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.

¹³ When Jesus heard about this, he withdrew from there by boat into an isolated place out of the way. But when the people heard of it, they followed him by foot out of their towns. ¹⁴ And Jesus went forth and saw the crowds of people, and his heart did melt upon them. And he healed among them those that were sick.

¹⁵ When evening was come, his disciples went to him, saying, This is an isolated place, and the day is spent. Let the people depart so that they can go into the towns and buy themselves some food. ¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go away; you give them to eat. ¹⁷ Then they said to him, We have here only five loaves and two fishes. ¹⁸ And he said, Bring them here.

¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass, took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ And they did all eat, and were satisfied. And of the pieces that remained, they gathered twelve baskets full. ²¹ And the men that had eaten were in number about 5,000, as well as women and children.