Galatians 3:16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 3:6-18

The apostle having reproved the Galatians for not obeying the truth, and endeavoured to impress them with a sense of their folly herein, in these verses he largely proves the doctrine which he had reproved them for rejecting, namely, that of justification by faith without the works of the law. This he does several ways. I. From the example of Abraham's justification. This argument the apostle uses, Rom. 4:1-25. Abraham believed God, and that was accounted to him for righteousness (Gal. 3:6);... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 3:15-18

3:15-18 Brothers, I can use only a human analogy. Here is the parallel when a covenant is duly ratified, even if it is only a man's covenant, no one annuls it or adds additional clauses to it. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, "and to his seeds," as if it were a case of many, but, "and to his seed," as if it were a case of one, and that one is Christ. This is what I mean, the law which came into being four hundred and thirty years later cannot annul the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:16

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made ,.... The promises design the promises of the covenant of grace mentioned in the next verse, which are exceeding great and precious, better than those of any other covenant; and which are all yea and amen in Christ, and are chiefly of a spiritual nature; though all the temporal blessings of God's people come to them in a covenant way, and by virtue of the promise; for godliness has the promise of this life, that God will verily feed them,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:16

Now to Abraham and his seed - The promise of salvation by faith was made to Abraham and his posterity. He saith not, And to seeds - It was one particular kind of posterity which was intended: but as of one - which is Christ; i.e. to the spiritual head, and all believers in him, who are children of Abraham, because they are believers, Galatians 3:7 . But why does the apostle say, not of seeds, as of many? To this it is answered, that Abraham possessed in his family two seeds, one... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:16

Verse 16 16.Now to Abraham, and his seed. Before pursuing his argument, he introduces an observation about the substance of the covenant, that it rests on Christ alone. But if Christ be the foundation of the bargain, it follows that it is of free grace; and this too is the meaning of the word promise. As the law has respect to men and to their works, so the promise has respect to the grace of God and to faith. He saith not, And to seeds. To prove that in this place God speaks of Christ, he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:15-22

The covenant of promise. Having taken up the case of Abraham as illustrating the necessity of faith, Paul proceeds to state the Abrahamic covenant as one of promise. The Mosaic covenant, promulgated four hundred and thirty years after, could not, he argues, disannul the previous covenant. It must have a supplementary purpose; and this he shows to be to drive the souls who have been made hopeless by the Law into the arms of the "faithful Promiser." The following lessons are suggested:— ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:15-22

Promise and Law. From this point the apostle has a softened tone toward the Galatians. He deals with them now more in the way of instruction and counsel than of correction and rebuke. I. THE PROMISE WAS NOT INVALIDATED BY THE LAW . 1 . Human analogy. "Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto." When the apostle professes to speak after the manner of men,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:16

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made ( τῷ δὲ ἀβραὰμ ἐῤῥήθησαν [or, ἐῤῥέθησαν ] αἱ ἐπαγγελίαι καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ ); now to Abraham were the promises made (Greek, spoken ) and to his seed. The question now to be determined is, who the parties were that were concerned in the covenant made with Abraham, and with respect to whom the principle just stated must be taken to apply. Of course, God is himself one of the two parties. This the apostle... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:16

The contents of the covenant and the parties to it. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made." I. THE CONTENTS OF THE COVENANT . "The promises." They are elsewhere spoken of as "the promise." It was repeated several times. This promise carries the whole of salvation within it. It is elsewhere referred to as "the oath and the promise"—"the two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie"—for God confirmed the promise by an oath, and the promise is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 3:16

Now to Abraham and his seed - To him and his posterity.Were the promises made - The promise here referred to was that which is recorded in Genesis 22:17-18. “In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one ... - He does not use the plural term, as if the promise extended to many... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 3:6-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 3:15-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:15-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:15-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 3:16

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