Galatians 3

1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

2 I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?

Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?

4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?

5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?

6 Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”

So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

7 Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham.

Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”

The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

12 The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”

The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”

13 Christ 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,”

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it.

Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.

16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ.

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

17 Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

19 Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.

A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

22 But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

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

Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

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

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

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

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

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