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.
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.
- KJV For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave 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.
- 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 to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
- Heb 6:12–15that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises.
- Gal 2:21I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”
- Ps 105:42For he remembered his holy word, and Abraham, his servant.
- Rom 8:17and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
- Luke 1:54–55He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
- Gal 3:29If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.
- Ps 105:6–12you offspring of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
- Luke 1:72–73to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
- Gal 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
- Gal 3:12The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”
- Gal 3:16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants ”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring ”, which is Christ.
- Mic 7:18–20Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.
- Gal 3:26For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.
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Christ at the center
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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