For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
What does Galatians 3:26 mean?
Real Christians enjoy great privileges under the gospel; and are no longer accounted servants, but sons; not now kept at such a distance, and under such restraints as the Jews were.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Galatians 3:23-27 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Galatians 3:26
- All who bear the Christian name - the converts from among the Jews and Gentiles alike; see the note at John 1:12 . The idea here is, that they are no longer under tutors and governors; they are no longer subject to the direction and will of the "paedagogus"; they are arrived at age, and are admitted to the privileges of sons; see the note at Galatians 4:1 . The language here is derived from the fact, that until the son arrived at age, he was in many respects not different from a servant. He was under laws and restraints; and subject to the will of another.
Context in Galatians 3
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Galatians 3 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as Abraham and the promise. Galatians is Paul’s fierce defense of the gospel of grace, justification by faith, and freedom for life in the Spirit. Read this chapter with the wider themes of grace, justification, and freedom in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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