3:18a–b

For: Verse 3:18 is an explanation of 3:15–17. In this verse Paul explained why the law cannot cancel God’s promises. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Another way to introduce this explanation is:

?I say this? because

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise: This sentence has a special type of “if” clause. In this “if” clause, Paul stated the opposite of what is true. The truth is that the inheritance (blessing) does not come by obeying the law. If it did come by the law, that would cancel the promise.

Some languages have a special way to translate this type of “if” sentence. Some examples are listed below. After the examples, each part of this verse is discussed.

Some ways to translate this sentence are:

• Use an “if” clause that indicates the opposite of what is true. For example:

If we received the inheritance by ?obeying? the law (but we do not), then we would not receive it by God’s promise.
-or-
If we inherit/receive what God gives because we obey the law, then we do not receive it because God promised it to us, ?but because of what we do? .

• Express the meaning without using an “if” clause. For example:

God does not bless people because they obey the law. He blesses them because he promised to do it.

3:18a

if the inheritance: In the Old Testament, the word inheritance referred to inheriting/receiving the Promised Land. When God gave the Jews the land, it showed his favor and blessing. Paul used this word to refer to God’s blessing in giving his people salvation. God’s people receive this inheritance/blessing as a result of his promise to bless them through Jesus, the special descendant of Abraham.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

if inheriting ?God’s blessings?
-or-
If…God’s blessings (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
if ?we received? ?God’s? blessing
-or-
if God’s gift (Good News Translation)

The word inheritance does not refer to a human inheritance that is passed on to a person’s descendants after he dies.

depends on the law: This clause means that the inheritance “comes by ?keeping? the law ?of Moses? .”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

is based on the law (NET Bible)
-or-
could be received by keeping the law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
comes from ?obeying? the law ?of Moses?
-or-
because we obey the law

3:18b

then it no longer depends on a promise: Here the pronoun it refers to the inheritance. The word promise refers to God’s promise to bless people through Abraham.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

?then? the inheritance does not come ?to us? because ?God? promised it
-or-

?then? ?we? do not receive/inherit ?God’s? blessings because he promised it, ?but because of what we have done?

3:18c

but: There is a contrast between 3:18a–b and 3:18c. The contrast is between the way that the inheritance would not come (in 3:18b) and the way it actually came (in 3:18c). The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction but.

God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as freely granted means “graciously/kindly gave.” God kindly gave the inheritance to Abraham simply because he promised it to him. This truth proves that the inheritance does not depend on obeying the law.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

God kindly gave the blessing/gift to Abraham because he made a promise ?to give it to him?
-or-
it was because of his promise that God gave that gift to Abraham (Good News Translation)
-or-
God was kind and gave Abraham a blessing because he promised it to him

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