Understanding Galatians: Why Abraham Was Not Moses

Introduction: 

In his article “Abraham Was Not Moses,” R. Scott Clark underscores Paul’s clear distinction in Galatians between the temporary, law-based Mosaic covenant and the enduring, grace-based Abrahamic covenant, which serves as the foundation for the gospel. Following Clark’s insight, the following paraphrase of Galatians rephrases key verses to highlight this contrast, rendering “law” (νόμος) as the Mosaic (old) covenant and “promise” (ἐπαγγελία) as the Abrahamic covenant, while identifying other covenant references (e.g., Gen. 12:3 in Gal. 3:8 as the “gospel beforehand”). Understanding Paul’s use of law and promise safeguards against confusing the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants, thus protecting against conflating law and gospel, which Paul warns corrupts the gospel (Gal. 1:6–9). This approach illuminates Paul’s argument that Abraham was not Moses, thus making Paul’s argument against the Judaizers in Galatians clear.

Galatians Chapter 2

16 Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος); since by the works of the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) no flesh will be justified. 

19 For through the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) I died to the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), so that I might live to God.

21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), then Christ died needlessly.

Galatians Chapter 3

2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), or by hearing with faith?

5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), or by hearing with faith?

6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Gen. 15:6, Abrahamic covenant, Abraham’s faith aligns with the gospel).

7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of the Abrahamic covenant.

8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU” (Gen. 12:3, Abrahamic covenant, called “the gospel beforehand,” distinguishing it as the gospel in promise).

10 For as many as are of the works of the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE MOSAIC (OLD) COVENANT (law, νόμος), TO PERFORM THEM.”

11 Now that no one is justified by the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

12 However, the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”

14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham (i.e., the Abrahamic covenant) might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία) of the Spirit through faith.

16 Now the promises of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία) were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant.

17 What I am saying is this: the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate the Abrahamic covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία).

18 For if the inheritance is based on the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), it is no longer based on the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία); but God has granted it to Abraham by means of the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία).

19 Why the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία) had been made.

21 Is the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) then against the promises of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία) of God? May it never be! For if a Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος).

22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία) by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

24 Therefore the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία).

Galatians Chapter 4

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος),

5 So that He might redeem those who were under the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), that we might receive the adoption as sons.

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος), do you not listen to the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος)?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman of the Abrahamic covenant.

23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία).

24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar, representing the Mosaic (old) covenant.

25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children, under the Mosaic (old) covenant.

26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother, representing the Abrahamic covenant.

28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise of the Abrahamic covenant (promise, ἐπαγγελία).

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman of the Mosaic (old) covenant, but of the free woman of the Abrahamic covenant.

Galatians Chapter 6

13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Mosaic (old) covenant (law, νόμος) themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.

Resources Consulted:

land, Kurt, Barbara Aland, Johannes Karavidopoulos, Carlo M. Martini, and Bruce M. Metzger, eds. The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition (with Morphology). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1993.

New American Standard Bible. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.