“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.”
Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, kept under guard until faith should be revealed. — the law functioned as phroureo (keep guard, hold prisoner), a custodial/restrictive force, an imprisonment that awaited faith's arrival and revelation ('apokalypsis'); this military metaphor suggests law as a garrison holding humanity until liberation.
Church Fathers on Galatians 3:23
“But before faith came, we were kept inward under the Law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.” Here he clearly puts forward what I have stated: for the expressions “we were kept” and “shut up,” signify nothing else than the security given by the commandments of the Law; which like a fortress fenced them round with fear and a life conformable to itself, and so preserved them unto Faith.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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