Paragraph 3:6–9
The implied response to Paul’s rhetorical questions in 3:1–5 is that the Galatians received the Spirit by faith in Christ. Paul then talked about Abraham to support his case that salvation is by faith. Abraham was a familiar example of a person with great faith.
Paul explained that God accepted Abraham as righteous because of his faith. Salvation never depended on keeping the law.
3:6a–b
So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”: This verse is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. It proves that God considered Abraham as righteous by means of faith. Abraham’s righteousness did not depend on anything that he did.
You may want to make it clear that this is a quotation from Genesis. One way to do this is to put the reference in a footnote at the end of the verse (as in the Berean Standard Bible). A sample footnote is:
This is a quotation from Genesis 15:6.
3:6a
So also: There are at least three ways to interpret the function of the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So also :
(1) It introduces an example. The example is Abraham and his faith. For example:
Abraham serves as an example. (God’s Word)
(2) It introduces a quotation from the Old Testament. Here, it is a shortened introduction. The longer introduction would be “just as it is written” (as in Romans 1:17). For example:
The Scriptures say that God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith. (Contemporary English Version)
(3) It introduces a comparison. The comparison is between Abraham in 3:6 and “those who believe” in 3:7. They were both God’s people because they believed. For example:
6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, 7 so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. (NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
Some other ways to translate this word are:
Consider Abraham (New International Version)
-or-
Think of Abraham
-or-
Remember Abraham
Abraham: Abraham is an important Jewish ancestor written about in the Old Testament. Paul often referred to him as an example of a believing person.
In some languages, it is natural to use a title or description along with the name of important people like Abraham. For example:
Abraham ?of old?
-or-
?our
(excl.) father? Abraham
-or-
?the prophet? Abraham
believed God: Paul used the word believed to refer to faith in God. It does not refer to just accepting a statement as true.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
trusted God
-or-
had faith in God
-or-
put his faith in God (New Jerusalem Bible)
See faith, Meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.
3:6b
and it was credited to him as righteousness: The clause it was credited means “was calculated,” “was reckoned,” or “was regarded/considered.” God considered Abraham to be righteous because of his faith.
This clause is passive. Some ways to translate it are:
• Use a passive clause. For example:
he was counted/considered to be righteous
• As an active verb: For example:
and God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God (New Century Version)
-or-
and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous (Good News Translation)
as righteousness: The word righteousness refers to the character trait of being “upright,” “blameless,” or “just.”
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
upright/blameless
-or-
a just/straight man
See also righteous in the Glossary for more information.
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