Galatians 3

1. O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you into not obeying the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ, crucified, was set forth in a written public proclamation?

2. This only I desire to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit of God by works of law, (see explanation) or by the hearing of faith?

3. Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being perfected in the flesh?

4. Have you suffered so many things in vain, if indeed it has been in vain?

5. Therefore consider this: He Who is supplying the Spirit to you, and Who is working deeds of power among you, is He doing it by works of law or by the hearing of faith?

6. It is exactly as it is written: “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.”

7. Because of this, you should understand that those who are of faith are the true sons of Abraham.

8. Now in the Scriptures, God, seeing in advance that He would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

9. It is for this reason that those who are of faith are being blessed with the believing Abraham.

10. For as many as are relying on works of law (see explanation) are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that have been written in the book of the law to do them.”

11. Therefore, it is evident that no one is being justified before God by means of works of law; because it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

12. Now then, the law is not based on faith; but, “The man who practices these things shall live in them.”

13. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)

14. In order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, and that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15. Brethren (I am speaking from a human perspective), even when a man’s covenant has been ratified, no one nullifies it, or adds a codicil to it.

16. Now to Abraham and to his Seed were the promises spoken. He does not say, “and to your seeds,” as of many; but as of one, “and to your Seed,” which is Christ.

17. Now this I say, that the covenant ratified beforehand by God to Christ cannot be annulled by the law, which was given four hundred and thirty years later, so as to make the promise of no effect.

18. For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise. But God granted it to Abraham by promise.

19. Why then the law? It was placed alongside the promises for the purpose of defining transgressions, until the Seed should come to whom the promise was made, having been ordained through angels in the hand of a mediator.

20. Now then, a mediator does not act on behalf of one; but God is one. (see explanation)

21. Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? MAY IT NEVER BE! For if a law had been given that had the power to give life, then righteousness would indeed have been by law.

22. But the Scriptures have shut up all things under sin, so that by the faith of Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

23. Now before faith came, we were guarded under law, having been shut up unto the faith that was yet to be revealed.

24. In this way, the law was our tutor to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

25. But since faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor

26. Because you are all offspring of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.

28. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither bond nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.