[1]
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ
was publicly portrayed as crucified?
[2] Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the
law, or by hearing with faith?
[3] Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending
with the flesh?
[4] Did you experience so many things in vain? -- if
it really is in vain.
[5] Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you
do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
[6]
Thus Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as
righteousness."
[7] So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
[8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall
all the nations be blessed."
[9] So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had
faith.
[10]
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written,
"Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book
of the law, and do them."
[11] Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law;
for "He who through faith is righteous shall live";
[12] but the law does not rest on faith, for "He who does them
shall live by them."
[13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse
for us -- for it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a
tree" --
[14] that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the
Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
[15]
To give a human example, brethren: no one annuls even a man's will, or adds
to it, once it has been ratified.
[16] Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does
not say, "And to offsprings," referring to
many; but, referring to one, "And to your offspring," which is
Christ.
[17] This is what I mean: the law, which came four hundred and thirty
years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to
make the promise void.
[18] For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise;
but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
[19]
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the offspring
should come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained by angels
through an intermediary.
[20] Now an intermediary implies more than one; but God is one.
[21]
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not; for if a law had
been given which could make alive, then righteousness would indeed be by the
law.
[22] But the scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was
promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
[23]
Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint
until faith should be revealed.
[24] So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might
be justified by faith.
[25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian;
[26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
[27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave 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 offspring, heirs
according to promise.