King James Bible
"Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto."
Paul addresses fellow believers with familial warmth and signals he will use everyday human examples to illustrate spiritual truths. This rhetorical approach makes complex theological concepts accessible by grounding them in common legal practices. Even human contracts, once ratified according to proper legal procedures, carry binding authority. In the Greco-Roman world, a confirmed covenant (Greek: diathēkē) could refer to a will or agreement that, once validated, became legally irrevocable. Once established, such agreements cannot be arbitrarily canceled or modified by any party—they stand inviolate. Paul builds his argument that if human covenants possess such permanence, God's covenant promises to Abraham must be infinitely more secure and unchangeable.