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For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.
Verse Takeaways
1
Faith or Law, Not Both
Paul presents salvation through faith and salvation through law-keeping as two incompatible systems. Commentators explain that if being an heir to God's promise depends on perfectly following the law, then faith becomes meaningless and unnecessary. You cannot simultaneously trust in God's grace for salvation while also trying to earn it through your own obedience. Choosing one system makes the other one void.
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Romans
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11
18th Century
Presbyterian
For if they which are of the law. These are those who seek justification and acceptance by the law.
Faith is made void. Fa…
Be heirs (κληρονομο). No predicate in the Greek (εισιν). See on Ga 4:1. If legalists are heirs of the Messianic promise to Abraham…
19th Century
Anglican
Is made void.—Literally, emptied of its meaning, it becomes an empty name, and the promise is rendered invalid. …
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Baptist
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of…
The thought moves on to consider that Abraham’s justification was apart from any law or legal considerations. Paul speaks of a promise received by …
16th Century
Protestant
For if they who are of the law, etc. He takes his argument from what is impossible or absurd: that the favor Abraham obtained fro…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For if they which are of the law be heirs That is, if the Jews who are under the law, and are seeking for righteousn…
The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points to Christ, and it refers to the promise in Genesis 12:3: In Thee shall all famil…
13th Century
Catholic
Having shown that the blessing of the forgiveness of sins is obtained not only in circumcision but also in uncircumcision—because Abraham…
