加拉太书第三章第16-25节，根据旧约圣经的记述，保罗说神与亚伯拉罕立因信称义的约在先，而律法的出现则是在四百三十年后。律法出现的原因是因为人的罪，以律法为镜可以把人的罪显明出来，这样旧约圣经就把众人都圈在罪里直到耶稣基督的到来。可见，律法起到了引导与启蒙的作用，引导我们到基督那里利用基督的血把罪洗净，从而使我们因信称义。这是对神与亚伯拉罕所立因信称义的约的一个呼应，或者说神的本意自始至终都是叫人因信称义，而不是行律法称义。现在耶稣基督已经来了，律法就对我们失去了启蒙和教导的作用，或者说我们从此就不在律法手下了，而是在耶稣基督里了。
加3:16 所应许的原是向亚伯拉罕和他子孙说的． 神并不是说众子孙、指着许多人、乃是说你那一个子孙、指着一个人、就是基督。
Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn't say, "To seeds," as of many, but as of one, "To your seed," which is Christ.
加3:17 我是这么说、 神预先所立的约、不能被那四百三十年以后的律法废掉、叫应许归于虚空。
Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
加3:18 因为承受产业、若本乎律法、就不本乎应许．但 神是凭着应许、把产业赐给亚伯拉罕。
For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
加3:19 这样说来、律法是为甚么有的呢．原是为过犯添上的、等候那蒙应许的子孙来到．并且是藉天使经中保之手设立的。
What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
加3:20 但中保本不是为一面作的． 神却是一位。
Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.
加3:21 这样、律法是与 神的应许反对么．断乎不是．若曾传一个能叫人得生的律法、义就诚然本乎律法了。
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
加3:22 但圣经把众人都圈在罪里、使所应许的福因信耶稣基督、归给那信的人。
But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
加3:23 但这因信得救的理、还未来以先、我们被看守在律法之下、直圈到那将来的真道显明出来。
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
加3:24 这样、律法是我们训蒙的师傅、引我们到基督那里、使我们因信称义。
So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
加3:25 但这因信得救的理、既然来到、我们从此就不在师傅的手下了。
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
