Galatians 3
Wycliffe Bible
3 O! unwitty Galatians, before whose eyes Jesus Christ is exiled, and is crucified in you, who hath deceived you, that ye obey not to truth?[a]
2 This only I desire to learn of you, whether ye have received the Spirit of the works of the law, or of hearing of belief?[b]
3 So ye be fools, that when ye have begun in Spirit, ye be ended in flesh [now ye be ended by flesh].
4 So great things ye have suffered without cause [Ye have suffered so many things without cause], if it be without cause.
5 [Therefore] He that giveth to you [the] Spirit, and worketh works of power in you, whether of [the] works of the law, or of hearing of belief [or of hearing of faith]?
6 As it is written, Abraham believed to God, and it was reckoned to him to rightwiseness.
7 And therefore know ye, that these that be of belief, be the sons of Abraham.[c]
8 And the scripture seeing afar, that God justifieth the heathen of belief, told before to Abraham, That in thee all the heathen shall be blessed [for God justifieth of faith heathen men, told before to Abraham, For in thee all folks, or heathen men, shall be blessed].
9 And therefore these that be of belief [Therefore they that be of faith], shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For all that be of the works of the law, be under curse; for it is written, Each man is cursed, that abideth not in all things that be written in the book of the law, to do those things.[d]
11 And that no man is justified in the law before God, it is open, for a rightful man liveth of belief. [Forsooth for no man is justified in the law with God, it is known, for a rightful man liveth by faith.]
12 But the law is not of belief, but he that doeth those things of the law [but he that doeth those things], shall live in them.
13 But Christ again-bought us from the curse of the law, and was made accursed for us; for it is written, Each man is cursed that hangeth in the tree;[e]
14 that among the heathen the blessing of Abraham were made in Jesus Christ, that we receive the promise of Spirit through belief. [that the blessing of Abraham in heathen men should be made in Christ Jesus, that we take the promise of Spirit by faith.]
15 Brethren, I say after man, no man despiseth the testament of a man that is confirmed, or ordaineth above [or above-ordaineth other thing].
16 The promises were said to Abraham and to his seed; he saith not, In [the] seeds, as in many, but as in one, And to thy seed, that is, Christ.
17 But I say, this testament is confirmed of God; the law that was made after four hundred and thirty years, maketh not the testament vain to void away the promise.[f]
18 For if [the] heritage were of the law, it were not now of promise. But God granted to Abraham through promise [Forsooth God gave to Abraham by again-promise].
19 What then the law [What therefore profiteth the law]? It was set for trespassing, till the seed came, to whom he had made the promise. Which law was ordained by angels, in the hand of a mediator.
20 But a mediator is not of one. But God is one.
21 Is then the law against the promises of God? God forbid [Far be it]. For if the law were given, that might quicken, verily were rightwiseness of law [For if there were a law given, which might quicken, verily rightwiseness were of law].
22 But the scripture hath concluded all things under sin, that the promise of the faith [of faith] of Jesus Christ were given to them that believe.
23 And before that belief came, they were kept under the law, enclosed into that belief that was to be showed. [Forsooth before that the faith came, we were kept under the law, shut together into that faith that was to be showed.]
24 And so the law was our under-master in Christ, that we be justified of belief.[g]
25 But after that belief came [But after that the faith came], we be not now under the under-master.
26 For all ye be the children of God through the belief of Jesus Christ. [For all ye be the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus.]
27 For all ye that be baptized, be clothed with Christ. [Forsooth whoever ye be baptized in Christ, ye have clothed in Christ.]
28 There is no Jew, nor Greek, no bondman, nor free man, no male, nor female [There is not Jew, neither Greek; there is not servant, neither free man; there is not male, neither female]; for all ye be one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be one in Jesus Christ, then ye be the seed of Abraham, and heirs by promise. [Forsooth if ye be of Christ, therefore ye be seed of Abraham, after the promise ye be heirs.]
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:1 O! ye witless men of Galatia, who deceived you to obey not to the truth? before whose eyes Jesus Christ is condemned, or exiled, and in you crucified.
- Galatians 3:2 This thing only will I learn of you, have ye taken the Spirit by the works of the law, by the hearing of belief/or of the hearing of belief?
- Galatians 3:7 Therefore know ye, that they that be of faith, they be the sons of Abraham.
- Galatians 3:10 Forsooth whoever be of the works of the law, be under curse; for it is written, Cursed is each man, that dwelleth not in all things that be written in the book of the law, that he do them.
- Galatians 3:13 Christ delivered us from the curse of the law, made for us the curse; for it is written, Cursed is each that hangeth in the tree;
- Galatians 3:17 Forsooth I say this, a testament confirmed of God, which after four hundred years and thirty is made law, maketh not void for to do away the promise.
- Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our little master in Christ, that we be justified of faith.
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
- Galatians 3:1 Lit O
- Galatians 3:2 Or law
- Galatians 3:2 Lit of faith
- Galatians 3:3 Or with
- Galatians 3:3 Or ending with
- Galatians 3:4 Or experience
- Galatians 3:5 Or works of power
- Galatians 3:5 Or law
- Galatians 3:5 Lit of faith
- Galatians 3:8 Lit justifies
- Galatians 3:8 Lit nations
- Galatians 3:9 Lit the believing Abraham
- Galatians 3:10 Or law
- Galatians 3:11 Or in
- Galatians 3:11 Or law
- Galatians 3:11 Or the one who is righteous by faith will live
- Galatians 3:12 Or And
- Galatians 3:12 Or based on
- Galatians 3:12 I.e., the statutes of the Law
- Galatians 3:12 I.e., the statutes of the Law
- Galatians 3:13 Or cross; lit wood; see Deut 21:23
- Galatians 3:15 Lit according to man
- Galatians 3:15 Or will; or testament
- Galatians 3:15 Or a codicil
- Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:19 I.e., of God’s commands
- Galatians 3:19 I.e., Moses
- Galatians 3:20 Lit of one
- Galatians 3:21 Lit May it never happen!
- Galatians 3:21 Or would indeed be
- Galatians 3:21 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:22 Lit all things
- Galatians 3:23 I.e., the Jews
- Galatians 3:24 I.e., children’s escort and supervisor
- Galatians 3:25 See note v 24
- Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female
- Galatians 3:29 Lit are Christ’s
- Galatians 3:29 Lit seed
2001 by Terence P. Noble
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
