And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
And, х de (G1161)] - 'Moreover.'
Scripture, foreseeing. Scripture is identified with the mind that inspired it. The promise to Abraham is a Gospel germ developed by Paul. In Scripture all points liable ever to be controverted, are, with prescient wisdom, decided in the appropriate language.
Would justify - `justifieth.' Present indicative. It is now, and at all times, God's one way of justification.
The heathen - `the Gentiles,' or 'the nations,' as at the end of the verse. God justifieth the Jews too, 'by faith, not by works.' But he specifies the Gentiles, as it was their case that was in question, the Galatians being Gentiles.
Preached before (announced beforehand) the Gospel - for the 'promise' was substantially the Gospel by anticipation (cf. John 8:56; Hebrews 4:2). 'The old fathers did not look only for transitory promises' ('Article' VII., Church of England). The Gospel, in its essential germ, is older than the law, though the development of the former is subsequent to the latter.
In thee - not "in thy seed," a point not here raised; but strictly "in thee," as father of the faithful (Galatians 3:9), as well as (what was the reward of his faith) father of the promised Seed-namely, Christ (Galatians 3:16), the Object of faith (Genesis 22:18; Psalms 72:17).
All nations - or as above, 'all the Gentiles' (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18).
Be blessed - an act of grace, not earned by works. Justification was to Abraham by faith in the promise, not by works. So to those who follow Abraham, the father of the faithful, the blessing - i:e., justification-comes purely by faith in Him who is the Subject of the promise.