Galatians 3:11-21

New American Standard Bible

¹¹ Now, that ^(A)no one is justified ^[a]by ^[b]the Law before God is evident; for, “^[c](B)the righteous one will live by faith.” ^12 [d]However, the Law is not ^[e]of faith; on the contrary, “^(C)The person who performs ^[f]them will live by ^[g]them.” ¹³ Christ ^(D)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “^(E)Cursed is everyone who hangs on ^(F)a ^[h]tree”— ¹⁴ in order that ^(G)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(H)would receive ^(I)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

^15 (J)Brothers and sisters, ^(K)I speak ^[i]in terms of human relations: ^(L)even though it is only a man’s ^[j]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^[k]conditions to it. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken ^(M)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, “^(N)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(O)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For ^(P)if the inheritance is ^[l]based on law, it is no longer ^[m]based on a promise; but ^(Q)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19 (R)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the ^[n]violations, having been ^(S)ordered through angels ^(T)at the hand of a ^[o]mediator, until ^(U)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now ^(V)a mediator is not ^[p]for one party only; but God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^[q](W)Far from it! For ^(X)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[r]would indeed have been ^[s]based on law.