Galatians

1Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?

2I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

3Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?

4Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

5He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

6Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”

7Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham.

8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”

9So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

11Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”

12The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”

14that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it.

16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring.He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ.

17Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

18For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

19Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

20Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.

21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

22But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

26For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

Faith and Belief

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

3Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?

4Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?

5Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?

6So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

7Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Christ Has Redeemed Us

10All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abrahamwould come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Purpose of the Law

15Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.

16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,”meaning One, who is Christ.

17What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

19Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.

20A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.

21Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

22But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Sons through Faith in Christ

26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.