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Galatians 3 - Christ being made a curse

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
I think Paul is just saying that this is a promise and so has nothing to do with law or conditions.
So when Paul says "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles" you take it as "We Jews and Gentiles are Jews by nature"?

I am trying to understand how you view the concept "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles" to mean Christ redeemed everybody from the curse of the Law (including those who were not under the Law).


It seems odd to me because those not under the Law were never subject to the curse of the Law. Also, the redeeming from the curse was to include all in Christ.

I do not understand how you are structuring this passage to arrive at your conclusion.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
@DaveXR650

I am going to walk through Galatians (how I understand the text).

I think this will be the best way for me to grasp where we differ regarding the epistle so I can consider it against mine and the biblical text. I am always open to correcting my position but have to text it against God's words.

I apologize in advance for the time spent as I realize many want to jump to specific verses and go from there, but that is not how I study (yes, I am slow).


Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. (Gal 1:1-5)



My understanding -

1.Paul is addressing the churches in Galatia.

2. Paul derives authority as an Apostle (sent from Jesus Christ.

3. Christ gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. (1:6-10)


My understanding

1. Paul addresses the problem within his audience of people leaving the gospel for a false gospel, a distorted gospel.

2. Those who offer a gospel different of what has been given are accursed.

3. Paul is not seeking the approval of man but of God.

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.

But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they were glorifying God because of me.
(1:11–24)

This is my understanding-

1. The Gospel that Paul preached is not from man but from God.

2. Paul gives his testimony, how he went from persecuting churches to acceptance of the gospel.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Galatians 2

Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.

But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.
( 2:1–10)

My understanding:

1. The Gospel is preached to Gentiles.

2. Some sought to being Gentiles under the bondage of the Law.

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

“We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!

For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
(2:11–21)

My understanding:

1. Paul recounts his rebuke of Peter.

2. Man is not justified by the Law but by faith in Jesus.

3. If righteousness cones through the Law then Christ died needlessly.
 

DaveXR650

Well-Known Member
So when Paul says "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles" you take it as "We Jews and Gentiles are Jews by nature"?
No, the whole chapter 3 is showing that in reality the Jews were saved by faith also. So why let them subvert the gospel by claiming that the gentiles must do the practices of the law - when the law never saved them either. Verse 14 is just saying that Jesus was promised as part of what God promised Abraham as a blessing to all nations. As is clarified in verse 16.
I am trying to understand how you view the concept "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles" to mean Christ redeemed everybody from the curse of the Law (including those who were not under the Law).
Are you looking at "in order that" as a causation? It's not in other versions. It flows better in the old KJV where verses 12-14 flow together as one concept. Remember, verse 11 set the stage by saying "But that no man is justified in the sight of God by the law, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith".

Verse 26 sums it up. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ". Again, verse 28 says there is neither Jew nor Greek, but we are all one in Christ Jesus.
It seems odd to me because those not under the Law were never subject to the curse of the Law. Also, the redeeming from the curse was to include all in Christ.
I do not see anything in chapter 3 that would preclude gentiles seeing Jesus as being made a curse for them too. I agree that gentiles sinned without the law while Jews sinned under the law. Those of us who are gentiles but have been raised under the teaching of the Old and New Testaments certainly lived under the concept of these laws being the basis for right and wrong. I would suggest staying within the context of what Paul is doing in the letter. He is dealing with people on the verge of going back from the gospel and reverting to Judaism and attempting to practice Jewish law as a path to salvation. Chapter 3 is saying that the promise to Abraham included Christ and this was actually before the law anyway. So why go back to the law. He is pointing out that salvation was always by faith - even for the Jews under the law. The law was never able to save. Why try to put it on gentiles now when it couldn't even save the Jews.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

All of this is important because it is builds into the next chapter.


You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. (3:1–7)

My understanding:

1. Paul admonished those who looked to works over faith.

2. Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

3. Those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham.

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” (3:8)

Here is my understanding:

1. The Scripture proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham.

2. This gospel preached to Abraham was "All the nations will be blessed in you".

3. Scripture declared this forseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
No, the whole chapter 3 is showing that in reality the Jews were saved by faith also. So why let them subvert the gospel by claiming that the gentiles must do the practices of the law - when the law never saved them either.
This is what I have stated as well. The Gentiles were never under the Law. It was not a transgressions for Gentiles to eat pork or shrimp, or to weave different fabrics together.

I agree that some were trying to put Gentile Christians under the Law which had been abolished.


My point was that Jesus became a curse under the Law to redeem those who had become a curse under the Law in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles (who were never under the Law).


Redemption, based on the kinsman redeemer in the Old Testament, necessitates the redeemer be family.

Jesus was obedient, He fulfilled the Law. But at the same time the Law could not provide redemption even theough Christ (He was made a curse, just like all of the Jews were a curse under the Law, not because of disobedience but because He was hung on a tree). He shared in their curse, shared in what it was to be under the Law. He bore their curse, it was not something He earned through disobedience.


Likewise, Jesus shared in our humanity, our sin. He was made a curse for those who were a curse under the Law and He was made sin for all humanity who were sin through their disobedience.


But the context of Galatians is not Christ becoming a curse to free us from the Law, it was for us in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
@DaveXR650

To clarify my comments:

We were not redeemed from the curse of the Law as we were never a curse under the Law (we were never under the Law).

Jesus become a curse under the Law (hung on a tree), and He became under the Law just like any who were under Law (a curse).

He did this for us in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. But He did not redeem those not under the Law (those who were not a curse under the Law) from the curse of the Law. He abolished the Law which we were never under. This is a very important idea within Paul's arguments (not only in Galatians).

This means there is no distinction between Jew snd Gentile. This means the deeper problem was not the Jews bring a curse under the Law but sin which held all (Jew and Gentile alike) in bondage.



[Jesus] gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (Galatians 1:4).
 

DaveXR650

Well-Known Member
Jesus was obedient, He fulfilled the Law. But at the same time the Law could not provide redemption even theough Christ (He was made a curse, just like all of the Jews were a curse under the Law, not because of disobedience but because He was hung on a tree). He shared in their curse, shared in what it was to be under the Law. He bore their curse, it was not something He earned through disobedience.


Likewise, Jesus shared in our humanity, our sin. He was made a curse for those who were a curse under the Law and He was made sin for all humanity who were sin through their disobedience.


But the context of Galatians is not Christ becoming a curse to free us from the Law, it was for us in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles.
As always, you will get back to trying to make this into a solidarity issue because you refuse to believe Jesus did something to actually bear our sin. You go ahead with that if you wish as I'm not going to be able to convince you. I do suggest you think about the concept of being cursed because you were hanged on a tree. Being hanged on a tree in scripture indicated someone who is cursed. The emphasis is not that they were hanged on a tree and that was the reason they were cursed - but that they were judged cursed and thus hung on a tree as an illustration and proof that they were cursed.

Jesus did share our humanity and our sin. But he also took our sin and God's wrath upon himself. Wrath and judgement we deserved was placed on him instead of us. Galatians is trying to stop the Judaizers from destroying the gospel and ruining the Galatian church. Jews under the law were looking forward to Christ and gentiles coming later can look to Christ and his already finished work in time. That is the difference. Paul tells the Galatians that the law had a purpose as a schoolmaster but it certainly does not need to be practiced by gentiles for salvation - it wasn't even for that for the Jews in pre Christian times.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
As always, you will get back to trying to make this into a solidarity issue because you refuse to believe Jesus did something to actually bear our sin.
No, as normal you are posting out of ignorance (not understanding the posts to which you respond). That was why I started with the first chapter.

What does the Bible say that may at least hint at solidarity insofar as Christ coming to Hos own, and the Word bevoming flesh?

1. Christ was made like the brethern.
2. Christ shared in our infirmity.
3. Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh.
4. Christ shared our humanity.
5. Christ was made like us in every way.
6. We share in Christ's sufferings
7. We share in Christ's comfort
8. Christ called Himself the Son of Man


In the text we have been discusding Paul describes those under the Law as being a curse under the Law for their disobedience. Then he says Christ became a curse under the Law - not for disobedience but because He was hung on a tree.

The concept of a redeemer demands a shared relationship. If Jesus did not become a curse under the Law He could not redeem those who were a curse under the Law.

Absent solidarity there is no biblical redemption.

I do not believe it is appropriate to exclude what God has said simply because one's theory has no use for His words.
 

DaveXR650

Well-Known Member
1. Christ was made like the brethern.
2. Christ shared in our infirmity.
3. Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh.
4. Christ shared our humanity.
5. Christ was made like us in every way.
6. We share in Christ's sufferings
7. We share in Christ's comfort
8. Christ called Himself the Son of Man
Of course these are true.
I do not believe it is appropriate to exclude what God has said simply because one's theory has no use for His words.
"One's theory" states very clearly that the above is true and has to be in order for Christ to function as a perfect high priest for us. My theory makes us fully dependent upon that on a constant basis. (I thought you claim to have read Owen). We also depend upon a union with Christ as the way in which we receive the benefits of Christ's work. But Christ's work does include him taking God's wrath and the punishment we deserve upon himself - and not just in solidarity with us. Everybody who subscribes to what you refer to as "One's theory" knows this and writes about it from Owen to Bonar. You are either ignorant or deliberately misrepresenting my "theory". At any rate since I am that ignorant you will not benefit from further discussion with me so try to get someone else to respond to this thread if you can.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Of course these are true.
I understand we both believe all of that is true. But why do you act as of it does not matter?

Paul specifically said the Jews were a curse under the Law for their disobedience and Jesus was made a curse under the Law as He was hung on a tree.

Have you ever considered the reason you reject or find unimportant solidarity in the Atonement is it does not have much importance in your theory?


Have you ever read of the redeemer in the Old Testament? The qualification was the solidarity between the redeemer and the redeemed.

If Jesus did not share the curse of the Law then He could not redeem those who were a curse. If Jesus did not share our sin then He could not redeem us from its bondage. It was necessary that He be made like the brethern in every way, to include being made a curse and being made sin.


The problem is your theory of our union with Christ is one-sided. You reject the one side of the equation (the solidarity Christ first has with us...the Just for the unjust).
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
@DaveXR650

Hindsight is 20/20. I guess before we go through these passages we have to discuss what Jesus rescues us from.

We both agree that in Christ we escape the wrath to come, we will be made new creations (glorified).

But regarding redemption itself, what do you believe we are rescued from?
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
He gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
 

Martin Marprelate

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
To clarify my comments:

We were not redeemed from the curse of the Law as we were never a curse under the Law (we were never under the Law).
Are you really saying that Gentiles were never under the law?
Romans 1:18. 'For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men....' Proverbs 3:33. 'The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked...' Romans 2:9-10. '...Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first, and also on the Greek [or 'Gentile'] ; but glory, honour and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.' And where in the non-Christian world to we find those people who work what is good? We don't! Romans 3:9. 'For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.'

Because Gentiles were never ordered not to eat Prawn (shrimp) sandwiches does not mean that they were not under God's law. All the Ten Commandments appear in the Bible before Exodus 20. Paul tells the Galatians, 'For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' If you love your neighbour, how can you hate him? How can you steal his wife or his goods? How can you lie against him? How can you covet his goods? And the same is true of the first table: if you love God, how can you put other gods before Him? How can you make an idol for yourself, take His name in vain, despise the Day that He has given, or the parents He has given you?

To suppose that the Gentiles were not under the same curse as the Jews is nonsense. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.' Who is the "us"? We are! Paul is writing 'To the churches of Galatia: grace to you and peace.....' Grace and peace to whom? To the members of the churches of Galatia. So when Paul writes 'you,' he is addressing all the people to whom he is writing, and by extension to us, whether or not we are Jews. When he writes 'we' or 'us,' he is including himself along with the Galatian Christians.
Jesus become a curse under the Law (hung on a tree), and He became under the Law just like any who were under Law (a curse).

He did this for us in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. But He did not redeem those not under the Law (those who were not a curse under the Law) from the curse of the Law. He abolished the Law which we were never under. This is a very important idea within Paul's arguments (not only in Galatians).
Look at the curses listed in Deut. 27:11-26. None of these are concerned with the ceremnial or dietary laws. They are all moral sins, and they are as applicable to Gentiles as to Jews. In v.14, the Levites speak 'to all the men of Israel.' Who are they? Read Romans 2:26-29 and Phil. 3:3.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Are you really saying that Gentiles were never under the law?
Yes, I am really saying that Gentiles were never under the Law (with the exception of those who became a part of Israel per the Law).

That said, all who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law just as all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Sin entered the world through Adam, and death through sin. Sin was in the world before the law was given, but where there is no law there is no transgression. But death still reigned.


Perhaps the reason your theory is so confused is you are approaching the Atonement as of all of mankind were under the Law, ignoring that sin existed outside of the Law and is more than "breaking a Law". At least that would explain why you view sin so superficially. Go back and read Deuteronomy, and then Romans.

Look at the curses listed in Deut. 27:11-26. None of these are concerned with the ceremnial or dietary laws. They are all moral sins, and they are as applicable to Gentiles as to Jews. In v.14, the Levites speak 'to all the men of Israel.' Who are they? Read Romans 2:26-29 and Phil. 3:3.
The men of Israel to whom the Law was given were those from Moses ("not to their forefathers").

Christ is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. He canceled this certificate of debt having nailed it to the cross.

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity.


If you cannot grasp these basic things you will be unable to grasp the atonement. You are mixing up scriptures by trying to support your understanding.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
@Martin Marprelate

Christ gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from evil (from the wicked, the world that will be cast into the Lake of Fire prepared for Satan). This was to the will of our God. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity (not Jew and Gentile but a new humanity comprised of both under a New Covenant).
 

Dave G

Well-Known Member
Backing up a little in the passage, I see this:

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if [it be] yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
( Galatians 3:1-14 ).
Who is the "us" who were "under the curse of the Law"?
The passage answers it:

" ...they which are of faith..."
" ...they which be of faith..."

Why did Jesus become a curse for those who were under the curse of the Law?
Again, does not the passage itself answer it?

So "...that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith".
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Backing up a little in the passage, I see this:

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if [it be] yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
( Galatians 3:1-14 ).

The passage answers it:

" ...they which are of faith..."
" ...they which be of faith..."


Again, does not the passage itself answer it?

So "...that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith".
Your assessment is flawed. The "us" in the passage in question were not all who are of faith but those who were curses under the Law.

The passage does answer it. The "us" who were under the Law were not the all who were living by faith. Christ became a curse under the Law (as "His own" were curses under the Law) so that the blessings might come to the Gentiles.

Shuffling passages around nullified the argument Paul is making.

Christ's purpose was to create a new humanity. Paul goes through his argument explaining how the Law (the Old Covenant) was fulfilled and canceled by Christ becoming a curse under the Law (right after he e planned that the Jews were a curse under the Law).

Paul says this was a new covenant through which the promises of Abraham would come. This was foreseen through the covenant with Abraham.
 

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
If we are to study Galatians 3:8, we must look at the Greek word meanings and assess just how to best translate the verse.

Prooraō (G4275) is a compound word meaning "before" and "know or perceive." It does not suggest looking into a crystal ball and seeing the future, or time travel to bring future knowledge to the present. All the word means in this (Gal. 3:8) usage is the writer of the inspired text (scripture)knew that the Inspired Old Testament had accurately foreshadowed future action under the New Covenant. God's redemption plan would include the Gentiles, non-Jews.

Dikaioō (G1344) refers to rendering a sinner righteous, of justifying the removal of the person's sin burden by the washing of regeneration because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Ek Pistis (G1537 and G4102) indicates the justification results as a consequence of faith, or more specifically of faith in Christ when credited as righteousness by God alone. When and if God credits a sinners faith in Christ, God then transfers the person's spirit into Christ, where they undergo the washing of regeneration, and arise as a new creation, eternally sinless
.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
If we are to study Galatians 3:8, we must look at the Greek word meanings and assess just how to best translate the verse.

Prooraō (G4275) is a compound word meaning "before" and "know or perceive." It does not suggest looking into a crystal ball and seeing the future, or time travel to bring future knowledge to the present. All the word means in this (Gal. 3:8) usage is the writer of the inspired text (scripture)knew that the Inspired Old Testament had accurately foreshadowed future action under the New Covenant. God's redemption plan would include the Gentiles, non-Jews.

Dikaioō (G1344) refers to rendering a sinner righteous, of justifying the removal of the person's sin burden by the washing of regeneration because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Ek Pistis (G1537 and G4102) indicates the justification results as a consequence of faith, or more specifically of faith in Christ when credited as righteousness by God alone. When and if God credits a sinners faith in Christ, God then transfers the person's spirit into Christ, where they undergo the washing of regeneration, and arise as a new creation, eternally sinless
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I am not sure with the order in declaring one just (not saying you are wrong), but it does anticipate a future state (we will be just, righteous, glorified, refined, in His image, a new creation, etc). Jesus is our "forerunner" (an Adam type).
 
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