How does Galatians 3:20 relate to the concept of God's oneness? Text and Translation Galatians 3:20 : “A mediator is unnecessary for just one party; but God is one.” The Greek reads: μεσίτης δὲ ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ὁ δὲ Θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν. Literary Context in Galatians Paul is contrasting two covenants (Galatians 3:15-29): • The Law—“ordained through angels and by a mediator” (3:19). • The Promise—“given to Abraham directly” (3:16-18). Verse 20 forms the hinge: because God is one, the promise needed no intermediary; the Law, given to a plural party (God → angels → Moses → Israel), did. Historical & Covenant Background Abrahamic covenant: unilateral, ratified by God alone (Genesis 15:17-18). Mosaic covenant: bilateral, ratified with Israel at Sinai; Moses stands between (Exodus 20:19). Paul appeals to Second-Temple understanding that the Law was transmitted “by angels” (cf. Acts 7:53; Hebrews 2:2). Linguistic Analysis of “Mediator” and “One” μεσίτης (mesitēs) = go-between, guarantor; requires ≥2 parties. εἷς (heis) echoes Deuteronomy 6:4 LXX, “ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν κύριος εἷς ἐστιν.” Paul’s syntax deliberately juxtaposes plurality (mediator) with divine singularity. Paul’s Theological Argument: Promise vs. Law • Law: complex chain → heightened possibility of breach, highlighting transgression (Galatians 3:19, 24). • Promise: rests solely on God’s unchanging character; therefore cannot be annulled (3:17). Oneness underscores immutability; the promise is as indivisible as the God who gave it. Monotheism in Second-Temple Judaism Dead Sea Scroll 1QDeut 6:4 preserves the Shema virtually identical to the Masoretic text, attesting first-century Jewish monotheism. Jewish burial inscriptions from Kefar Bar’am (1st c. AD) likewise proclaim “YHWH Echad.” Paul taps this shared creed to affirm continuity, not innovation. Relation to the Shema and Wider Scriptural Witness Deut 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; Zechariah 14:9 declare divine oneness. NT echoes: • Romans 3:30—“since there is one God who will justify…” • 1 Timothy 2:5—“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Paul’s wording in Galatians 3:20 anticipates the latter, prepping for a singular, sufficient Mediator. Oneness and the Trinity: Unity of Essence, Distinction of Persons Scripture upholds both: • Unity—Deut 6:4; Galatians 3:20. • Triune revelation—Matt 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14. “God is one” speaks of essence (ousia); Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct persons (hypostaseis) within that one essence. No contradiction: ontological unity allows for economic plurality in redemption. Pastoral and Behavioral Applications • Assurance: the believer’s security rests on God’s indivisible promise, not human performance. • Community: unity among believers reflects divine oneness (Ephesians 4:4-6). Behavioral science affirms that perceived covenant stability fosters moral resilience—mirroring Paul’s argument that firm identity (“sons of God through faith,” 3:26) precedes ethical fruit. Supporting Manuscript Evidence Earliest extant Pauline papyri (𝔓46 c. AD 200) contain Galatians 3:20 verbatim, evidencing textual stability. Codex Vaticanus (B, 4th c.) and Sinaiticus (ℵ) agree. No known variant affects “God is one.” The textual tradition uniformly affirms monotheistic emphasis. Archaeological Corroboration • Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (7th c. BC) quote Numbers 6:24-26, echoing singular divine name. • Pilate inscription (AD 26-36) confirms historical framework of NT era in which Paul ministered. These artifacts sustain Scripture’s reliability and its monotheistic milieu. Philosophical and Apologetic Considerations A universe exhibiting coherent fine-tuning (cosmological constant, DNA information criteria) mirrors the logical cohesion of one Creator rather than competing deities. Multiplicity of mediators in pagan systems produced ritual uncertainty; biblical monotheism provides epistemic and moral unity—a point Paul leverages in Galatians. Conclusion Galatians 3:20 links God’s oneness to the singular, unmediated nature of the Abrahamic promise, contrasts it with the mediated Mosaic Law, and lays groundwork for the unique mediatorship of Christ. The verse underscores biblical monotheism while harmonizing with Trinitarian revelation, affirms the reliability of Scripture, and offers believers solid assurance grounded in the unchanging, indivisible nature of God. |
    |