14 You are not under legalism (Greek upo nomon; Shaʾul's use of this phrase discussed in depth at Ga 3:23bN). The word "nomos" literally "law" and often translated "Torah" in the Jewish New Testament (Mt 5:17&N), must here be rendered "legalism," which is defined in 3:20bN as perversion of the Torah into a system of rules for earning God's praise without trusting, loving or communing with God the Giver of the Torah.
Under legalism... under grace. The word twice translated "under," Greek upo, means "controlled by" (as at 3:9) or "in subjection to" (compare 7:14; also see 1C 9:20-22&NN) and opens the path to the slavery metaphor in the following verses. But in what sense are believers "in subjection to" grace? In the sense that they have accepted Yeshua's "yoke," which is "easy" and "light" to be "under" (Mt 11:28-30&N), in contrast with the "yoke" of legalism, which is not (Ac 15:10&N). Being "under grace" is a subjection which, because of the nature of grace itself, does not have the usual oppressive characteristics of subjection.
God's people are to live en ("within the framework of," 2:12N) Torah, but they are not be upon ("in subjection to," Ga 3:23bN) legalism. God's giving the Torah was itself an act of grace which the New Testament compares with his sending Yeshua (Yn 1:17&N). God's people, the people who are in a trust relationship with him, are and always have been under grace and under Torah (a gracious subjection) but never under legalism (a harsh subjection).
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Under legalism... under grace. The word twice translated "under," Greek upo, means "controlled by" (as at 3:9) or "in subjection to" (compare 7:14; also see 1C 9:20-22&NN) and opens the path to the slavery metaphor in the following verses. But in what sense are believers "in subjection to" grace? In the sense that they have accepted Yeshua's "yoke," which is "easy" and "light" to be "under" (Mt 11:28-30&N), in contrast with the "yoke" of legalism, which is not (Ac 15:10&N). Being "under grace" is a subjection which, because of the nature of grace itself, does not have the usual oppressive characteristics of subjection.
God's people are to live en ("within the framework of," 2:12N) Torah, but they are not be upon ("in subjection to," Ga 3:23bN) legalism. God's giving the Torah was itself an act of grace which the New Testament compares with his sending Yeshua (Yn 1:17&N). God's people, the people who are in a trust relationship with him, are and always have been under grace and under Torah (a gracious subjection) but never under legalism (a harsh subjection).
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