Galatians 3:21

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Cross-reference

Galatians 3:19 explains the law's purpose was to reveal sin until Christ — showing why it couldn't impart life; it was never meant to.

Galatians 3:17 asserts the law does not nullify God's promise — directly supporting Paul's denial that law opposes promises in 3:21.

Galatians 2:19 shows Paul died to the law through the law — law cannot give life, only death. Reinforces that no law can bring life.

Galatians 2:21 states if righteousness were through the law, Christ died for nothing — directly parallel to the point that law cannot give righteousness.

Romans 3:20 Parallel

Romans 3:20 says no one is justified by works of the law; law only brings knowledge of sin. Confirms law cannot give life or righteousness.

Romans 3:21 Contrast

Romans 3:21 declares righteousness apart from the law — contrasting with the hypothetical that law could give righteousness.

Romans 3:22 Contrast

Romans 3:22 says righteousness comes through faith in Christ — showing the true way to righteousness, not by law.

Romans 3:31 Parallel

Romans 3:31 similarly denies that faith nullifies the law—'we uphold the law'—matching Galatians 3:21's defense.

Romans 7:7-13 elaborates that the law reveals sin but cannot give life, expanding Galatians 3:21's logic.

Philippians 3:6-9 describes Paul's former law-righteousness counted as loss for Christ's righteousness — illustrating law's insufficiency.

Romans 9:31 Parallel

Romans 9:31 notes Israel pursued a law of righteousness but did not attain it — demonstrating law cannot give righteousness.

Romans 10:3-6 explains Israel sought their own righteousness by law and missed God's; Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.

Hebrews 9:9 Parallel

Hebrews 9:9 states that old covenant sacrifices cannot perfect the conscience, mirroring the insufficiency of the law to give life in Galatians 3:21.

Hebrews 8:7 Parallel

Hebrews 8:7 argues that if the first covenant were faultless, no second would be needed—paralleling the conditional logic in Galatians 3:21 about a law that could give life.

Philippians 3:9 contrasts righteousness from law with righteousness from faith, directly echoing Galatians 3:21's claim that law cannot give life.

2 Corinthians 3:6 contrasts the letter that kills with the Spirit that gives life — clarifying why the law cannot impart life; it condemns.

Romans 8:3 Parallel

Romans 8:3 states the law was powerless due to the flesh — exactly what Paul means when he says no law could impart life.

Romans 7:13 Parallel

Romans 7:13 explains that the law is good but sin uses it to bring death — showing why the law cannot impart life without contradicting its goodness.

Acts 13:39 Parallel

Acts 13:39 directly states that justification is not possible through the law — reinforcing Paul's argument that the law cannot impart life.

Matthew 5:17-20 shows Jesus affirming the law's validity and fulfillment, consistent with Paul's denial that law opposes promises.

1 Timothy 1:8 affirms the law is good when used rightly, supporting Galatians 3:21's point that the law is not opposed to God's promises, only limited.