Christ became a curse for us
Says Those of works of the law are under a curse; the BSB has “All who rely on works of the law”. In 3:11 no one is justified before God by the law, because Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται (Ho dikaios ek pisteōs zēsetai, “the righteous will live by faith”); the BSB takes ἐκ πίστεως with the verb (see Under a curse, and the righteous will live (3:10–12)). In 3:12 the printed text has no ἄνθρωπος (see αὐτὰ / αὐτὰ ἄνθρωπος). Galatians 3:13 says Christ redeemed us γενόμενος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν κατάρα (genomenos hyper hēmōn katara, “having become a curse for us”), citing Deuteronomy 21:23. In 3:14 the Greek is ἡ εὐλογία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ (hē eulogia tou Abraam, “the blessing of Abraham”); the BSB has “the blessing promised to Abraham”.
Implies With ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν (hyper hēmōn, “for us”), Christ bore the curse in our place, and the result runs to the Gentiles and to the promised Spirit.
Uncertain Calvin and Chrysostom read the curse of 3:10 as falling because no one keeps the whole law. Calvin, on 3:10, writes of all being “commanded to keep the law perfectly”. Chrysostom, on 3:10, writes, “For all have sinned, and are under the curse.” Lightfoot, in paraphrase, writes of an “anathema against all who fail to fulfil every single ordinance”. Who “us” is in 3:13–14 is not marked by the grammar. Burton, on 3:13, writes that the wording would “necessitate referring the former primarily to the Jews”. Calvin (pp. 91–92) and Lightfoot (p. 140, in paraphrase) are more guarded. No verdict is given here.
Claims
- SaysGalatians 3:10 says those of works of the law are under a curse; 3:13 says Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
- ImpliesBecause Christ became a curse for us, he bore the curse in our place, and the result reaches the Gentiles and the gift of the Spirit.
- UncertainCalvin (p. 89) and Chrysostom (p. 26) read the curse as falling because no one keeps the whole law, and Lightfoot (p. 138) says the same in paraphrase; Burton (p. 169) refers “us” in 3:13 primarily to the Jews, with Calvin and Lightfoot more guarded; no verdict is given.
Citations
- BSB public domain Gal 3:10–14; Deut 27:26; Lev 18:5; Deut 21:23
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 3:10–14
- Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Calvin, Commentaries on Galatians and Ephesians (Pringle, CTS 1854), on Gal 3:10, p. 89 (leaf n102); on Gal 3:13–14, pp. 91–92 (leaves n104, n105); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Chrysostom, Commentary on Galatians (NPNF¹ 13, Oxford translation rev. Gross Alexander, 1889), on Gal 3:10, p. 26 (leaf n47); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Lightfoot, Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (Macmillan, 1914 printing), on Gal 3:10, p. 138 (leaf n157); on Gal 3:14, p. 140 (leaf n159); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC, Scribner 1928 printing of the 1920 edition), on Gal 3:13, p. 169 (leaf n262); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
2026-11-13
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