exegetical · Gal 3:19–22 · ✓ Approved

Why then the law

Says Galatians 3:19 asks why then the law, and answers τῶν παραβάσεων χάριν προσετέθη (tōn parabaseōn charin prosetethē, “it was added because of transgressions”), δι’ ἀγγέλων ἐν χειρὶ μεσίτου (di’ angelōn en cheiri mesitou, “through angels by the hand of a mediator”) (BSB “administered through angels by a mediator”; see The law given through angels (3:19)). Galatians 3:20 reads, literally, ὁ δὲ μεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ὁ δὲ θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν (ho de mesitēs henos ouk estin ho de theos heis estin, “the mediator is not of one, but God is one”); the BSB interprets the clause. In 3:21 the law is not against God’s promises. In 3:22 the Scripture συνέκλεισεν (synekleisen, “shut up”) all things under sin, so that the promise ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (ek pisteōs Iēsou Christou, “from faith of Jesus Christ”) might be given to those who believe; the BSB has “by faith in Jesus Christ” (see Confined, and the guardian (3:22–25)).

Implies The law is given a purpose and a time limit, and it is not against God’s promises (3:21).

Uncertain Chrysostom, on 3:19, writes of “checking them from transgressing, if not all, at least some of the commandments.” Lightfoot, paraphrasing 3:19, writes, “it was added to reveal and multiply transgressions.” Calvin, on 3:19, writes of “make known transgressions”. Burton writes, “The mediator is self-evidently Moses;” Lightfoot (p. 146) takes the same view. Ramsay writes of “a mediator, viz., Moses,” Chrysostom (p. 28) and Calvin (p. 102) take him as Christ; Chrysostom writes, “By Mediator here he means Christ”. No verdict is given here.

Claims

SaysGalatians 3:19 says the law was added because of transgressions until the seed should come, ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator; 3:20 reads literally that the mediator is not of one, but God is one; 3:21 says the law is not against the promises of God; 3:22 says the Scripture shut up all things under sin so that the promise might be given to those who believe.
ImpliesThe law is given a purpose and a time limit, and it is not against God’s promises.
UncertainChrysostom (p. 28) reads the law as added to restrain transgressions; Lightfoot (p. 144), Calvin (p. 100) and Burton (p. 188) read it as added to reveal sin as transgression. Lightfoot (p. 146), Burton (p. 189) and Ramsay (p. 380) take the mediator as Moses; Chrysostom (p. 28) and Calvin (p. 102) take him as Christ. No verdict is given.

Citations

BSB public domain Gal 3:19–22
SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 3:19–22
Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Chrysostom, Commentary on Galatians (NPNF¹ 13, Oxford translation rev. Gross Alexander, 1889), on Gal 3:19, p. 28 (leaf n49); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Calvin, Commentaries on Galatians and Ephesians (Pringle, CTS 1854), on Gal 3:19, pp. 100, 102 (leaves n113, n115); 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 3:19, p. 144 (leaf n163); on Gal 3:20, p. 146 (leaf n165); 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 3:19, pp. 188, 189 (leaves n281, n282); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Ramsay, Galatians public domain Ramsay, A Historical Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (1899), on Gal 3:19–20, p. 380 (leaf n397); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased

Sources BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0 Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain Ramsay, Galatians public domain

2026-11-13

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