Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Galatians 3:17
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Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And this I say, etc..] Assert and affirm as a certain truth, that is not to be gainsaid; that the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul; by “the covenant” is meant, not the covenant made with Adam, as the federal head of all his posterity; for this was made two thousand years before the law was given; nor that which was made with the Israelites at Mount Sinai, for that itself is the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after this covenant; nor the covenant of circumcision given to Abraham, for that was not so long by some years, before the giving of the law, as the date here fixed: but “a covenant confirmed of God in Christ”; a covenant in which Christ is concerned; a covenant made with him, of which he is the sum and substance, the Mediator, surety, and messenger; and such is what the Scriptures call the covenant of life and peace, and what we commonly style the covenant of grace and redemption; because the articles of redemption and reconciliation, of eternal life and salvation, by the free grace of God, are the principal things in it. This is said to be “in Christ”, eiv criston, “with respect to Christ”; though the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions leave out this clause, nor is it in the Alexandrian copy, and some others; meaning either that this covenant has respect to Christ personal, he having that concern in it, as just now mentioned, and as it was made manifest and confirmed to Abraham, was promised in it to spring from him; or rather that it has respect to Christ mystical, as before, to all Abraham's spiritual seed, both Jews and Gentiles: and this is said to be “confirmed of God”, with respect thereunto; which must be understood, not of the first establishment of the covenant, in and with Christ, for that was done in eternity; nor of the confirmation of it by his blood, which was at his death; nor of the confirmation of it in common to the saints by the Spirit of God, who is the seal of the covenant, as he is the Spirit of promise; but of a peculiar confirmation of it to Abraham, either by a frequent repetition thereof, or by annexing an oath unto it; or rather by those rites and usages, and even wonderful appearances, recorded in (<011509>Genesis 15:9,10) (<011512>Genesis 15:12,13,17,18) and which was “four hundred and thirty years before” the law was given, which are thus computed by the learned Pareus; from the confirmation of the covenant, and taking Hagar for his wife, to the birth of Isaac, 15 years; from the birth of Isaac, to the birth of Jacob, 60 years, (<012526>Genesis 25:26), from the birth of Jacob, to his going down into Egypt, 130 years, (<014709>Genesis 47:9), from his going down to Egypt, to his death, 17 years, (<014728>Genesis 47:28) from the death of Jacob, to the death of Joseph in Egypt, 53 years, (<015026>Genesis 50:26) from the death of Joseph, to the birth of Moses, 75 years; from the birth of Moses, to the going out of the children of Israel from Egypt, and the giving of the law, 80 years, in all 430 years. The Jews reckoned the four hundred years spoken of to Abraham, (<011513>Genesis 15:13) and mentioned by Stephen, (<440706>Acts 7:6) from the birth of Isaac; but they reckon the four hundred and thirty years, the number given by Moses, (<021240>Exodus 12:40) and by the apostle here, to begin from the confirming the covenant between the pieces, though somewhat differently counted; says one of their chr…
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