Overview of Galatians 3

Says Galatians 3 moves from the Spirit received by hearing with faith, and from Abraham who believed God, through the curse of the law and Christ’s redeeming death, to the promise, the seed and the later law, and then to sonship, oneness in Christ, and the inheritance. The chapter opens, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” Before their eyes Jesus Christ was “clearly portrayed as crucified” (προεγράφη (proegraphē, “publicly set forth”)). He asks whether they received the Spirit by works of the law or “by hearing with faith”. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us”. “The law that came 430 years later” does not revoke the covenant previously established by God. Those who belong to Christ are “Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise”. The open questions are treated in the notes that follow.

Implies Abraham, the promise and the giving of the law are treated as history. Because Abraham was counted righteous by believing God, those of faith are his sons (see Gen 15:6 → Gal 3:6 and Gen 12:3 → Gal 3:8). Christ bore the curse in our place. The later law does not annul the promise. All who are in Christ through faith are sons of God and Abraham’s seed.