And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
- BSB What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.
- NKJV And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
- NASB What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
- NLT This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The law, coming 430 years later, cannot annul the covenant God confirmed with Abraham. The earlier promise remains in force.
Overview
Paul argues that the Mosaic law, given centuries after the promise, does not nullify or replace it. God's covenant of promise stands prior and supreme, and the law cannot void it. Therefore salvation rests on the promise received by faith, not on the later-given law.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 37
- Rom 4:13–14For 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 faith.
- Gen 15:13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
- Heb 11:39–40And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
- Exod 12:40–41Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
- 2 Cor 1:20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
- Heb 6:13–18For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
- Rom 3:3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
- John 1:17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
- Gal 5:4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
- Isa 14:27For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
- Gal 3:15Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
- Col 2:4And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
- 1 Cor 1:17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
- Gen 15:18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
- 1 Cor 7:29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
- 1 Pet 1:11–12Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
- Eph 4:17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
- Isa 28:18And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
- Gen 17:19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
- Ps 33:10The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
- 1 Cor 1:12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
- Gal 3:21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
- 1 Cor 10:19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
- 2 Cor 9:6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
- Job 40:8Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
- Num 23:19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
- John 8:56–58Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
- Heb 11:17–19By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
- Heb 7:18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
- Luke 1:68–79Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
- Acts 7:6And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
- Rom 3:25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
- Gen 17:7–8And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
- Heb 11:13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
- 1 Pet 1:20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
- Num 30:8But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.
- Gal 5:16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
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