Early readings of Galatians 3: the mediator, and one in Christ
Says The law “was administered through angels by a mediator” (Gal 3:19). “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (3:28; ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ, “male and female”). “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise” (3:29). Colossians says likewise, “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all” (Col 3:11).
On the mediator, Chrysostom writes, “By Mediator here he means Christ, and shows that He was before it, and Himself the Giver of it.” Calvin: “Some apply this expression to Moses, as marking a comparison between Moses and Christ; but I agree rather with the ancient expositors, who apply it to Christ himself.” Lightfoot: “The mediator is Moses. This is his common title in Jewish writers.” These are their readings; the exegetical notes weigh them.
Implies Because the oneness of 3:28 is “in Christ Jesus” and its ground is belonging to Christ as Abraham’s seed (3:29), the text grounds it in union with Christ and the promise.
Uncertain Who the mediator of 3:19 is, and how the oneness of 3:28 bears on the distinctions it names, are open; these readings do not fix the meaning of the text.
Claims
- SaysGal 3:19, 28–29: the law was administered through angels by a mediator; there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male and female, for all are one in Christ Jesus, and those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs; Col 3:11 says likewise that Christ is all and in all.
- ImpliesBecause the oneness of 3:28 is in Christ Jesus and rests on belonging to Christ as Abraham’s seed (3:29), the text grounds it in union with Christ and the promise.
- UncertainWho the mediator of 3:19 is, and how the oneness of 3:28 bears on the distinctions it names, are open; the readings do not fix the meaning.
Citations
- BSB public domain Gal 3:19, 3:28–29; Col 3:11
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 3:28
- 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, p. 102 (leaf 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 3:20, p. 146 (leaf n165); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
2026-11-13
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