What does Paul mean when he says that the law was put into effect by a mediator?
Galatians 3:19 (ESV)
19Why 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.
The mediator whom Paul has in mind is Moses. He received the law from God (through angels) and gave that law to Israel (Exodus 32:15, Exodus 32:19; Exodus 34:4, Exodus 34:29; Deuteronomy 5:5).1 The law thus came to men through two servants (Moses and the angels), twice removed from God.2
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.