The Law and the Promise

15 Brothers, let me give an example from everyday life: When a man-made covenant is ratified, no one annuls it or adds to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, “And to his descendants,” referring to many, but referring to one man it says, “And to yoʋr descendant,” who is Christ. 17 My point is this: The law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul a covenant previously ratified by God [fn]to Christ, so as to invalidate the promise. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by the promise; but God granted it to Abraham by a promise.

19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the descendant should come to whom the promise had been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not represent just one party, but God is one.