Galatians 3:10-29

New American Standard Bible 1995

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of ^[a]the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “^(A)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” ¹¹ Now that ^(B)no one is justified ^[b]by ^[c]the Law before God is evident; for, “^[d](C)The righteous man shall live by faith.” ^12 [e]However, the Law is not ^[f]of faith; on the contrary, “^(D)He who practices them shall live ^[g]by them.” ¹³ Christ ^(E)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “^(F)Cursed is everyone who hangs on ^(G)a ^[h]tree”— ¹⁴ in order that ^(H)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^[i]come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(I)would receive ^(J)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

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

^19 (S)Why the Law then? It was added ^[o]because of transgressions, having been ^(T)ordained through angels ^(U)by the ^[p]agency of a mediator, until ^(V)the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now ^(W)a mediator is not ^[q]for one party only; whereas God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^(X)May it never be! For ^(Y)if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[r]would indeed have been ^[s]based on law. ²² But the Scripture has ^(Z)shut up ^[t]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, ^(AA)being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our ^(AB)tutor to lead us to Christ, so that ^(AC)we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^[u](AD)tutor. ²⁶ For you are all ^(AE)sons of God through faith in ^(AF)Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were ^(AG)baptized into Christ have ^(AH)clothed yourselves with Christ. ^28 (AI)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is ^[v]neither male nor female; for ^(AJ)you are all one in ^(AK)Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ^(AL)you ^[w]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ^[x]descendants, heirs according to ^(AM)promise.