Galatians 3:12
But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that the Law's promise of life isn't based on faith, but on flawless, perfect obedience. It emphasizes that the Law's path to life requires doing all its commands, not just having faith in them. This sets up a stark contrast: life through perfect works versus life through faith in Christ.
Paul is contrasting two ways of relating to God: through faith or through the Law. He's just quoted Deuteronomy 27:26, stating that anyone who doesn't perfectly obey the Law is cursed. Now, he directly contrasts this with the promise of life found in faith, citing Habakkuk 2:4, and then reinforces the point that the Law's method is performance, not faith.
Paul contrasts the way of the Law with the way of faith. What exactly does the Law demand for someone to 'live' by it?
Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5, "The one who does them shall live by them." This highlights that the Law's path to life is paved with perfect obedience.
If the Law demands perfect doing for life, how then does faith offer life? Paul makes a sharp distinction here.
Paul states plainly, "the law is not of faith." This isn't to say the Law is evil, but that its method of achieving life is fundamentally different from faith's.
This is the passage Paul directly quotes to show that the Law operates on the principle of 'do this and live,' contrasting it with the principle of faith.
Habakkuk 2:4Paul uses this prophet's words, 'The righteous shall live by his faith,' in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11 to establish that life comes through faith, directly opposing the 'law is not of faith' statement.
Deuteronomy 27:26This verse, 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do all the things written in the Law,' highlights the impossible standard of the Law and the curse that follows failure, underscoring why life cannot be obtained by obeying it.
Romans 10:5Here Paul explains that the righteousness from the law requires perfect obedience, stating 'The man who does these things will live by them,' which serves as a parallel explanation to the point made in Galatians 3:12.
jfbGalatians 3:12: "And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them."
- doeth—Many depended on the law although they did not keep it; but without doing, saith Paul, it is of no use to them (Ro 2:13, 17, 23; 10:5).
calvinGalatians 3:10-14: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."
Quictrnque enim ex operibus Legis sunt, sub maledictione sunt. Scripture est enim (Deuteronomy 27:26): Maledictus omnis, qui non permanet in omnibus, quae scripta sunt in libro Legis, ut facial ca.
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for,…
The verse highlights that the Law's promise of life isn't based on faith, but on flawless, perfect obedience. It emphasizes that the Law's path to life requires doing all its commands, not just having faith in them. This sets up a stark contrast: life through perfect works versus life through faith in Christ.
Paul is contrasting two ways of relating to God: through faith or through the Law. He's just quoted Deuteronomy 27:26, stating that anyone who doesn't perfectly obey the Law is cursed. Now, he directly contrasts this with the promise of life found in faith, citing Habakkuk 2:4, and then reinforces the point that the Law's method is performance, not faith.
Paul is contrasting two ways of relating to God: through faith or through the Law. He's just quoted Deuteronomy 27:26, stating that anyone who doesn't perfectly obey the Law is cursed. Now, he directly contrasts this with the promise of life found in faith, citing Habakkuk 2:4, and then reinforces the point that the Law's method is performance, not faith.
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"But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”" — The verse highlights that the Law's promise of life isn't based on faith, but on flawless, perfect obedience. It emphasizes that the Law's path to life requires doing all its commands, not just hav…
