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Galatians 3
New International Version

Faith or Works of the Law

3 You foolish(A) Galatians!(B) Who has bewitched you?(C) Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.(D) 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit(E) by the works of the law,(F) or by believing what you heard?(G) 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles(H) among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?(I) 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c](J)

7 Understand, then, that those who have faith(K) are children of Abraham.(L) 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”[d](M) 9 So those who rely on faith(N) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.(O)

10 For all who rely on the works of the law(P) are under a curse,(Q) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[e](R) 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,(S) because “the righteous will live by faith.”[f](T) 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”[g](U) 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law(V) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”[h](W) 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,(X) so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.(Y)

The Law and the Promise

15 Brothers and sisters,(Z) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.(AA) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[i](AB) meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years(AC) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;(AD) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions(AE) until the Seed(AF) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels(AG) and entrusted to a mediator.(AH) 20 A mediator,(AI) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!(AJ) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.(AK) 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,(AL) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

23 Before the coming of this faith,[j] we were held in custody(AM) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.(AN) 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came(AO) that we might be justified by faith.(AP) 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.(AQ)

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God(AR) through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ(AS) have clothed yourselves with Christ.(AT) 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,(AU) nor is there male and female,(AV) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(AW) 29 If you belong to Christ,(AX) then you are Abraham’s seed,(AY) and heirs(AZ) according to the promise.(BA)

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  2. Galatians 3:4 Or suffered
  3. Galatians 3:6 Gen. 15:6
  4. Galatians 3:8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18
  5. Galatians 3:10 Deut. 27:26
  6. Galatians 3:11 Hab. 2:4
  7. Galatians 3:12 Lev. 18:5
  8. Galatians 3:13 Deut. 21:23
  9. Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7
  10. Galatians 3:23 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus … 23 Before faith came
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Galatians 3
New Living Translation

The Law and Faith in Christ

3 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced[a] so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”[b] 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”[c] 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”[d] 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”[e] 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”[f]

13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”[g] 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised[h] Holy Spirit through faith.

The Law and God’s Promise

15 Dear brothers and sisters,[i] here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child.[j] And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,[k]” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.

19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.

21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises?[l] Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

God’s Children through Faith

23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.

24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

26 For you are all children[m] of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.[n] 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,[o] slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children[p] of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Footnotes

  1. 3:4 Or Have you suffered.
  2. 3:6 Gen 15:6.
  3. 3:8 Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18.
  4. 3:10 Deut 27:26.
  5. 3:11 Hab 2:4.
  6. 3:12 Lev 18:5.
  7. 3:13 Deut 21:23 (Greek version).
  8. 3:14 Some manuscripts read the blessing of the.
  9. 3:15 Greek Brothers.
  10. 3:16a Greek seed; also in 3:16c, 19. See notes on Gen 12:7 and 13:15.
  11. 3:16b Greek seeds.
  12. 3:21 Some manuscripts read and the promises?
  13. 3:26 Greek sons.
  14. 3:27 Greek have put on Christ.
  15. 3:28 Greek Jew or Greek.
  16. 3:29 Greek seed.
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Galatians 3
English Standard Version

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? (A)It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly (B)portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: (C)Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by (D)hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? (E)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a] the flesh? 4 (F)Did you suffer[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and (G)works miracles among you do so (H)by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as (I)Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

7 Know then that it is (J)those of faith who are (K)the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that (L)God would justify[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, (M)“In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

10 For all who rely on works of the law are (N)under a curse; for it is written, (O)“Cursed be everyone who does not (P)abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that (Q)no one is justified before God by the law, for (R)“The righteous shall live by faith.”[d] 12 But the law is not of faith, rather (S)“The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ (T)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, (U)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged (V)on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might (W)come to the Gentiles, so that (X)we might receive (Y)the promised Spirit[e] through faith.

The Law and the Promise

15 (Z)To give a human example, brothers:[f] (AA)even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now (AB)the promises were made (AC)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, (AD)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came (AE)430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as (AF)to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but (AG)God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19 Why then the law? (AH)It was added because of transgressions, (AI)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was (AJ)put in place through angels (AK)by an intermediary. 20 Now (AL)an intermediary implies more than one, but (AM)God is one.

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For (AN)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture (AO)imprisoned everything under sin, so that (AP)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given (AQ)to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, (AR)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, (AS)the law was our (AT)guardian until Christ came, (AU)in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus (AV)you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as (AW)were baptized (AX)into Christ have (AY)put on Christ. 28 (AZ)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g] nor free, (BA)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And (BB)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, (BC)heirs according to promise.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with
  2. Galatians 3:4 Or experience
  3. Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24
  4. Galatians 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live
  5. Galatians 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit
  6. Galatians 3:15 Or brothers and sisters
  7. Galatians 3:28 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
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Galatians 3
New American Standard Bible

Faith Brings Righteousness

3 [a]You foolish (A)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ (B)was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of [b]the Law, or by (C)hearing [c]with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun [d]by the Spirit, are you now [e]being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you [f]suffer so many things in vain—(D)if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who (E)provides you with the Spirit and (F)works [g]miracles among you, do it by works of [h]the Law, or by (G)hearing [i]with faith?

6 Just as (H)Abraham (I)believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 7 Therefore, recognize that (J)it is those who are of faith who are (K)sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God [j]would justify the [k]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “(L)All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then, (M)those who are of faith are blessed with [l]Abraham, the believer.

10 For all who are of works of [m]the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “(N)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” 11 Now, that (O)no one is justified [n]by [o]the Law before God is evident; for, “[p](P)the righteous one will live by faith.” 12 [q]However, the Law is not [r]of faith; on the contrary, “(Q)The person who performs [s]them will live by [t]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 [u]tree”— 14 in order that (U)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we (V)would receive (W)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

15 (X)Brothers and sisters, (Y)I speak [v]in terms of human relations: (Z)even though it is only a man’s [w]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds [x]conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken (AA)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “(AB)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came (AC)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For (AD)if the inheritance is [y]based on law, it is no longer [z]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 on account of the [aa]violations, having been (AG)ordered through angels (AH)at the hand of a [ab]mediator, until (AI)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now (AJ)a mediator is not [ac]for one party only; but God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? [ad](AK)Far from it! For (AL)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness [ae]would indeed have been [af]based on law. 22 But the Scripture has (AM)confined [ag]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, [ah]we were kept in custody under the Law, (AN)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our [ai](AO)guardian 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 [aj](AQ)guardian. 26 For you are all (AR)sons and daughters 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, there is [ak]neither male nor female; for (AW)you are all one in (AX)Christ Jesus. 29 And if (AY)you [al]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s [am]descendants, heirs according to (AZ)promise.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:1 Lit O
  2. Galatians 3:2 Or law
  3. Galatians 3:2 Lit 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 of faith
  10. Galatians 3:8 Lit justifies
  11. Galatians 3:8 Lit nations
  12. Galatians 3:9 Lit the believing Abraham
  13. Galatians 3:10 Or law
  14. Galatians 3:11 Or in
  15. Galatians 3:11 Or law
  16. Galatians 3:11 Or the one who is righteous by faith will live
  17. Galatians 3:12 Or And
  18. Galatians 3:12 Or based on
  19. Galatians 3:12 I.e., the statutes of the Law
  20. Galatians 3:12 I.e., the statutes of the Law
  21. Galatians 3:13 Or cross; lit wood; see Deut 21:23
  22. Galatians 3:15 Lit according to man
  23. Galatians 3:15 Or will; or testament
  24. Galatians 3:15 Or a codicil
  25. Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
  26. Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
  27. Galatians 3:19 I.e., of God’s commands
  28. Galatians 3:19 I.e., Moses
  29. Galatians 3:20 Lit of one
  30. Galatians 3:21 Lit May it never happen!
  31. Galatians 3:21 Or would indeed be
  32. Galatians 3:21 Lit out of, from
  33. Galatians 3:22 Lit all things
  34. Galatians 3:23 I.e., the Jews
  35. Galatians 3:24 I.e., children’s escort and supervisor
  36. Galatians 3:25 See note v 24
  37. Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female
  38. Galatians 3:29 Lit are Christ’s
  39. Galatians 3:29 Lit seed
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Galatians 3
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Justification through Faith

3 You foolish(A) Galatians! Who has hypnotized you,[a] before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed[b] as crucified?(B) 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?[c] 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?[d] 4 Did you suffer(C) so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles(D) among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?[e]

6 Just as Abraham believed God,(E) and it was credited to him for righteousness,(F)[f] 7 then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons.(G) 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham,(H) saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.(I)[g] 9 So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham,(J) who had faith.[h]

Law and Promise

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,(K) because it is written:(L) Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed.(M)[i] 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live(N) by faith.(O)[j] 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.(P)[k] 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,(Q) because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.(R)[l] 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.(S)

15 Brothers, I’m using a human illustration.[m] No one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant[n] that has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,(T)[o] who is Christ. 17 And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later,(U) does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God[p] and cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

The Purpose of the Law

19 Why then was the law given?(V) It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels(W) by means of a mediator.(X) 20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one.(Y) 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 22 But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power,[q](Z) so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ(AA) might be given to those who believe.(AB) 23 Before this faith(AC) came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.(AD) 24 The law, then, was our guardian[r] until Christ,(AE) so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith(AF) has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Sons and Heirs

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment.(AG) 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free,(AH) male or female;(AI) for you are all one(AJ) in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs(AK) according to the promise.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:1 Other mss add not to obey the truth
  2. Galatians 3:1 Other mss add among you
  3. Galatians 3:2 Lit by law works or faith hearing or hearing the message
  4. Galatians 3:3 By human effort
  5. Galatians 3:5 Lit by law works or faith hearing or hearing the message
  6. Galatians 3:6 Gn 15:6
  7. Galatians 3:8 Gn 12:3; 18:18
  8. Galatians 3:9 Or with believing Abraham
  9. Galatians 3:10 Dt 27:26
  10. Galatians 3:11 Hab 2:4
  11. Galatians 3:12 Lv 18:5
  12. Galatians 3:13 Dt 21:23
  13. Galatians 3:15 Lit I speak according to man
  14. Galatians 3:15 Or will, or testament
  15. Galatians 3:16 Gn 12:7; 13:15; 17:8; 24:7
  16. Galatians 3:17 Other mss add in Christ
  17. Galatians 3:22 Lit under sin
  18. Galatians 3:24 The word translated guardian in vv. 24-25 is different from the word in Gl 4:2. In our culture, we do not have a slave who takes a child to and from school, protecting the child from harm or corruption. In Gk the word paidogogos described such a slave. This slave was not a teacher.
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