Galatians 3:16,17 - One who is Christ

3:16

The word translated “offspring” in ESV is “seed”. Paul was fully aware that seed could be used for the singular or plural, for he was an educated man. He is not offering a proof here, rather just making a point. Indeed, the general argument is that the promises given to Abraham apply to all his offspring, his offspring being defined as those who have faith in Christ. In Abraham’s day everything was bound up in the one son, Isaac. Indeed Isaac is the focus of the story of Abraham, the struggle to have Isaac, and then the sacrifice. Paul here is making the point that everything is focused on Christ. To add anything or to change the focus is completely wrong.

3:17

Paul now states explicitly what he means, namely that the Law did not annul the covenant that God made with Abraham, and which involves the whole world. The period of 430 years is from Exodus 22:40. If we read Genesis 15:7-11 we see that the promise to Abraham was indeed ratified in a very solemn manner. God was extremely serious about the covenant. So any proper understanding of the Bible has to give proper weight to the Abrahamic covenant and the Law. The Jewish understanding effectively annulled the Abrahamic covenant. One might think that Paul’s understanding annulled the Law, and that is why here he will explain the purpose of the Law. Hebrews is another letter that goes into great detail explaining the purpose and place of the Law. The gospel does not discount the Law, but gives full and proper weight to it, and realising its proper purpose.