1599 Geneva Bible: "The Promise isn't by the Law"

Galatians 3:18-19 (i)For if the (ii)inheritance be of the Law, it is no more by the Promise, but God gave it freely unto Abraham by promise. (iii) Wherefore then serveth the Law? It was added because of the (iv) transgressions, (v)till the seed came, unto the which the promise was made: (vi) and it was (vii)ordained by (viii) Angels in the hand of a Mediator.

i. An objection: We grant that the promise of God was not abolished by the covenant of the Law, and therefore we can join the Law and the promise, can't we? “NAY!” says the Apostle, these two do not work together, you see, the inheritance can not be given by the Law and the promise, because the promise is absolutely free: whereby it follows, that the Law was not given for the purposes of Justification, because if it were then by the Law that promise would be broken.

ii. By this word (inheritance) is meant the rights of the seed, which is, that God is our God, that is to say, by the way of the covenant that was made with faithful Abraham, we that are faithful, might by that means be blessed of God as well as he.

iii. An objection which rises out of the former answer: If the inheritance is not given by obeying the Law (at the least in part) then why was the Law given, after the promise had already been given? Therefore, says the Apostle, to reprove men of sin, and thus to teach them to look to unto Christ, in whom the promise of saving all people together should be fulfilled, and not that the Law was given to justify men.

iv. That mean might understand, by the revealing of their sins, by the only grace of God, which he revealed to Abraham, and that that is in Christ.

v. Until the wall between God and man was broken down, and that full seed sprang up, framed of two peoples, both Jews and Gentiles: for by this word seed, we may not understand, Christ alone by himself, but joined together with his body.

vi. A confirmation of the former answer taken from the manner and form of giving the Law: for it was given by Angels, striking a great terror into all, and by Moses a Mediator coming between. Now they that are one, need no Mediator, but they that are divided at the least, and that are at odds with another. Therefore the Law itself and the Mediator, were witnesses of the wrath of God, and not that God would by this means reconcile men to himself, and abolish the promise, or add the Law unto the promise.

vii. Commanded and given, or proclaimed.

viii. By the service and ministry.


[The above quoted scripture and accompanying Troy-paraphrased notes are taken from the 1599 Geneva Bible. A version of this great Bible, with modern spelling, may be purchased from the following link]