Galatians 3:8

Scripture. That is, the OT; here, particularly, the writings of Moses.

Foreseeing. The quotation is from Gen. 12:3. The promise to Abraham was a statement of the divine purpose to send the Saviour into the world (see on Gal. 3:16) and to save all who choose to come to Him in faith (v. 14).

Justify. Gr. dikaiod (see on Rom. 3:20).

Heathen. Gr. ethne, “nations”; in NT usage always non-Jewish, pagan, Gentile nations. NT writers use the word laos, literally, “people,” when referring to the Jewish nation. It was good news to the gentiles that God offered them justification on the same basis as that on which He offered it to the Jews, that is, by faith.

Preached before the gospel. Gr. pro euaggelizomai, literally, “to announce good tidings beforehand.” The promise of Gen. 12:3 was an advance announcement of the good news of salvation through Christ. The good news announced to Abraham was that the blessing of salvation — of justification by faith — would come to all nations through him. Abraham had no righteousness of his own. Christ’s righteousness was imputed to him by God, and he accepted it by faith. All who become righteous, or justified, do so by faith, as did Abraham. This ever has been, and always will be, the only way men can experience justification.

In thee. Or, “through thee.” Abraham and his descendants were made the custodians of the good news of salvation and were commissioned to be its heralds to all men. Furthermore, one of his descendants was to be the Saviour of mankind. Thus, it was in these two respects that all nations were to receive the blessings of salvation through Abraham.

All nations. For a summary of OT instruction concerning the manner in which God purposed to evangelize “all nations” through His chosen people see Vol. IV, pp. 26-30.