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 Matthew Bible
He rebukes the unsteadfastness of the Galatians. He shows the imperfection of the law, but declares nevertheless that it was not given for nothing.
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, such that you should not believe the truth – you to whom Jesus Christ was described before the eyes, and among you crucified?
2 This only would I learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the deeds of the law, or by the preaching of the faith? 3 Are you so unwise that after you have begun in the Spirit, you would now end in the flesh? 4 So many things then you have suffered in vain, if that be vain! 5 He who ministered to you the Spirit and works miracles among you, does he do it through the deeds of the law, or by preaching of the faith? 6 It is even as Abraham believed God, and it was ascribed to him for righteousness. 7 Understand therefore that it is those who are of faith who are the children of Abraham.
8 For the scripture foresaw that God would justify the heathen through faith, and therefore showed beforehand glad tidings to Abraham: In you shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are under the deeds of the law are under malediction. For it is written: Cursed is every one who does not continue in all the things that are written in the book of the law, to fulfil them.
11 That no man is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for: The just shall live by faith. 12 The law is not of faith. (But: The man who fulfils the things contained in the law, will live in them.) 13 But Christ has delivered us from the curse of the law, and was made accursed for us – for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree – 14 so that the blessing of Abraham may come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, and so that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I will speak with reference to the custom of men. Though it be but a man’s last will and testament, yet no one sets it aside or adds anything to it once it is confirmed. 16 To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, In the seeds, as in many, but, In your seed, as in one, which is Christ. 17 This I say: the law, which began afterwards (over 430 years), does not nullify the testament that was confirmed before by God in Christ, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it does not come by promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 For what then does the law serve? The law was added because of transgressions (till the seed came to whom the promise was made), and it was instituted by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 A mediator is not a mediator of one. But God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promise of God? God forbid. However, if there had been a law given that could have given life, then no doubt righteousness would have come by the law. 22 But the scripture included all things under sin so that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, should be given to those who believe.
23 Before faith came, we were kept and shut up under the law, with a view to the faith that would afterward be declared. 24 Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to the time of Christ, so that we may be made righteous by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For you are all the sons of God by the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 27 For all you who are baptized have put on Christ. 28 Now there is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither man nor woman, but you are all one thing in Christ Jesus. 29 If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs by promise.
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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.