Galatians 3:8

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Galatians 3:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, [saying,] In thee shall all the nations be blessed.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, [saying,] In thee shall all the nations be blessed.
Galatians 3:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Galatians 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, [saying,] In thee shall all the nations be blessed.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the Scripture foreseeing, etc..] This seems to agree with the Jewish forms or citing passages of Scripture, bwtkh har hm, “what does the Scripture foresee?” and hrwt htar hm, f37 “what does the law foresee?” The Scripture here, by a “prosopopeia”, is represented as foreseeing an event that would come to pass, and accordingly spoke of it before hand, and designs God the author of the Scripture; and so the Syriac version renders it, “for seeing” ahla [dy µdqd, “that God” foreknew, etc.. and means either the Holy Spirit, who searches the deep things of God, is privy to all his counsels and decrees, and to this of the justification of the Gentiles; or God the Father, who justifies the…”
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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
“And--Greek, "Moreover." foreseeing--One great excellency of Scripture is, that in it all points liable ever to be controverted, are, with prescient wisdom, decided in the most appropriate language. would justify--rather, "justifieth." Present indicative. It is now, and at all times, God's one way of justification. the heathen--rather, "the Gentiles"; or "the nations," as the same Greek is translated at the end of the verse. God justifieth the Jews, too, "by faith, not by works." But he specifies the Gentiles in particular here, as it was their case that was in question, the Galatians being Gentiles. preached before the gospel--"announced beforehand the Gospel." For the "promise" was…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the Scripture - The word Scripture refers to the Old Testament; see the note at John 5:39. It is here personified, or spoken of as foreseeing. The idea is, that he by whom the scriptures were inspired, foresaw that. It is agreeable, the meaning is, to the account on the subject in the Old Testament. The Syriac renders this, “Since God foreknew that the Gentiles would be justified by faith, he before announced to Abraham, as the scripture saith, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” Foreseeing - That is, this doctrine is contained in the Old Testament. It was foreseen and predicted that the pagan would be justified by faith, and not by the works of the Law. That God would justify the…”
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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
“And the scripture - That is, the Holy Spirit, who gave the scripture. Foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles also by faith, declared before - So great is the excellency and fulness of the scripture, that all the things which can ever be controverted are therein both foreseen and determined. In or through thee - As the father of the Messiah, shall all the nations be blessed. Gen 12:3 Galatians 3:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:8 the Scriptures looked forward: By faith, Abraham foresaw the coming Messiah (cp. John 8:56) and received the message that “All nations will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18).Through Abraham’s offspring, the Messiah, God would accept all nations on the same basis as Abraham himself—by faith.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the scripture: Gal 3:22, Gal 4:30; Joh 7:38, Joh 7:42, Joh 19:37; Rom 9:17; Ti2 3:15-17 foreseeing: Act 15:15-18 God: Rom 3:28-30, Rom 9:30 preached: Heb 4:2 In: Gal 3:16; Gen 12:3, Gen 18:18, Gen 22:18, Gen 26:4, Gen 28:14, Gen 49:10; Psa 72:7; Isa 6:13, Isa 65:9; Act 2:25, Act 2:26, Act 2:35; Rev 11:15 Galatians 3:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification