B. B. Warfield on Galatians 3:20

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Reformed Covenanter

Cancelled Commissioner
... The apostle is arguing that the introduction of the law did not set aside the promise to Abraham. He states that the transaction with Abraham was of the nature of a covenant (v. 17). Now, when men once make a covenant, that covenant is fixed and not liable to alteration or destruction save on consent of both parties (v. 15). The covenant of the promises was made so long ago as Abraham’s day (v. 16), and, as it is incidentally stated, with two parties of the second part, Abraham himself, and his seed, who is explained to be Christ.

It follows, then, that since made with Abraham at that time, it was not liable to be summarily set aside (by the introduction of a law) by God alone four hundred and fifty years after, in the absence of both the parties of the second part, Abraham being dead and his seed not yet come. That a legal method of salvation would make void the promise is evident (v. 17). For, if the inheritance was given to Abraham by promise, as it certainly was, then, to make it to be of law by a new enactment would be to set aside the promise (v. 18).

But, if the law did not set aside the promise, and if the ἐπήγγελται was never meant to be by law—why, it may well be asked, was the law given at all? Verse 19 answers this question. The children of Abraham, provided for in the covenant, had ever since its institution been breaking their covenant engagement—by sinning. Yet, as the covenant could not be disannulled until the coming of the σπέρμα, who was one of its original parties, God could not cast off those children of Abraham. Therefore, on account of these transgressions, — to bring out and make evident their true character as transgressions,—the law was added—a document temporarily (ἄχρις) put forth by one of the parties to declare what was infringement of the covenant engagements, and therefore to stand as witness or norm of action on the other side until the coming of the σπέρμα. ...

For more, see B. B. Warfield on Galatians 3:20.
 
Thanks for the link, I'm preaching through Galatians and this will be a good resource to examine.
 
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