Galatians Journal: Chapter 3, verse 15

Galatians 3:15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.

“Brothers” Interesting – what a shift since 3:1, where Paul referred to the Galatians as “foolish.” Here, he addresses them with warmth and familiarity. Again, its all about RELATIONSHIP – and an intimate relationship, to boot. As an aside, I also see Paul warming up to his audience as he works his way through these arguments. Paul is upset with the Galatian Christians, but he won’t let that get in the way of him helping them, or caring for them. He really is a true example of a “spiritual father.” Next, Paul begins to set up his next theological point.

“no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established” The Greek word translated here as “covenant” was a term commonly used for a last will and testament -- the very same concept we use in modern times for estate planning. Paul’s Greek-speaking audience would have made this connection. But thanks to the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament (the Greek translation widely in use at the time Galatians was written), this same word was used to refer to the Old Testament Covenant. Thus, Greek speaking Jews, or Jews trying to explain matters of faith to Greek speaking people, would have used this same word to refer to God’s covenant with His people. Why is this significant? Because under the Greek legal system, and to a large extent under Jewish legal custom (see Deuteronomy 21:15-17 for a potential precursor), a last will (i.e. an "estate plan"), once properly sealed and deposited with the proper legal authorities, was irrevocable and unchangeable. (This was not true under Roman law, by the way). Thus, new conditions could not be added, heirs could not be changed. If a new will was introduced that conflicted with the first will, it was rejected. The focus of the Jews in Paul’s day (and even today) was on the Sinai Covenant with Moses. They saw God’s promise to Abraham as a foreshadowing of the latter, or, a mirror of it – the Jews of that time believed that Abraham practiced the law of Moses even thou it had not yet been received in written form. This of course, was not true. But it was firmly ingrained in the Jewish mindset. Paul is going to use this “covenant” as a “last will” comparison. (This also applies to this concept as we look at the irrevocability and unchangeability of God’s Word) This helps refute the heresy.