Galatians 3
1 O senseless Galatians, who has so fascinated you that you would not obey the truth, even though Jesus Christ has been presented before your eyes, crucified among you?2 I wish to know only this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?3 Are you so foolish that, though you began with the Spirit, you would now end with the flesh?4 Have you been suffering so much without a reason? If so, then it is in vain.5 Therefore, does he who distributes the Spirit to you, and who works miracles among you, act by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith?6 It is just as it was written: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.7 Therefore, know that those who are of faith, these are the sons of Abraham.8 Thus Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold to Abraham: All nations shall be blessed in you.9 And so, those who are of faith shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it has been written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things that have been written in the book of the Law, so as to do them.11 And, since in the law no one is justified with God, this is manifest: For the just man lives by faith.12 But the law is not of faith; instead, he who does these things shall live by them.13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, since he became a curse for us. For it is written: Cursed is anyone who hangs from a tree.14 This was so that the blessing of Abraham might reach the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, in order that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.15 Brothers (I speak according to man), if a mans testament has been confirmed, no one would reject it or add to it.16 The promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. He did not say, and to descendents, as if to many, but instead, as if to one, he said, and to your offspring, who is Christ.17 But I say this: the testament confirmed by God, which, after four hundred and thirty years became the Law, does not nullify, so as to make the promise empty.18 For if the inheritance is of the law, then it is no longer of the promise. But God bestowed it to Abraham through the promise.19 Why, then, was there a law? It was established because of transgressions, until the offspring would arrive, to whom he made the promise, ordained by Angels through the hand of a mediator.20 Now a mediator is not of one, yet God is one.21 So then, was the law contrary to the promises of God? Let it not be so! For if a law had been given, which was able to give life, truly justice would be of the law.22 But Scripture has enclosed everything under sin, so that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.23 But before the faith arrived, we were preserved by being enclosed under the law, unto that faith which was to be revealed.24 And so the law was our guardian in Christ, in order that we might be justified by faith.25 But now that faith has arrived, we are no longer under a guardian.26 For you are all sons of God, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.27 For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have become clothed with Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither servant nor free; there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.29 And if you are Christs, then are you the offspring of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3
Justification by Law or by Faith?
1 Yout foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spellt on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayedt as crucified!2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the lawt or by believing what you heard?t3 Are you so foolish? Although you begant witht the Spirit, are you now trying to finisht by human effort?t4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing.
5 Does God then givet you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the lawt or by your believing what you heard?t
6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,s7 so then, understandt that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.t8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time,t saying, “All the nationstwill be blessed in you,"s9 So then those who believet are blessed along with Abraham the believer.10 For all whot rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.”ts11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.t12 But the law is not based on faith,t but the one who does the works of the lawtwill live by them.s13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becomingt a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)s
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles,t so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
Inheritance Comes from Promises and not Law
15 Brothers and sisters,t I offer an example from everyday life:t When a covenantt has been ratified,t even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant.t Scripturet does not say, “and to the descendants,”t referring to many, but “and to your descendant,”ts referring to one, who is Christ.17 What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God,s so as to invalidate the promise.
18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gavet it to Abraham through the promise.
19 Why then was the law given?t It was addeds because of transgressions,s until the arrival of the descendantt to whom the promise had been made. It was administeredt through angels by an intermediary.t20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.t21 Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God?s Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.t
22 But the scripture imprisonedt everything and everyonet under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulnessts of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.
Sons of God Are Heirs of Promise
23 Now before faitht came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisonersst until the coming faith would be revealed.24 Thus the law had become our guardiant until Christ, so that we could be declared righteoust by faith.25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.t26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.t27 For all of you whot were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slavet nor free, there is neither male nor femalet – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants,t heirs according to the promise.