For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Parallel translations
- WEB For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
- BSB For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
- NKJV For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
- NASB For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
- NLT For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a 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
If the inheritance came by law, it would no longer be by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Inheritance and law are mutually exclusive.
Overview
Paul insists the inheritance, the blessing of salvation, comes by God's free promise, not legal performance. Promise and law are opposing principles for obtaining God's gift. Since God granted it to Abraham as a promise, it is received by grace through faith, not earned by obedience.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Rom 4:13–16For 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.
- Heb 6:12–15That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- Gal 2:21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
- Ps 105:42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
- Rom 8:17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
- Luke 1:54–55He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
- Gal 3:29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
- Ps 105:6–12O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
- Luke 1:72–73To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
- Gal 3:10For 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.
- Gal 3:12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
- Gal 3:16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
- Mic 7:18–20Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
- Gal 3:26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
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Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
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Original language
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