{What then is the law?} (	i oun ho nomos?). Or, why then
the law? A pertinent question if the Abrahamic promise antedates
it and holds on afterwards. {It was added because of
transgressions} (	(936e) parabase(936e) charin proseteth(885c)). First
aorist passive of prostith(886d)i, old verb to add to. It is only
in apparent contradiction to verses  15ff. , because in Paul's
mind the law is no part of the covenant, but a thing apart "in no
way modifying its provisions" (Burton). Charin is the adverbial
accusative of charis which was used as a preposition with the
genitive as early as Homer, in favour of, for the sake of. Except
in  1Jo 3:12  it is post-positive in the N.T. as in ancient
Greek. It may be causal ( Lu 7:47  1Jo 3:12 ) or telic ( Tit
1:5,11  Jude 1:16 ). It is probably also telic here, not in order
to create transgressions, but rather "to make transgressions
palpable" (Ellicott), "thereby pronouncing them to be from that
time forward transgressions of the law" (Rendall). Parabasis,
from parabain(935c), is in this sense a late word (Plutarch on),
originally a slight deviation, then a wilful disregarding of
known regulations or prohibitions as in  Ro 2:23 . {Till the seed
should come} (achris an elth(8869) to sperma). Future time with
achris an and aorist subjunctive (usual construction). Christ
he means by 	o sperma as in verse  16 . {The promise hath been
made} (ep(8867)geltai). Probably impersonal perfect passive rather
than middle of epaggellomai as in II Macc. 4:27. {Ordained
through angels} (diatageis di' aggel(936e)). Second aorist passive
participle of diatass(935c) (see on 烘t 11:1|). About angels and the
giving of the law see on  De 33:2  (LXX);  Ac 7:38,52  Heb 2:2 ;
Josephus (_Ant_. XV. 5. 3). {By the hand of a mediator} (en
cheiri mesitou). En cheiri is a manifest Aramaism or Hebraism
and only here in the N.T. It is common in the LXX. Mesit(8873),
from mesos is middle or midst, is a late word (Polybius,
Diodorus, Philo, Josephus) and common in the papyri in legal
transactions for arbiter, surety, etc. Here of Moses, but also of
Christ ( 1Ti 2:5  Heb 8:6  9:15  12:24 ).