Galatians 3:23-25

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:25

Verse 25 25.But after that faith is come. This phrase has been already considered. It denotes the brighter revelation of grace after that “the vail of the temple was rent in twain,” (Matthew 27:51,) which, we know, was effected by the manifestation of Christ. He affirms that, under the reign of Christ, there is no longer any childhood which needs to be placed under a schoolmaster, and that, consequently, the law has resigned its office, — which is another application of the comparison. There... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:21-25

The Law designed to be subservient to the promise. Though the Law is inferior to the promise in the four points already suggested, it is not antagonistic to it. I. THE LAW IS NOT ANTAGONISTIC TO THE PROMISE . "Is the Law against the promises of God? God forbid." 1 . The Law and the promise are equally of Divine origin — two distinct parts of the Divine plan, each part with its own distinct purpose to be carried out inside the Divine plan. The distinction between... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:23

The feature which distinguishes this new paragraph ( Galatians 3:23 , Galatians 3:24 ) from the preceding ( Galatians 3:21 , Galatians 3:22 ) is the more distinct statement of the paedagogic function of the Law as preparatory to that economy of grace which was the ulterior purpose of the Lawgiver. In the meanwhile (the apostle here says) we were committed to the custody of the Law. But before faith came ( πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν ). The "but" is an-tithetic to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:23-29

The Law-school and the home-coming. Paul, in the present section, pursues the thought of the purpose of Law. It is the tutor to convey certain lessons to the soul and to secure thereby the soul's return to the Father and the home. Let us look at the interesting line of thought thus given. I. THE LAW - SCHOOL . ( Galatians 3:23 , Galatians 3:24 .) The idea was once entertained that the Law, as παιδαγωγός , meant the slave who was entrusted with the guidance of the child... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:23-29

Before and after faith. I. BEFORE FAITH CAME . "But before faith came." The faith which is here brought into prominence is that which was historically manifested when Christ came. Faith existed before Christianity, as is evident from the eleventh of Hebrews. There was trust in the Divine word. But the attitude toward Christ was that of expectancy. "We who had before hoped in Christ." It had been faith along with the observance of the Mosaic Law. But when the gospel of salvation was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:24

Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ ( ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγὸς ἡμῶν γέγονεν εἰς χριστόν ) wherefore the Law hath been the keeper of our childhood to keep us unto Christ. With St. Paul, ὥστε , so that, frequently is used to introduce a sentence which is not dependent in construction on the preceding words, but is one which makes a fresh departure as if with the adverbial conjunction " wherefore ," or "so then." Thus Galatians 3:9 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:24-25

The tutor. The image of the Law as a tutor would apply directly to the condition of the Jews, to whom the Levitical system was given in their religious childhood in order to prepare them for the privileges of sonship which Christ was to confer. But what was true of them is more or less true of all of us. For the religious history of Israel is just an emphasized epitome of the religious history of the race. Through longer ages, by more obscure methods, in spite of more grievous lapses, God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:25

But after that faith is come ( ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς πίστεως ); but now that Faith hath come ; this white-robed, joy-bringing angel of deliverance! (see note on the words, in Galatians 3:23 , "before faith came"). We are no longer under a schoolmaster ( οὐκέτι ὐπὸ παιδαγωγόν ἐσμεν ); we are no longer under a keeper of our childhood. When a child becomes of age, as determined by his father's arrangement, the paedagogus ' s function, of course, ceases; so also when... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 3:23

But before faith came - That is, the system of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus. Faith here denotes the Christian religion, because faith is its distinguishing characteristic.We were kept under the law - We, who were sinners; we, who have violated the Law. It is a general truth, that before the gospel was introduced, people were under the condemning sentence of the Law.Shut up unto the faith - Enclosed by the Law with reference to the full and glorious revelation of a system of salvation by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 3:24

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster - The word rendered schoolmaster (παιδαγωγὸς paidagōgos, whence the word “pedagogue”), referred originally to a slave or freedman, to whose care boys were committed, and who accompanied them to the public schools. The idea here is not that of instructor, but there is reference to the office and duty of the “paedagogus” among the ancients. The office was usually intrusted to slaves or freedmen. It is true, that when the “paedagogus” was properly... read more

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