Could the law give life?

Question

This is more of a semantic question, but I keep coming back to it and can't seem to come to a conclusion.

Was the law able to give life? I know that Galatians 3:21-22 (and other places) tells us that since we are innately sinful and unable to keep the law.

However, other places, like Romans 2:25 and Leviticus 18:5 seem to suggest that the law could give life if we were theoretically able to obey it.

Summary

The Bible is clear that we are sinners cannot fulfil the law and so it condemns us, but if someone were able to obey it would the law be able to give life to them?

Answer 1

The Tanakh contrasts statutes and judgments that if an Israelite does “...he shall live by¹ them,”² with statutes and judgments that if he does he “shall not live by³ them.”⁴ In Ezekiel, where both phrases occur, Yahveh’s statutes in the Law were those which the Israelites would “live by.”⁵ On the other hand, the statutes and judgments of the rebellious fathers,⁶ which Yahveh allowed (“gave”),⁷ “were not good...whereby [the Israelites] should not live.”⁸

Neither commandment, however, whether those by which the Israelites would live, or those by which they would not live, refer to eternal life or eternal punishment in the world to come. Rather, if the Israelites kept Yahveh’s Law, their days (i.e., life in this world) would be prolonged in the land of Canaan. This, prolonged life in the land of Canaan, was the reward in the Old Covenant for keeping the Law.

Deu. 32:46–47,⁹

⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. ⁴⁷ For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life, and by¹⁰ this thing you shall prolong your days in the land which you pass over the Jordan to possess it.

Exo. 20:12,¹¹

¹² Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged upon the land which Yahveh your God is giving you.

On the other hand, by not keeping the Law in accordance with their oath wherein they swore to do all the words which Yahveh commanded, Yahveh promised to destroy the Israelites. That is, their days would be cut short on earth (they would die prematurely) while incurring a host of curses.¹²

Deu. 4:25–26,¹³

²⁵ When you shall beget children, and children’s children, and you shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of Yahveh your God, to provoke Him to anger, ²⁶ I invoke heaven and earth against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land where you go over Jordan to possess it; you shall not prolong your days upon it, but you shall be utterly destroyed.

Finally, Deu. 5:33,

³³ You shall walk in all the ways which Yahveh your God has commanded you, so that you may live, and so that it may be well with you, and so that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

This verse clearly establishes that “you may live” = “it may be well with you” = “you may prolong your days in the land.”

Summary

Upon the giving of the Torah at Sinai, the Israelites entered into an oath with Yahveh and swore, saying, “All the words which Yavheh has spoken, we will do.”¹⁴ The covenant was founded upon this very oath.

Exo. 24:7

⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that Yahveh has spoken, we will do and be obedient.”

And yet, Yahveh never promised the Israelites eternal life in the world to come if they obeyed all the words which He had spoken. Rather, He promised them—and the Torah plainly states so—prolonged life in the land of Canaan. The Torah, which is the book of the covenant, simply makes no mention of eternal life. The prophets do speak of the resurrection of the dead and eternal life,¹⁵ but such was never contingent upon obedience to the Torah. Rather, it would occur by the hand of the Messiah.

The Torah could give life, but not eternal life. Rather, it only offered those who kept it prolonged life in the land of Canaan. Furthermore, because all of humanity sinned and therefore died in Adam,¹⁶ not even a perfect obedience to the Torah could gain one eternal life.

Footnotes

^{1 or “in”
2 Lev. 18:5; Eze. 20:11, 20:21
3 or “in”
4 Exo. 20:25
5 Eze. 20:11, 20:21
6 Eze. 20:18
7 On the sense of “allow” or “permit” for the Hebrew verb נָתַן (natan), see Gesenius (Ed. Tregelles, 1860), p. 573, נָתַן (natan), 1., β.; HALOT, p. 373, נָתַן (natan), 8.
8 Eze. 20:25
9 cf. Deu. 4:40, 6:2, 11:9, 17:20, 22:7, 25:15; 1 Kings 3:14
10 or “in”
11 cf. Deu. 5:16
12 cf. Deu. 28:45
13 cf. Deu. 30:18
14 Exo. 24:3, 24:7–8
15 Dan. 12:2; Job 14;4; Psa. 17:15; Isa. 26:19
16 1 Cor. 15:21–22 cf. Rom. 5:12–19}

Answer 2

I was under the (obviously) mistaken impression that this had been resolved more than 500 years ago. "Can the law give life?" Let us review the Bible facts:

• Gal 3:21 - "Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law". THIS ANSWERS THE QUESTION ALONE!
• Rom 3:20, 4:6 – atonement cannot be achieved by man by the works of the law
• Eph 2:5, 8-10 – atonement is a free gift of God, out of His love and grace to do good works and glorify God
• Gal 2:16 – we are justified not by works but by Jesus’ faithfulness because by the works of the law no flesh will be justified.
• Titus 3:5 – we cannot atone for our own sin by deeds of the law
• Isa 64:6 – our own righteousness (right doing or “deeds”) are as “filthy rags”
• Acts 4:12 – sinners are saved by Christ alone
• Phil 2:13, John 6:44, Rom 2:4, 5:5, Eph 2:5 all show that salvation and atonement are God’s initiative and that any positive response to God’s invitation is also the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Rom 3:23, 24, 5:6, 8, 10 – the fact that God provided atonement for all sinners, while were still sinners, indicates that atonement is God’s initiative alone. Isa 65:1

This led directly to Luther’s reformation catch-cry of “solas”: Sola Scriptura, Sola fide, Sola Christos, Sola gratia, Sola Deo Gloria.

The reason for this quite simple:

• 1 John 5:11, 12 - God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
• Acts 4:12 - Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

But there is yet another reason for this. Keeping the law perfectly (assuming the absolute impossible) still will not give life to save us. Again, the reason is simple -

We are sinners not only because of what we have done (and so "guilty") BUT also because we are sinful, that is we have sinful tendencies which keeping the law perfectly does not cure.

In fact, it is because we are fundamentally so sinful (Rom 3:10-18) that it is impossible to keep the law perfectly. John puts it this way:

• 1 John 1:8 - "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Note that the word "sin" here is a noun and thus shows the STATE of the sinner that Paul points out in Rom 3:10-18.
• 1 John 1:10 - "If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us." Note that the word "sinned" here is a verb indicating what we have done and essentially repeats what Paul says in Rom 3:23, "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

Therefore, even if a person could do the impossible and keep the law perfectly, that person would still need a Savior to change the wicked heart with sinful propensities.

Paul summed it up this way is Rom 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We need a complete transformation of character so that the sin that was once attractive become repulsive. we need to be more like Christ as Paul puts it:

• 1 Cor 2:16, But we have the mind of Christ.
• Phil 2:5, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus

The law cannot give life - only the great source of life (John 1:4,8:12, 14:6, 1 John 5:11, 12), and only Jesus Christ can give eternal life.

By contrast, Paul says:

• Rom 7:9-11 - Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.

However, Paul does not condemn the law - it is absolutely essential so that we can understand what sin is and that we need help. So Paul concludes:

• Rom 7:12, 13, So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

The law is essential to point out that we are sinners but the only source of life is Jesus.

==========================

So what of Lev 18:5 which says, "Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD." Thus, there is no claim that the law gives life, only that it creates a way of everyday life for those who keep it. We must be law-abiding people.

Answer 3

There have been some great answers already, but I'll throw in my $0.02.

Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. Galatians 3:21 NKJV

So the short answer is that the law cannot give life. But note that Paul's rationale was not that no sinner can meet the requirements of the law. Rather, no such law exists that can give life.

Paul is clear that keeping the law does not give life because that is not its function.

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 NKJV

It can tell you when you've failed to meet the standard, but it can't save you from the wages of sin. That's simply not what the law is for.

But Leviticus 18:5 is not addressing the case of giving life to one who has lost it.

You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord .

It is true that if you keep the law from beginning to end, you can live, but that's only keeping the life you have. IOW, keeping the law means you avoid earning the wages of sin. But that's very different from regaining life that you've lost. You don't get any credit to pay for your debt by keeping the law. As Jesus said,

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do." Luke 17:10 NKJV

Answer 4

If someone were able to obey it would the law be able to give life to them?

This question is similar to the account in luke 10:25-28, And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

The phrase "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live" implies that If eternal life cannot be found in the scriputres/law, Jesus' question and answer to the man in the above account would be a lie. The question "what is written in the law and how readest thou?" also implies that anyone seriously studying the law and scriptures, obeying/applying it will be led to God, the source of life. John 17:3. American Standard Version, And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ.

Note that the word read in luke 10:26 in greek also means to know,314 anaginṓskō (from 303 /aná, "up, again," intensifying 1097 /ginṓskō, "personally know") – properly, "to know again" through reading. Reading (314/anaginskō) enables others to re-live (re-appreciate) what was conveyed (experienced) by the original author. HELPS Word-studies Biblehub.

The Greek verb gi·noʹsko in John 17:3 basically means “to know,” and here the verb is used in the present tense to express continuous action. It may denote a process of “taking in knowledge about someone; getting to know someone; becoming better acquainted with someone.” It may also include the thought of making an ongoing effort to get better acquainted with someone who is already known. In this context, it refers to a deepening personal relationship with God brought about by ever-increasing knowledge of God and Christ and a growing trust in them. Clearly, this necessitates more than knowing who a person is or knowing his name. It would also involve knowing what that person likes and dislikes and knowing his values and standards.​—1Jo 2:3; 4:8.

Could any Israelite gain eternal life for himself by keeping the Law of the covenant with God perfectly, without breaking even the slightest part of it? The Law covenant offered each Israelite the opportunity to prove that he could do so. In Leviticus 18:5 this opportunity is referred to, in these words: “You must keep my statutes and my judicial decisions, which if a man will do, he must also live by means of them. I am Jehovah.” So, if any Israelite kept the Law flawlessly and gained eternal life by his own works, he did not need the benefit of the sacrifices of the Law covenant. Neither would he need the blessing of the Abrahamic Promise. (Genesis 12:3; 22:18) Such a perfect Law keeper would establish his own righteousness and life merit.

However, even the prophet Moses died. Even the high priest Aaron died. And every other Israelite from the establishment of the Law covenant down to the passing away of the Aaronic priesthood in the year 70 C.E., yes, down till today, has died. Even nineteen centuries since the destruction of Jerusalem’s temple by the Romans the orthodox Israelites of today go through a form of celebrating the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. This in itself is an admission of their need of cleansing from sin, yes, their inability to keep the Law perfectly and gain eternal life by their own righteous works. And if they could not do this under the Law covenant, how could any of the rest of us imperfect humans do so?

Answer 5

“If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” - Matthew 19:17

In order to perfectly obey the law, a person would need to perfectly understand the intent of the law and the will of God. Such a person would also have to demonstrate perfect obedience, one that is rooted in purity of mind and heart, “for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts” (1 Chron 28:9).

Moreover, perfect obedience cannot stem from the desire for any reward nor from the fear of any punishment. Rather, perfect obedience to the law must arise from the pure love of God, it’s author, and likewise, from a love of neighbor, who is made in God’s image. “For love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom 13:10). Only perfect love can perfectly fulfill the law.

For Christians, more than just a hypothetical, there is one person who checks all these boxes - Jesus. He alone among men perfectly understood the law of God and his holy will, and perfectly fulfilled it (Mt 5:17). In so doing, not only did he manifest the life that is in himself, he also became the source of life for all the world.

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. - Romans 5:19

Answer 6

Yes! And be glad that it can. The Law was the requirement for righteousness - and through righteousness we have life.

Back to your question. Jesus, as a ‘man’, had his righteousness through, or via, the Law.

And that’s why Death could not hold him. The wages of sin is death. Jesus was put to death under the Law - illegally. If you don’t break the Law, then you don’t need to pay.

That’s why Jesus had to come at a time, to a nation that was under the Law.

Hebrews 2:14, ESV: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death,

So Jesus had his life, as a man, via the Law. Death could not hold him. Satan had nothing to ‘hold’ Jesus with.

As for all others, that is, ‘man’, the Law can not be the source for our life, our righteousness - as it’s impossible to keep. We need to obtain our righteousness, our ‘life’ another way.

Answer 7

1. The Law cannot save us, from our own committed sins or from the sin of the world that exists in the world - in humanity - come from Adam after his transgression.

I am assuming there is no dispute about this. It is a fact of experience, personally.

2. The Law did not save humanity in the beginning, in Eden, from being deceived (the woman) or from transgressing (the man).

I am assuming there is no dispute about this. It is a fact of experience, corporately.

---

The question of 'could it give life ?' therefore, is a different question to 'can it save ?'.

The law does not give life.

The law has no life to give.

The law addresses life in the creature.

But the life that is in the creature is weak. The flesh is weak. Natural life is not capable of responding to the spiritual demands of the law.

The law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin . . . . [Romans 7:14 KJV]

is the expression of a man who found out, by experience, in his own soul, just how spiritual the law is, in its depth of operation in humanity, in its breadth of ramifications throughout humanity and in its absolute requirements over all humanity.

He says two things. I am carnal : I am sold under sin. First, he is carnal flesh. Second, his carnal flesh has been traded - it now resides underneath an authority. And sin is that authority. "I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present within me". These are Paul's experiences.

I had not known lust except the law had said 'Thou shalt not covet'. [Romans 7:7 KJV]

The weakness is not the law itself, for the commandment is holy, just and good, Romans 7:12.

The weakness is the flesh. The weakness of that through which law might (I say only might) operate . . . renders it inoperable.

To obey the law and earn the right to continue to live on planet earth one must have the desire to keep it, the intelligence to understand its demands, the discipline to actually obey its every precept (continually, without fault, without excuse, without a break) and the uprightness of character to obey it in all of the aspects of human life : in one's own thoughts and imaginations and emotions and sensibilities : in one's every relationship with other humans : and in one's relationship and appreciation of the Deity who created one.

I say again : Flesh is weak.

... for what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh ... [Romans 8:3 KJV]

Nor was it ever intended to operate through flesh. It exists, because it has to exist in a material, substantial creation in which there is intelligent life.

But that is not the way to live, spiritually.

Hence, in the garden of Eden, there was a Tree of Life.

And God warned not to eat of the other tree. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

It will kill you, he warned.

Humans are made of flesh. And flesh is weak.

We were never intended to live by Law.

Because we are weak.

Righteousness is of God : humanity believeth.

And Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him unto righteousness

Genesis 15:6 ... Romans 4:3 ... Galatians 3:6 ... James 2:23 ... [KJV]

Answer 8

No - for those descendant from Adam it cannot. All are deemed sinful/guilty because of Adam's sin as explained in Rom 5:12--

...by the transgression of the one the many died... by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one...

Jesus was foreknown by God to become the Second Adam, or second human. As his Father was God he would be outside of the sin passed down from Adam through fatherhood. His role as the new Adam, the one who would be raised from death after a sinless life - passing from flesh to spirit, was to include all who believe in him in his righteousness - thereby gaining true life.

As a man, if he sinned once, Jesus would have also died and stayed dead, as he was bound by the law too - being under the law of sin and death as a master over him.

Romans 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

Finally, the law can never give life because it would undermine faith.

Gal 3:21 if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Answer 9

The question of whether the law can give life is a complex theological issue, and different parts of the Bible seem to present various perspectives on this matter.

1. Ezekiel's Justice: In the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Ezekiel, there are references to justice associated with obedience to God's statutes and the observance of His rules. However, it is essential to recognize that this justice is within the context of the Mosaic Law. Within this framework, justice could be achieved through the fulfillment of the commandments and regulations of the Law. While it can bring a form of justice, it does not necessarily grant eternal life.

2. Transformation of Job: Although Job was initially considered a righteous man in the Old Testament, his story also illustrates a deeper spiritual journey. He was proud of his self-righteousness, thinking that his obedience to the law made him blameless. But as the story unfolds, he comes to understand that justice is not limited to legalistic obedience but involves a deeper relationship with God. His understanding evolves, and he recognizes his limitations. The law, as seen in Job's case, does not grant life in the ultimate sense.

3. Paul's Perspective: The writings of the Apostle Paul are fundamental to understanding the relationship between justice and the law. He argues that, while there is a form of justice found in the law, it is not sufficient for the salvation and eternal life of all. In passages like Philippians 2:15, 3:6, 3:9, and 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Paul discusses the concept of "blamelessness" in the context of the law. He himself was a zealous Pharisee who believed in the righteousness of the law, as he states in Philippians 3:6. However, he recognizes the limitations of the law and that true justice is found in faith in Christ. In Galatians 2:21, he emphasizes that God's grace would be nullified if justice were entirely achievable through the law, implying that the law, while sufficient to lead some to a form of justice, is imperfect when it comes to bringing all of humanity to perfect righteousness and eternal life.

4. Jesus' Encounter with the Rich Young Ruler: The story of the rich young ruler in the Gospels illustrates the idea that mere observance of the law may not be enough for something beyond eternal life. Jesus challenges the rich young ruler to go beyond legalistic observance of the law and to give up his worldly possessions to follow Him and attain, beyond eternal life through obedience to the law's justice, treasure in heaven. This demonstrates that a higher level of commitment is required than merely following the law to achieve a reward. It suggests that the law, while valuable, cannot, by itself, grant life in its fullest sense.

5. New Covenant: The concept of a New Covenant is also crucial for understanding the shift in perspective. Hebrews 8:7 highlights that the first covenant was not without flaws, leading to the need for a new covenant. The New Covenant, according to Christian theology, is based on faith in the atonement of Christ rather than strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. It signifies a shift away from the idea that the law alone can grant life.

Mattews 19:16-17 KJV

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

In this verse, Jesus is responding to someone who inquires about how to attain eternal life. Jesus indicates that the key to eternal life is the observance of God's commandments. Therefore, according to this verse, obedience to the commandments is seen as important in the pursuit of eternal life. However, Jesus offered the option of perfection and reward to the rich young man, while the path with Nicodemus is to "be born again" and enter the Kingdom of God to achieve eternal life, which is the main theme of the Gospels. One does not negate the other. While the first deals with eternal life for the circumcised descendants of Abraham, the other deals with making non-circumcised individuals also children of God.

In summary, the Bible presents a complex view of justice and the law. While passages in the Old Testament suggest that justice can be achieved through obedience to the law, the teachings of the New Testament, particularly figures like Paul and Jesus, emphasize that justice is ultimately a matter of faith in Christ and a deeper relationship with God. The law, while valuable and important, does not, in and of itself, grant life in the fullest and eternal sense.

Answer 10

The Ten Commandments contain the entire gospel, the plan of salvation ...The first commandment is Jesus introducing himself to a person who was born into abject slavery and dying in hopeless bondage, that was delivered by the man whose name is I Am....the key to understanding the entire law is in the verbs....the vast majority being carnal can see nothing more than, what they can't do...! To all such sin is fun and the idea of giving it up is onerous....you can't do this, you shall not do that..etc...the entire human race is dead in trespasses and sins , how much work can a dead man do ? Nothing they're dead ...every breath we breath is a sin, we are nothing but filled with death....no created being can keep a Divine law...weyre not God ....the only way anyone can live is if Jesus lives in them, it's either sin or Jesus....the only reason unfallen Angels don't sin is because the Holy Spirit never left them.....if you read the Ten Commandments as future tense verbs, which is exactly what they are , you will find Jesus is promising you , I Will Do In You Everything Contained in My Law.....you believe Him cry out to Him to deliver you from your unbelief and He has sworn , He will perform His promise in you, for that is the glory within His Law ...mercy is implied from the very first command ...delivered from bondage ....never again will you have any other god before me....I Am the only God ....the entire law begins to open up in ways few have ever imagined.... it's what is implied....that's what very few can see....never again will sin destroy you ....because I Am ....Love...1Jn 4:8

Answer 11

Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Believe in Him, and ask Him to make you born again. That's the only way to life.

I tried to be perfect on my strength, it was truly impossible. Only by Holy Spirit that made me born again, that i could change.

We are saved by GRACE ALONE. Because Jesus said not a single sheep given to Him by the Father will be lost. Some people are chosen before the creation of the world to go to Heaven by God's MERCY AND GRACE.

Foreknown by God Called by God Justified by God Glorified by God

Nothing about what we offered. But, when God lives in you, will you be the same?

Jesus loves you.

Answer 12

The OP seems to be struggling whether the law able to give life, even if only theoretically. My answer is the law can give life theoretically, but it is not practical to the Lord's desire.

In Ezekiel 14:14, the Lord said, "even if these three men — Noah, Daniel and Job — were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness". In Ezekiel 14:16, the Lord continued, "as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate".

Let put aside the debate whether Daniel above refers to prophet Daniel. Noah and Job lived before the implementation of the Mosaic Law. If the Lord called them righteous, would the Mosaic Law turn down their righteousness by its standard? Therefore, it is possible that one in a billion can fully abide by the law, but it is far from the Lord's desire. As 2 Peter 3:9 states, "He does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance"

Answer 13

Could the law give life?

Romans 7:14 NASB

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin.

The law (Ten Commandments) and flesh-crucifixion (Jesus) have a symbiotic relationship. They are both dependent on each other. The former becomes just a collection of dead words without the latter. And the latter becomes a meaningless activity without the former.

Consequently, the law can give life, but not without the help of Jesus and the crucifixion of the flesh. As a side note, agape love seems to be the hidden message in the Ten Commandments (Mat 22:34-40).

Answer 14

Righteousness Based on the Law (Lev 18:5; Ezek 20:11; Gal 3:12; Rom 10:5)

If Paul had ever taught that the law could never give life, then he is a false prophet for making God a liar, and it also implies that all Patriarchs went to hell by obeying God in vain. Surely, it makes God a liar if we can imagine that the law could never justify despite the repeated promise of God. This idea that the law was contrary to promise or was useless is the most abhorrent to Paul (May it never be, or God forbid). See my answer Christianity-SE: Was eternal life promised by the law of Moses? The law was called the book of life, not for a prolonged temporary and vain earthly lifetime which the pagans aim for, but the eternal life in heaven. The prosperous life of Israelites was a consequence of obeying God as a nation for the national covenant to demonstrate God's work to the world, and make them envious. Jesus also answered the young ruler, on his question on eternal life, that obeying God obtains eternal life. Here, I will focus on the immediate context of Paul.

Paul was not a false prophet who insulted the law of Moses given by God. It is a myth that he taught the law was a deception of God, or worthless in its promise based on lawless antinomian theology with illogical assumptions like nobody could ever keep the law when we know there were countless perfect men found in the scripture. He warned the Galatians against circumcision saying if you accept circumcision, you're not mere taking just one thing from the law, you'd be bound to the whole law. It never implied that he warned them because obedience is impossible, but because now it is impractical since the law has been nullified; and it is mutually exclusive to the new covenant of Promise. Jesus said in Matt 9:12-13 that he came for the sick, not the healthy, the healthy don't need the doctor, but the detractors would turn that into sarcasm as well. Paul's arguments were clear that now righteousness does not come by the law after the new covenant of Christ, the law of justification has changed. No one is justified by the law of Moses anymore. His arguments about the nullification of the law are only in the present tense, due to the arrival of the promise. A righteousness apart from the Mosaic law.

[ESV Romans 3:21-22] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

[ESV Galatians 3:18-19] ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. ¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

This is the new requirement for righteousness apart from the law based righteousness. So how come someone can interpret that there was never any law based righteousness to begin with? The righteousness according to God's criteria has changed. Those who rejected Christ are trying to establish their own righteousness criteria, which is rebellious to God's law/requirement. If you understand "until" and "no more/no longer" then the context should be evident that Paul is only writing about the present fact of change of the righteousness criteria. Change of covenant (Heb 7:12).

In Romans 7, he also explains with the example of the marriage, that she is no longer under the covenant after the death of her husband, cf. Heb 9:15-16. Christ has nullified and ended the law based righteousness, his requirement for righteousness is easier by grace. If there was never a righteousness of the law, then how could Christ have been the end of it?

[ESV Romans 10:3-5] ³ For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

Galatians 3:21b "If a law had been given": the worst mistranslation

Yes, the law had been able to give life (see Ps 119), but not anymore, otherwise it would be contrary to the promise. Paul never writes that we are innately sinners and cannot keep the law, but even some Gentiles keep the law and will be justified as righteous (Rom 2:6-12) just as Christ said about the good Samaritan (Luke 10). If Paul argued that man cannot keep the law due to his inability and corruption, then neither can he keep the law of Christ, and God wouldn't have given the law to the patriarchs while deceiving. Can God make us able to keep the new law, but couldn't make the saints of the old?

This false translation issue should be the most controversial, as the whole protestant theology hinges upon it. I have made a question on Galatians 3:21 translation issue seeking for the clarifications & analysis on the reading "if a law had been given that could give life" εἰ γὰρ ἐδόθη νόμος ὁ δυνάμενος ζῳοποιῆσαι. This reading suggests that no law was (ever, had been) given that could give life. Such a translation go absolutely against the repeated plain harmony of the context. It should rather be "If the law that was given could give life", as just a few translations put it to my knowledge (NJB, GWT, Godbey, NLT and Wycliffe).

Galatians 3:21b

(New Living Translation)
If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it.

(Wycliffe) For if the lawe were youun, that myyte quikene, verili were riytfulnesse of lawe.

(New Jerusalem Bible) If the Law that was given had been capable of giving life, then certainly saving justice would have come from the Law.

(English Standard Version) For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.

It should be "If the law that was given" or "the given law", at worst, "If the law had been a law capable of giving life" (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary) Some other commentators have also explained that the question is not whether such a law was given, but whether the given law could give life. Their interpretation of the verse is correct, despite the fact that none has objected to the translation and hold to the traditional Lutheran theology. The existence of the alternative translations that I support show that at least it is a possible translation.

Bengel's Gnomen The conditional force does not fall upon was given, for the law was certainly given, but upon was able (could have).—ὁ δυνάμενος, that was able) The article shows that the emphasis is on δύναμαι.

Pulpit commentary ..The construction of the article in the phrase, νόμος ὁ δυνάμενος, is similar to that in ἔθνη τὰ μὴ ἔχοντα (Romans 2:14); μάρτυσι τοῖς προκεχειροτονημένοις (Acts 10:41). The noun is first put undetermined, a narrowing determination with the article being then added: "If [in the Law of Moses] had been given a Law such as," etc. By fastening attention upon the Law as unable "to make alive," the apostle marks its character as contrasted with the new covenant.

The argument of 3:21 is exactly as 2:21

[ESV Galatians 2:21] I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

So, even if my objection is wrong, at worst it can be permitted to translate "If [it i.e. the law] gave a law (as in principle) that could give life." Such a statement seems unnatural, nonetheless it doesn't imply the readings that forces a specific interpretation. The force is on able not on given. The translators don't even provide an alternate reading in footnotes, to come across as objective. There is no sense of "had been" when he is talking of present facts of changing of the law/covenant. The mistranslation of Gal 3:21 is solely based on deliberate theological bias. Its interpretation has no connection with the Jewish theology of the Bible. If someone can add to the translation analysis and information on this verse from commentators, teachers or anyone then please post an answer to my question, to add to my research as I don't read Greek.

Related: Is it appropriate to translate Galatians 3:21 as "If a law had been given"?