The Meaning of Galatians 3:29 Explained

Galatians 3:29

KJV: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

YLT: and if ye are of Christ then of Abraham ye are seed, and according to promise -- heirs.

Darby: but if ye are of Christ, then ye are Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.

ASV: And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  if  ye  [be] Christ's,  then  are ye  Abraham's  seed,  and  heirs  according  to the promise. 

What does Galatians 3:29 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A third change is that those joined to Christ by faith become spiritual descendants of Abraham and beneficiaries of some of God"s promises to him. This does not mean Christians become Jews. Christians are Christians; we are in Christ, the Seed of Abraham (cf. Galatians 3:16). God promised some things to all the physical descendants of Abraham (e.g, Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 12:7). He promised other things to the believers within that group (e.g, Romans 9:6; Romans 9:8). He promised still other things to the spiritual seed of Abraham who are not Jews (e.g, Galatians 3:6-9). Failure to distinguish these groups and the promises given to each has resulted in much confusion. For example, amillennialists conclude that Gentile believers inherit the promises of the believing remnant within Israel, thus eliminating any future for Israel as a nation. Here is another example of this error.
"Throughout the whole vast earth the Lord recognizes one, and only one, nation as His own, namely, the nation of believers ( 1 Peter 2:9)." [1]
Why can the amillennialist position represented above not be correct? The reason is that Scripture speaks of the church as a nation distinct from Israel ( Ephesians 2:11-22). [2] Jews, and Gentiles who had to become Jews to enter Israel, made up Israel. The church consists of Jews and Gentiles who enter it as Jews or Gentiles ( Ephesians 2:16; cf. 1 Corinthians 10:32). Furthermore Paul called Jewish Gentile equality in the church a "mystery," something unique, not previously revealed in Scripture ( Ephesians 3:5). The church began on the day of Pentecost, not in the Old Testament ( Acts 1:5; Acts 11:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18). Believers of all ages are all the people of God. Nevertheless God has dealt with different groups of them and has had different purposes for them as groups in various periods of human history.
Does the church inherit the promises to Abraham? It only inherits some of them. The Jews will inherit those promises given to the physical descendants of Abraham. All believers will inherit those given to the spiritual descendants of Abraham. Saved Jews will inherit those given to the physical descendants who are also spiritual descendants. In Bible study it is very important to note the person or persons to whom any given promise was given.

Context Summary

Galatians 3:20-29 - The Law Leads To Christ
The Mosaic law was not designed to be the final code of the religious life, but to prepare the soil of the human heart to receive Jesus Christ in all the fullness of His salvation. It was the tutor of the Hebrew people, to enable them to become the religious teachers of mankind. It could not, therefore, take the place of the great covenant of grace, which had been initiated with Abraham before he had received the rite of circumcision, and when he thus stood for all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile. The mistake of those against whom Paul contended was that they treated as permanent a system which was temporary and parenthetic in its significance.
With many individuals now, as with the Hebrew race, there is often a period in which the conscience is confronted with the holy demands of God's law, which men cannot keep; but when they discover the full grace of God in Christ, they no longer suffer at the hand of the schoolmaster, but become as children in the Father's home. They put on Christ and stand accepted in the Beloved, and understand that they are in unity with all who believe. Theirs are all the promises that were made to Abraham, and as his spiritual children they claim their fulfillment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Galatians 3

1  He asks what moved them to leave the faith, and hold onto the law
6  Those who believe are justified,
9  and blessed with Abraham
10  And this he shows by many reasons
15  The purpose of the Law
26  You are sons of God

Greek Commentary for Galatians 3:29

If ye are Christ‘s [ει δε υμεις Χριστου]
This is the test, not the accident of blood, pride of race or nation, habiliments or environment of dress or family, whether man or woman. Thus one comes to belong to the seed of Abraham and to be an heir according to promise. [source]
Abraham's seed []
As being one with Christ. See Galatians 3:7, Galatians 3:16. In Romans 4Paul shows that Abraham was justified by faith, and was thus constituted the spiritual father of all believers in Christ, whether circumcised or uncircumcised. The purpose of God in making the inheritance of the promise dependent on faith was that the promise might be sure to all the seed. Abraham, he says, is “the father of us all ” (Romans 4:16). This spiritual paternity does away with the current Jewish notion of physical paternity. Physical relationship with Abraham is of no significance in the economy of salvation. The apostle “discovers the basis of Christian universalism in the very life of him in whose person theocratic particularism was founded. He has demonstrated the existence of a time when he represented Gentilism, or, to speak more properly, mankind in general; and it was during this period, when he was not yet a Jew, but simply a man, that he received salvation” (Godet). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 3:29

Acts 13:23 According to promise [κατ επαγγελιαν]
This phrase in Galatians 3:29; 2 Timothy 1:1. See the promise in 2 Samuel 7:2; Psalm 132:11; Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 11:10; Jeremiah 23:5.; Zechariah 3:8. In Zechariah 3:8 the verb αγω — agō is used of the sending of the Messiah as here. A Saviour Jesus (Σωτηρα Ιησουν — Sōtēra Iēsoun). Jesus is in apposition with Saviour (accusative case) and comes at the end of the sentence in contrast with “this man” (David) at the beginning. Paul goes no further than David because he suggests to him Jesus, descendant in the flesh from David. By “Israel” here Paul means the Jewish people, though he will later enlarge this promise to include the spiritual Israel both Gentile and Jew (Romans 9:6.). [source]
Galatians 5:24 They that are Christ's [οἱ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ]
The best texts add Ἱησοῦ theythat are of Christ Jesus. Belong to him. The exact phrase only here. But see 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 2 Corinthians 10:7, Galatians 3:29. [source]
Galatians 4:30 Shall not be heir [οὐ μὴ κληρονομήσει]
Or, shall not inherit. One of the key words of the Epistle. See Galatians 3:18, Galatians 3:29; Galatians 4:1, Galatians 4:7. The Greek negation is strong: shall by no means inherit. Comp. John 8:35. Lightfoot says: “The law and the gospel cannot coexist. The law must disappear before the gospel. It is scarcely possible to estimate the strength of conviction and depth of prophetic insight which this declaration implies. The apostle thus confidently sounds the death knell of Judaism at a time when one half of Christendom clung to the Mosaic law with a jealous affection little short of frenzy, and while the Judaic party seemed to be growing in influence, and was strong enough, even in the Gentile churches of his own founding, to undermine his influence and endanger his life. The truth which to us appears a truism must then have been regarded as a paradox.” [source]
Galatians 4:1 The heir [ο κληρονομος]
Old word Illustration from the law of inheritance carrying on the last thought in Galatians 3:29. A child (νηπιος — nēpios). One that does not talk (νη επος — nēτελειοι — epos word). That is a minor, an infant, immature intellectually and morally in contrast with δουλου — teleioi full grown (1 Corinthians 3:1; 1 Corinthians 14:20; Philemon 3:15; Ephesians 4:13). From a bondservant Slave. Ablative case of comparison after Κυριος παντων ων — diapherei for which verb see Matthew 6:26. Though he is lord of all (ων — Kurios pantōn ōn). Concessive participle ο εχων κυρος — ōn “being legally owner of all” (one who has the power, ho echōn kuros). [source]
1 Timothy 2:5 Mediator [μεσίτης]
See on Galatians 3:19. The word twice in Paul, Galatians 3:29, Galatians 3:20, once of Moses and once generally. In Hebrews always of Christ; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 12:24. This is the only instance in the pastorals. As the one God, so the one mediator implies the extension of the saving purpose to all. [source]
2 Timothy 1:1 According to the promise, etc. [κατ ' ἐπαγγελίαν]
Αποστόλος κατὰ does not appear in any of the Pauline salutations. In 1Timothy, κατ ' ἐπιταγὴν accordingto the commandment, and in Titus κατὰ πίστιν etc., according to the faith, etc. Κατ ' ἐπαγγελίαν , though in other connections, Acts href="/desk/?q=ac+13:23&sr=1">Acts 13:23; Galatians 3:29. Ἑπαγγελία , primarily announcement, but habitually promise in N.T. In Pastorals only here and 1 Timothy 4:8. With the promise of the life in Christ goes the provision for its proclamation. Hence the apostle, in proclaiming “ye shall live; through Christ,” is an apostle according to the promise. [source]
2 Timothy 1:1 According to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus [κατ επαγγελιαν ζωης της εν Χριστωι Ιησου]
“With a view to the fulfilment of the promise.” See note on Titus 1:1 for this same use of κατα — kata For κατ επαγγελιαν — kat' epaggelian see Galatians 3:29. See 1 Timothy 4:8 for the phrase “promise of life.” Here or there “life that in Christ Jesus” includes the present as well as the future. [source]
Titus 3:7 We should be made heirs [κληρονόμοι γενηθῶμεν]
Κληρονόμος heironly here in Pastorals. A favorite idea of Paul. See Romans 4:13; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29. Heirship of eternal life is the result of justification. So, clearly, 2Corinthians href="/desk/?q=2co+5:5&sr=1">2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14. [source]
Hebrews 2:16 Verily [δε που]
“Now in some way,” only here in N.T. Doth he take hold Present middle indicative and means to lay hold of, to help, like βοητησαι — boēthēsai in Hebrews 2:18. The seed of Abraham The spiritual Israel (Galatians 3:29), children of faith (Romans 9:7). [source]

What do the individual words in Galatians 3:29 mean?

If now you [are] Christ’s then - Abraham’s seed you are according to [the] promise heirs
εἰ δὲ ὑμεῖς Χριστοῦ ἄρα τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ σπέρμα ἐστέ κατ’ ἐπαγγελίαν κληρονόμοι

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ὑμεῖς  you  [are] 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
Χριστοῦ  Christ’s 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἀβραὰμ  Abraham’s 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἀβραάμ  
Sense: the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation.
σπέρμα  seed 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: σπέρμα  
Sense: from which a plant germinates.
ἐστέ  you  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
κατ’  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
ἐπαγγελίαν  [the]  promise 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐπαγγελία  
Sense: announcement.
κληρονόμοι  heirs 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κληρονόμος  
Sense: one who receives by lot, an heir.