²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ^(A) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(B) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,^(C) who loved me^(D) and gave himself for me.^{(E) 21} I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,^(F) Christ died for nothing!”^[a]

Faith or Works of the Law

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

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith^(Q) are children of Abraham.^{(R) 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.”^{[e](S) 9} So those who rely on faith^(T) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.^(U)

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

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

¹¹ See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!^(A)

¹² Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh^(B) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.^(C) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted^(D) for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,^(E) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.^{(F) 14} May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(G) through which^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.^{(H) 15} Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;^(I) what counts is the new creation.^{(J) 16} Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to^[b] the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks^(K) of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ^(L) be with your spirit,^(M) brothers and sisters. Amen.