The Law And The Promise

Can you tell us the meaning of Galatians 3:20? We are getting different interpretations.

Q. Can you tell us the meaning of Galatians 3:20? We are getting different interpretations.

A. Galatians 3:20 reads: “A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.”

Taken by itself it doesn’t make any sense, but we’re not supposed to take it by itself. It’s part of a larger discussion where Paul is comparing the Law and the Promise. The Law was an agreement between God and man with Moses as the mediator, where both parties acknowledged responsibilities to each other. But the promise was unilaterally given by God to Abraham. There was no mediator involved because only God accepted any responsibilities. The phrase “God is one” means that Abraham didn’t need representation.

Paul’s overall point was that God had promised Abraham that all mankind would be blessed through his seed, meaning Jesus. The Law was only added to serve man until the promise could be fulfilled. Once the Lord came the promise was fulfilled and there was no more need for the Law.