Galatians 3:6

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Galatians 3:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Galatians 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Even as Abraham believed God, etc..] The apostle having observed, that the special grace and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit were received not through the preaching of the law, but through the doctrine of faith; by an easy transition, passes on to a further confirmation of the doctrine of justification by faith, by producing the instance of Abraham, what the Scripture says of him, and the promise made unto him; which is very appropriate to his purpose, since Abraham was certainly a righteous man, the first of the circumcision, and the head of the Jewish nation; and whom the false teachers much gloried in, and boasted of their being his seed, and of being circumcised as he was; and would…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The answer to the question in Gal 3:5 is here taken for granted, It was by the hearing of faith: following this up, he says, "Even as Abraham believed," &c. (Gen 15:4-6; Rom 4:3). God supplies unto you the Spirit as the result of faith, not works, just as Abraham obtained justification by faith, not by works (Gal 3:6, Gal 3:8, Gal 3:16; Gal 4:22, Gal 4:26, Gal 4:28). Where justification is, there the Spirit is, so that if the former comes by faith, the latter must also.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Even as Abraham believed God ... - see this passage fully explained in the notes at Romans 4:3. The passage is introduced here by the apostle to show that the most eminent of the patriarchs was not saved by the deeds of the Law. He was saved by faith, and this fact showed that it was possible to be saved in that way, and that it was the design of God to save people in this manner. Abraham believed God, and was justified, before the Law of Moses was given. It could not, therefore, be pretended that the Law was necessary to justification; for if it had been, Abraham could not have been saved. But if not necessary in his case, it was in no other; and this instance demonstrated that the false…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Doubtless in confirmation of that grand doctrine, that we are justified by faith, even as Abraham was. The Apostle, both in this and in the epistle to the Romans, makes great use of the instance of Abraham: the rather, because from Abraham the Jews drew their great argument, as they do this day, both for their own continuance in Judaism, and for denying the gentiles to be the church of God. Gen 15:6 Galatians 3:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:6-9 Abraham’s experience shows that faith has always been the basis for relationship with God and for receiving what God has promised. 3:6 This quote is from Gen 15:6, where God established his covenant with Abraham (see Gen 15:1-21; 17:1-27). This statement is foundational in defining God’s relationship with humanity (see Hab 2:4; Rom 4:1-8, 17-22).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“as: Gal 3:9; Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3-6, Rom 4:9, Rom 4:10, Rom 4:21, Rom 4:22, Rom 9:32, Rom 9:33; Jam 2:23 accounted: or, imputed, Rom 4:6, Rom 4:11, Rom 4:22, Rom 4:24; Co2 5:19-21 Galatians 3:7”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification