Before the time for faith came (literally, “before the faith came”) is Paul’s way of talking of the time of the reign of the Law. Faith here (literally, “the faith”) refers to what Paul mentioned in the previous verse, namely, faith in Jesus Christ. Some translations indicate this relationship (for example, New English Bible, Moffatt “before this faith came”).
In a number of languages faith must be expressed as a verb, and therefore a certain amount of restructuring may be required, for example, “before it was time that people could trust in Jesus Christ,” or “before people could be related to God by trusting in Jesus Christ.” However, the focus here is upon the extent of time involved, and it may be important to say in some languages “up to the time that people could put their trust in Jesus Christ.”
Kept us all locked up as prisoners translates two Greek verbs. The first may be rendered “kept us guarded,” with the purpose not of protection but of restriction. The second is the same word used in verse 22, but here it has the present participle form, indicating continuous action, and therefore can be translated “being held in confinement,” or “being imprisoned.” What Paul is trying to picture to us is that the Law is like a stern jailer who not only has imprisoned us, but who has made sure that we remain imprisoned by stationing himself on the outside where he can guard us.
The Law is here once again the Jewish law, and not any law as in verse 21b. It is often impossible to personify the Law, and it may even be necessary, as in some other contexts, to speak of the Law as “the laws given by Moses.” One can often say “the laws given by Moses were just like guards who kept us locked up in prison,” “… stood guarding us in prison,” or “… stood guarding us while we were prisoners locked up in jail, so to speak.” Because of the figurative meaning involved, it may be essential in some languages to employ an expression such as “so to speak” or “as it were” in order to identify the figurative interpretation.
Until this coming faith should be revealed presents the translator with several difficulties in understanding and interpreting the passage. The Greek word for until (literally “into”) may be either temporal (Good News Translation and some other translations) or purposive; that is, an event introduced by “into” can be the purpose of the immediately preceding and related event. In this particular passage, the Law’s act of confinement and imprisonment may be said to have as its purpose preparation for embracing and accepting the faith when it is finally revealed. This latter interpretation is followed by some translations (for example Moffatt “with the prospect of the faith that was to be revealed”).
In this coming faith should be revealed it is important to understand “coming” (literally, “about to be”) as modifying not faith but the revelation of it. Faith here is the same faith referred to at the beginning of the verse, namely, faith in Jesus Christ.
From the Greek text of verse 25, it is clear that at the time of writing the revelation is already past, and therefore faith has already been revealed. The time of the coming of faith is future only in relation to the time of the Law, and not in relation to the time when Paul was writing this letter.
The clause until this coming faith should be revealed poses problems for the translator. In the first place, this coming faith is extremely difficult to render in some languages. One may say in some cases “this trusting in Jesus which people would do,” or “this trusting in Jesus which would happen later.” Moreover, the passive expression should be revealed may need to be made active, with God as the agent, for example, “until the time that God would show.” However, if this final clause is to be understood as purpose, then one may say “so that God would show.”
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .