by Kent Leslie ✉️
Those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. When Paul wrote, “You know this,” it’s because the Galatians did know this. He taught them this. Other Christians taught them this. Gentiles aren’t literally Abraham’s υἱοί/wi’í, “sons, children, descendants.” But if we have Abraham-style faith in God, we’re his spiritual descendants; much like those who adopt the beliefs of a certain thinker are their intellectual descendants. And if we have Abraham-style faith in God, he’ll save us like he saved Abraham.
Now the scripture saw in advance. Προϊδοῦσα/pro’idúsa, “pre-saw,” or foresaw. It was always God’s plan to save the gentiles, and we know this because the bible’s been saying so since Genesis.
All the nations will be blessed through you. This chapter’s proof text #2:
Ge 22.18: “And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command.”
The Hebrew word for nations in this verse is גּוֹיֵ֣י/goyéy, a construct form of גּוֹיִֽם/goyím—the word Israelis still use for gentiles. All the gentiles of the earth will be blessed by your offspring.
Oh, and the word for “offspring” is זֶרַע/zerá, “seed.” That word “seed” is gonna come up again in verse 16. Unfortunately the CSB went with a number of other words instead of “seed,” so it’s a little harder to make the connections between Paul’s bible quotes and the Old Testament verses. But don’t worry; I got you.
Anyway that’s why Paul concludes in verse 9, everybody who has faith is blessed with Abraham.