Book of Common Prayer

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.

⁵⁷ Elizabeth’s time came to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. ⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And when it was the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and were calling him by the name Zacharias, after his father. ⁶⁰ However his mother spoke and said, Not so, but he shall be called John. ⁶¹ And they said to her, There is no one in your family called by this name.

⁶² And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. ⁶³ And he asked for writing tablets and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marvelled. ⁶⁴ And Zacharias’ mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue also, and he spoke, lauding God.

⁶⁵ And awe came on all those who dwelt near to them. And also these stories were spread abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea, ⁶⁶ and everyone who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child will this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.