Galatians 3
Amplified Bible
Faith Brings Righteousness
3 O you foolish and thoughtless and superficial Galatians, who has bewitched you [that you would act like this], to whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified [in the gospel message]? 2 This is all I want to ask of you: did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying [the requirements of] the Law, or was it the result of hearing [the message of salvation and] with faith [believing it]? 3 Are you so foolish and senseless? Having begun [your new life by faith] with the Spirit, are you now being perfected and reaching spiritual maturity by the flesh [that is, by your own works and efforts to keep the Law]? 4 Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing—if indeed it was all for nothing? 5 So then, does He who supplies you with His [marvelous Holy] Spirit and works miracles among you, do it as a result of the works of the Law [which you perform], or because you [believe confidently in the message which you] heard with faith?
6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, [as conformity to God’s will and purpose—so it is with you also].(A) 7 So understand that it is the people who live by faith [with confidence in the power and goodness of God] who are [the true] sons of [a]Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news [of the Savior] to Abraham in advance [with this promise], saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”(B) 9 So then those who are people of faith [whether Jew or Gentile] are blessed and favored by God [and declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with Him] along with Abraham, the believer.
10 For all who depend on the Law [seeking justification and salvation by obedience to the Law and the observance of rituals] are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed (condemned to destruction) is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, so as to practice them.”(C) 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing] before God by the Law, for “The righteous (the just, the upright) shall live by faith.”(D) 12 But the Law does not rest on or require faith [it has nothing to do with faith], but [instead, the Law] says, “He who practices them [the things prescribed by the Law] shall live by them [instead of faith].”(E) 13 Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs [crucified] on a tree (cross)”—(F) 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we would all receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith.
Intent of the Law
15 Brothers and sisters, I speak in terms of human relations: even though a last will and testament is just a human covenant, yet when it has been signed and made legally binding, no one sets it aside or adds to it [modifying it in some way]. 16 Now the promises [in the covenants] were decreed to Abraham and to his seed. God does not say, “And to seeds (descendants, heirs),” as if [referring] to many [persons], but as to one, “And to your Seed,” who is [none other than] Christ.(G) 17 This is what I mean: the Law, which came into existence four hundred and thirty years later [after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot invalidate the covenant previously established by God, so as to abolish the promise.(H) 18 For if the inheritance [of what was promised] is based on [observing] the Law [as these false teachers claim], it is no longer based on a promise; however, God granted it to Abraham [as a gift] by virtue of His promise.
19 Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added [after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin], and [the Law] was ordained through angels and delivered to Israel by the hand of a mediator [Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect] until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now the mediator or go-between [in a transaction] is not [needed] for just one party; whereas God is only one [and was the only One giving the promise to Abraham, but the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity depended on both]. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a system of law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness (right standing with God) would actually have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has imprisoned [b]everyone [everything—the entire world] under sin, so that [the inheritance, the blessing of salvation] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe [in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s precious Son].
23 Now before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, [perpetually] imprisoned [in preparation] for the faith that was destined to be revealed, 24 with the result that the Law has become our tutor and our disciplinarian to guide us to Christ, so that we may be [c]justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under [the control and authority of] a tutor and disciplinarian. 26 For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values]. 28 There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority].(I) 29 And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:7 Abraham was justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty] and declared righteous by God on the basis of his faith alone long before the Law and the ritual of circumcision were ever given to Moses.
- Galatians 3:22 Lit all things. Paul is probably referring to the effect of sin on the entire world. He alludes to this in Rom 8:19-22. Consider, for example, the fact that God cursed the ground itself and plant life because of the sin of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:17, 18).
- Galatians 3:24 See note 2:16.
Galatians 3
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
3 O ō foolish anoētos Galatians Galatēs! Who tis has bewitched baskainō you hymeis, before kata whose hos eyes ophthalmos Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos was publicly exhibited prographō as crucified stauroō? 2 Only monon this houtos I want thelō to learn manthanō from apo you hymeis: Did you receive lambanō the ho Spirit pneuma by ek works ergon of the law nomos or ē by ek hearing akoē with faith pistis? 3 Are you eimi so houtōs foolish anoētos? Having begun enarchomai by the Spirit pneuma, would you epiteleō now nyn attain your goal epiteleō by the flesh sarx? 4 Have you suffered paschō so many things tosoutos for no purpose eikē?— if ei it really kai was for no purpose eikē. 5 So oun does the ho one who gives epichorēgeō you hymeis the ho Spirit pneuma and kai works energeō miracles dynamis among en you hymeis do it by ek works ergon of the law nomos, or ē by ek hearing akoē with faith pistis?
6 Consider kathōs Abraham Abraam: “ He believed pisteuō · ho God theos, and kai it was reckoned logizomai to him autos as eis righteousness dikaiosynē.” 7 Know ginōskō then ara that hoti it is those ho of ek faith pistis who houtos are eimi the sons hyios of Abraham Abraam. 8 And de the ho Scripture graphē, foreseeing prooraō that hoti God theos would justify dikaioō the ho Gentiles ethnos by ek faith pistis, · ho preached proeuangelizomai the gospel beforehand to ho Abraham Abraam, saying hoti, “ In en you sy will all pas nations ethnos be blessed eneulogeō.” · ho 9 So hōste then , those ho who ek believe pistis are blessed eulogeō along with syn Abraham Abraam, the ho believer pistos.
10 For gar all hosos who rely eimi on ek works ergon of the law nomos are eimi under hypo a curse katara; for gar it is written graphō, “ Cursed epikataratos is everyone pas who hos does not ou continue emmenō in all pas things ho written graphō in en the ho book biblion of the ho law nomos, to do poieō them autos.” 11 Now de it is clear dēlos that hoti no one oudeis is justified dikaioō before para God theos by en the law nomos, · ho because hoti “it is by ek faith pistis that the ho righteous dikaios person will live zaō.” 12 However de, the ho law nomos is eimi not ou of ek faith pistis; on the contrary alla, it teaches that “ the ho one who does poieō them autos will live zaō by en them autos.” 13 Christ Christos redeemed exagorazō us hēmeis from ek the ho curse katara of the ho law nomos by becoming ginomai a curse katara for hyper us hēmeis— for hoti it is written graphō, “ Cursed epikataratos is everyone pas who ho is hung kremannymi on epi a tree xylon”— 14 in order that hina in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous the ho blessing eulogia of ho Abraham Abraam might come ginomai to eis the ho Gentiles ethnos, so that hina we might receive lambanō the ho promise epangelia of the ho Spirit pneuma through dia · ho faith pistis.
15 To speak legō in kata human terms anthrōpos, brothers adelphos: even though homōs a covenant diathēkē is one made by man anthrōpos, yet when it has been ratified kyroō, no one oudeis can set it aside atheteō or ē add epidiatassomai anything to it. 16 Now de the ho promises epangelia were made legō to ho Abraham Abraam and kai to ho his autos descendant sperma. Scripture does not ou say legō, “ and kai to ho descendants sperma,” referring hōs to epi many polys, but alla “ and kai to ho your sy descendant sperma,” referring hōs to epi one heis, who hos is eimi Christ Christos. 17 What I am saying legō is this houtos: · de the ho law nomos, which came ginomai four hundred tetrakosioi and kai thirty triakonta years etos later meta, does not ou annul akyroō a covenant diathēkē previously established prokyroō by hypo · ho God theos, so as eis to make katargeō the ho promise epangelia void . 18 For gar if ei the ho inheritance klēronomia is based on ek law nomos, it is no longer ouketi based on ek a promise epangelia; but de God theos gave charizomai it to ho Abraham Abraam through dia a promise epangelia. · ho
19 Why tis then oun was the ho law nomos given? It was added prostithēmi because of charin · ho transgressions parabasis, until achri hos the ho descendant sperma should come erchomai to whom hos the promise had been made epangellomai. It was established diatassō through dia angels angelos by en a mediator cheir mesitēs. 20 Now de a ho mediator mesitēs is eimi not ou for one heis party only, · ho but de God theos is eimi one heis.
21 Is the ho law nomos, therefore oun, opposed to kata the ho promises epangelia of ho God theos? Certainly not mē! For gar if ei a law nomos had been given didōmi that ho could dynamai impart life zōiopoieō, then righteousness dikaiosynē would an indeed ontōs be eimi by ek the law nomos. · ho 22 But alla the ho Scripture graphē confined synkleiō · ho everything pas under hypo sin hamartia, so that hina what ho was promised epangelia through ek faith pistis in Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos might be given didōmi to those ho who believe pisteuō.
23 Now de before pro faith pistis came erchomai, · ho we were held in custody phroureō under hypo the law nomos, imprisoned synkleiō until eis the ho coming mellō faith pistis would be revealed apokalyptō. 24 Thus hōste the ho law nomos was ginomai our hēmeis disciplinarian paidagōgos until eis the time of Christ Christos, so that hina we might be declared righteous dikaioō by ek faith pistis. 25 But de now that faith pistis has come erchomai, · ho we are eimi no longer ouketi under hypo a guardian paidagōgos. 26 For gar you are eimi all pas sons hyios of God theos through dia · ho faith pistis in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous. 27 For gar as many hosos of you baptizō as were baptized baptizō into eis Christ Christos have clothed yourselves with endyō Christ Christos. 28 Now there is neither ou Jew Ioudaios nor oude Greek Hellēn, neither ou slave nor oude free eleutheros, neither ou male arsēn nor kai female thēlys; for gar you hymeis are eimi all pas one heis in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous. 29 And de if ei you hymeis belong to Christ Christos, then ara you are eimi descendants sperma of ho Abraham Abraam, heirs klēronomos according kata to the promise epangelia.
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