift, not a wage for performance. This promise involved not only land and descendants but also the blessing of all nations through Abraham's seed, which is Christ (Galatians 3:16).
  • Inheritance by Grace, Not Works: The "inheritance" here refers to the blessings of salvation, righteousness, and eternal life that believers receive. Because it was given by promise, it is received through faith, not through human effort or adherence to a legal code. This foundational truth aligns with the New Testament's emphasis on salvation by grace through faith, apart from works.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "promise" is epangelia (ἐπαγγελία), which denotes a divine declaration or assurance, emphasizing God's initiative and faithfulness. "Inheritance" is klēronomia (κληρονομία), signifying a possession received as a legacy or by right, reinforcing the idea of a gift rather than something earned. The contrast between these terms and the concept of "law" (nomos, νόμος) is central to Paul's argument, highlighting the fundamentally different ways God interacts with humanity regarding salvation.

Practical Application

For believers today, Galatians 3:18 offers immense liberation and assurance. It affirms that our standing with God is not based on our perfect adherence to rules or our religious performance, but entirely on God's faithful promise, fulfilled in Christ. This means:

  • Confidence in God's Faithfulness: We can trust that God's promises are secure and unchanging, unlike human efforts which are always imperfect.
  • Freedom from Legalism: It warns against any system, within or outside the church, that adds human works to God's grace as a condition for salvation or acceptance. Our salvation is a gift, received by faith, not earned.
  • Focus on Christ: Our hope and security rest solely on Christ's finished work and God's gracious promise, allowing us to live in response to His love rather than striving to earn it. We become heirs of the promise through Christ.
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Cross-References

  • Galatians 2:21

    I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

  • Hebrews 6:12

    That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

  • Hebrews 6:15

    And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

  • Romans 4:13

    For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

  • Romans 4:16

    Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

  • Psalms 105:42

    For he remembered his holy promise, [and] Abraham his servant.

  • Romans 8:17

    ¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.
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