Galatians 3 is extremely difficult to understand.

[Guido]

Sorry. I'll stop starting new threads and start replying to some after I post this one. Starting too many threads is a really bad habit I have and I will try my best to quit it.

I know. I said I find many passages in the KJV difficult to understand. But Galatians 3 is extremely difficult to understand compared to the rest of them. What does this mean in context?: "Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one." I can never figure out what Paul is trying to communicate no matter how many times I read it, and many months ago, when I read a commentary on it, I still didn't get it. I am trying to understand that whole passage and how that sentence fits into that passage. After reading it several times, I thought I almost understood it. But I didn't.

If a passage is meant to show justification by faith, shouldn't that passage be as simple as possible?

Now, I'm not complaining about the Bible. I love the way it is written in the KJV. I just don't understand it. Can we discuss Galatians 3?

Thank you.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Hello @Guido,
A mediator, by the nature of the office, has to reconcile two parties (c.f. Job 9:33). God is one of those parties, therefore He cannot mediate between men and Himself. His law therefore stands until there is someone who can mediate between a holy God and sinful men.
The law therefore drives us to Christ as we come to understand our position before God, and seek someone who can reconcile us with Him. Christ can do that, being both Man and God. Being sinless, He does not have to atone for His own sins but has atoned for us, making the law honourable by keeping it completely yet satisfying the righteous anger of God against sin.

That's all I have time for right now, but have a look at the letter to Philemon. There you have Paul mediating between Philemon (the offended party) and Onesimus (the offending party) and bringing them together by offering to pay whatever is owing from Onesimus to Philemon (Philemon 18-19). It's a lovely example of mediation and reconciliation and a picture for what Christ has done for us and why God can be 'just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus (Romans 3:26).

 

[Lodic]

Since you've studied this passage, I'm sure you know that Paul is discussing the purpose of the Law of Moses. Moses was a mediator between God and Israel at Mt. Sinai when God made His covenant with Israel. Since God is One, God's covenant with Abraham did not require a mediator. This is about the unity of God.

 

[kyredneck]

...the last verse explains a whole lot too...

 

[37818]

Galatians 3:20,". . . Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, . . ."
A mediator is always between two parties. In the Law Moses between God and Israel. In the promise, the seed, being Christ between God and man.
Galatians 3:20, ". . . but God is one." There is only one God. 1 Timothy 2:5. And since the man Jesus is our only access to God, He is effectively God to us, John 14:6. [John 1:1, John 5:18, Hebrews 1:8.] God is effectively mediator. [How I have understood "God is one."]

 

[Van]

If the bible translation you are using does not seem to make sense to you, try reading a few other translations to see if the meaning is clarified:
Galatians 3:19 (NLT)
Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.

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.

 

[Marooncat79]

Hello @Guido,
A mediator, by the nature of the office, has to reconcile two parties (c.f. Job 9:33). God is one of those parties, therefore He cannot mediate between men and Himself. His law therefore stands until there is someone who can mediate between a holy God and sinful men.
The law therefore drives us to Christ as we come to understand our position before God, and seek someone who can reconcile us with Him. Christ can do that, being both Man and God. Being sinless, He does not have to atone for His own sins but has atoned for us, making the law honourable by keeping it completely yet satisfying the righteous anger of God against sin.

That's all I have time for right now, but have a look at the letter to Philemon. There you have Paul mediating between Philemon (the offended party) and Onesimus (the offending party) and bringing them together by offering to pay whatever is owing from Onesimus to Philemon (Philemon 18-19). It's a lovely example of mediation and reconciliation and a picture for what Christ has done for us and why God can be 'just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus (Romans 3:26).

Super fantabulous response

thanks for bringing up this topic

as usual, Martin brings it!