Galatians 3:13

"The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”"

Key Reflection

Galatians 3:13 challenges the idea that salvation comes through adherence to the law. The verse asserts that the purpose of the law is not based on faith, but rather on works; "the man who does them will live by them." This highlights a tension within Jewish thought at the time, where many believed that obedience to the Law would bring justification and life before God. However, Paul argues for a different perspective, emphasizing that true righteousness and life come through faith in Jesus Christ, not through legalistic adherence to the law.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 13. Christ hath redeemed us. The word used here exhgorasen is not that which is usually employed in the New Testament to denote redemption. That word is lutrow. The difference between them mainly is, that the word used here more usually relates to a purchase of any kind; the other is used strictly with reference to a ransom. The word here used is more general in its meaning; the other is strictly appropriated to a ransom. This distinction is not observable here, however, and the word here used is employed in the proper sense of redeem. It occurs in the New Testament only in this place, and in Ga 4:5; Eph 5:16; Col 4:6.

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