Faith Brings Righteousness

[a]You foolish (A)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ (B)was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of [b]the Law, or by [c](C)hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun [d]by the Spirit, are you now [e]being perfected by the flesh? Did you [f]suffer so many things in vain—(D)if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who (E)provides you with the Spirit and (F)works [g]miracles among you, do it by the works of [h]the Law, or by [i](G)hearing with faith?

[j]Even so (H)Abraham (I)believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, [k]be sure that (J)it is those who are of faith who are (K)sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God [l]would justify the [m]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “(L)All the nations will be blessed in you. So then (M)those who are of faith are blessed with [n]Abraham, the believer.

10 For as many as are of the works of [o]the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “(N)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” 11 Now that (O)no one is justified [p]by [q]the Law before God is evident; for, “[r](P)The righteous man shall live by faith.” 12 [s]However, the Law is not [t]of faith; on the contrary, “(Q)He who practices them shall live [u]by them.” 13 Christ (R)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “(S)Cursed is everyone who hangs on (T)a [v]tree”— 14 in order that (U)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might [w]come to the Gentiles, so that we (V)would receive (W)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

15 (X)Brethren, (Y)I speak [x]in terms of human relations: (Z)even though it is only a man’s [y]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds [z]conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken (AA)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “(AB)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came (AC)four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For (AD)if the inheritance is [aa]based on law, it is no longer [ab]based on a promise; but (AE)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19 (AF)Why the Law then? It was added [ac]because of transgressions, having been (AG)ordained through angels (AH)by the [ad]agency of a mediator, until (AI)the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now (AJ)a mediator is not [ae]for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? (AK)May it never be! For (AL)if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness [af]would indeed have been [ag]based on law. 22 But the Scripture has (AM)shut up [ah]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, (AN)being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our (AO)tutor to lead us to Christ, so that (AP)we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a [ai](AQ)tutor. 26 For you are all (AR)sons of God through faith in (AS)Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were (AT)baptized into Christ have (AU)clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 (AV)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is [aj]neither male nor female; for (AW)you are all one in (AX)Christ Jesus. 29 And if (AY)you [ak]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s [al]descendants, heirs according to (AZ)promise.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:1 Lit O
  2. Galatians 3:2 Or law
  3. Galatians 3:2 Lit the hearing of faith
  4. Galatians 3:3 Or with
  5. Galatians 3:3 Or ending with
  6. Galatians 3:4 Or experience
  7. Galatians 3:5 Or works of power
  8. Galatians 3:5 Or law
  9. Galatians 3:5 Lit the hearing of faith
  10. Galatians 3:6 Lit Just as
  11. Galatians 3:7 Lit know
  12. Galatians 3:8 Lit justifies
  13. Galatians 3:8 Lit nations
  14. Galatians 3:9 Lit the believing Abraham
  15. Galatians 3:10 Or law
  16. Galatians 3:11 Or in
  17. Galatians 3:11 Or law
  18. Galatians 3:11 Or But he who is righteous by faith shall live
  19. Galatians 3:12 Or And
  20. Galatians 3:12 Or based on
  21. Galatians 3:12 Or in
  22. Galatians 3:13 Or cross; lit wood
  23. Galatians 3:14 Or occur
  24. Galatians 3:15 Lit according to man
  25. Galatians 3:15 Or will or testament
  26. Galatians 3:15 Or a codicil
  27. Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
  28. Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
  29. Galatians 3:19 Or for the sake of defining
  30. Galatians 3:19 Lit hand
  31. Galatians 3:20 Lit of one
  32. Galatians 3:21 Or would indeed be
  33. Galatians 3:21 Lit out of, from
  34. Galatians 3:22 Lit things
  35. Galatians 3:25 Lit child-conductor
  36. Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female
  37. Galatians 3:29 Lit are Christ’s
  38. Galatians 3:29 Lit seed