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But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Verse Takeaways
1
The Law as a Prison Guard
Commentators overwhelmingly describe the law's role before Christ as a form of imprisonment. Using phrases like "kept in ward" and "shut up," Paul paints a picture of the law confining people, exposing their sin, and closing off all other routes to salvation. This confinement made it clear that faith in Christ was the only way to be freed from sin's condemnation.
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Galatians
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14
18th Century
Presbyterian
But before faith came. That is, the system of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus. Faith here denotes the Christian religion, because fai…
Before faith came (προ του ελθειν την πιστιν). "Before the coming (second aorist active infinitive of ερχομα, definite event) as t…
19th Century
Anglican
Before faith came.—Before faith awoke and became active, began to exist, or the preaching of Christ as its object.
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Baptist
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Well do I remember w…
The proper understanding of the phrase “before this faith came” is found in the fact that the definite article occurs before the word “faith.” By “…
16th Century
Protestant
Before faith came. The question proposed is now more fully defined. He explains at great length the use of the law, and the reason why it …
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
But before faith came This is to be understood, not of the grace of faith, which was under the former dispensation, as now; th…
The law did not impart a living, saving knowledge. Instead, through its rites and ceremonies, especially its sacrifices, it pointed to Christ so th…
13th Century
Catholic
Here, the Apostle raises another question: whether the Law is contrary to grace. First, he poses the question, asking, Was the law then against…
