Galatians 3
Authorized (King James) Version
3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3
New American Standard Bible 1995
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 the works of [b]the Law, or by [c](C)hearing 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 the works of [h]the Law, or by [i](G)hearing with faith?
6 [j]Even so (H)Abraham (I)believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 7 Therefore, [k]be sure that (J)it is those who are of faith who are (K)sons of Abraham. 8 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.” 9 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
- Galatians 3:1 Lit O
- Galatians 3:2 Or law
- Galatians 3:2 Lit the hearing 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 the hearing of faith
- Galatians 3:6 Lit Just as
- Galatians 3:7 Lit know
- 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 But he who is righteous by faith shall live
- Galatians 3:12 Or And
- Galatians 3:12 Or based on
- Galatians 3:12 Or in
- Galatians 3:13 Or cross; lit wood
- Galatians 3:14 Or occur
- 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 Or for the sake of defining
- Galatians 3:19 Lit hand
- Galatians 3:20 Lit of one
- Galatians 3:21 Or would indeed be
- Galatians 3:21 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:22 Lit things
- Galatians 3:25 Lit child-conductor
- Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female
- Galatians 3:29 Lit are Christ’s
- Galatians 3:29 Lit seed
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
