Galatians 3:23

“But before faith came, etc..] This is to be understood, not of the grace of faith, which was under the former dispensation, as now; the Old Testament saints had the same Spirit of faith, and the same grace of faith, as for its nature, object, and use, as New Testament saints have; Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, etc.. believed in Christ, and were justified by faith in his righteousness, as we are. It is much better to understand it of the doctrine of faith, which though preached to Adam, and by Noah, and to Abraham, and by Isaiah, and others, yet not so clearly, largely, and fully, as by Jesus Christ and his apostles; so that the times of the Gospel may be called the times of faith, in…”

“faith--namely, that just mentioned (Gal 3:22), of which Christ is the object. kept--Greek, "kept in ward": the effect of the "shutting up" (Gal 3:22; Gal 4:2; Rom 7:6). unto--"with a view to the faith," &c. We were, in a manner, morally forced to it, so that there remained to us no refuge but faith. Compare the phrase, Psa 78:50, Margin; Psa 31:8. which should afterwards, &c.--"which was afterwards to be revealed."”

“But before faith came - That is, the system of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus. Faith here denotes the Christian religion, because faith is its distinguishing characteristic. We were kept under the law - We, who were sinners; we, who have violated the Law. It is a general truth, that before the gospel was introduced, people were under the condemning sentence of the Law. Shut up unto the faith - Enclosed by the Law with reference to the full and glorious revelation of a system of salvation by faith. The design and tendency of the Law was to shut us up to that as the only method of salvation. All other means failed. The Law condemned every other mode, and the Law condemned all who…”

“But before faith - That is, the gospel dispensation. Came, we were kept - As in close custody. Under the law - The Mosaic dispensation. Shut up unto the faith which was to be revealed - Reserved and prepared for the gospel dispensation. Galatians 3:24”

“3:23-29 Paul contrasts the condition of God’s people under the law before Christ with their condition now under Christ. 3:23 Because sin had imprisoned us (3:22), the law was a guard, keeping God’s people in protective custody . . . until the way of faith in Christ was revealed. It made God’s requirements explicit, and thus highlights the need for a Savior. The law also restrains sin by making the consequences of sin explicit.”

“faith came: Gal 3:19, Gal 3:24, Gal 3:25, Gal 4:1-4; Heb 12:2 under: Gal 4:4, Gal 4:5, Gal 4:21, Gal 5:18; Rom 3:19, Rom 6:14, Rom 6:15; Co1 9:20, Co1 9:21 the faith: Luk 10:23, Luk 10:24; Heb 11:13, Heb 11:39, Heb 11:40; Pe1 1:11, Pe1 1:12 Galatians 3:24”