Gal 3:1-14 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gal 3:1-5: 3:1–5:12 Paul now defends the truth of his message—that right relationship with God comes by faith in Christ alone—and proves the fallacy of the message that Gentiles must keep the law in order to be acceptable to God. Summary for Gal 3:1-9: 3:1-9 Paul compares the Galatians’ spiritual experience (3:1-5 ) with Abraham’s (3:6-9 ), showing that they were made right with God in the same way, through faith and not through the law (Eph 2:8-9 ). 3:1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Their foolishness was both intellectual and spiritual (cp. Luke 24:25 ; see 1 Sam 25:1-38 ) as they turned away from Christ (Gal 1:6 ) and put faith in the law. • The Galatians were deceived by the teachers’ evil spell (cp. Gen 3:1-7 )—not literal witchcraft, but enticing arguments. • For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross (literally Before your eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified ): Paul’s proclamation of the Good News clearly portrayed Christ’s death and explained its significance (see Rom 10:14-17 ).

Summary for Gal 3:1-5: 3:1–5:12 ^a Paul now defends the truth of his message—that right relationship with God comes by faith in Christ alone—and proves the fallacy of the message that Gentiles must keep the law in order to be acceptable to God.
Summary for Gal 3:1-9: 3:1-9 ^b Paul compares the Galatians’ spiritual experience (3:1-5 ^c) with Abraham’s (3:6-9 ^d), showing that they were made right with God in the same way, through faith and not through the law (Eph 2:8-9 ^e). 3:1 ^f Oh, foolish Galatians! Their foolishness was both intellectual and spiritual (cp. Luke 24:25 ^g; see 1 Sam 25:1-38 ^h) as they turned away from Christ (Gal 1:6 ⁱ) and put faith in the law.

• The Galatians were deceived by the teachers’ evil spell (cp. Gen 3:1-7 ^j)—not literal witchcraft, but enticing arguments.

• For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross (literally Before your eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified): Paul’s proclamation of the Good News clearly portrayed Christ’s death and explained its significance (see Rom 10:14-17 ^k).
3:2 ^l The Galatians, like all Christians, received the Spirit by faith in Christ, not by obeying the law of Moses (see Acts 2:38-39 ^m; Rom 8:9-11 ⁿ; 2 Cor 1:22 ^o; Eph 1:11-14 ^p; cp. Acts 10:44-48 ^q; 11:15-18 ^r). God accepted the Galatians because of their faith in the message . . . about Christ (cp. Rom 10:14-17 ^s), which made their turning to the law absurd (Gal 3:3-4 ^t).
3:3 ^u by ... human effort (literally by flesh): Paul makes a pun: The Galatians were trying to become perfect by human effort through keeping the law about circumcising the flesh of the male foreskin.
3:4 ^v Have you experienced (or suffered) so much for nothing? This could refer to suffering, but what is known about the Galatian church does not suggest this. Paul was probably referring to the spiritual experiences the Galatians had through the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:3 ^w, 5 ^x). Turning to the law for right standing with God would mean regarding the work of the Spirit as meaningless.
3:5 ^y work miracles: See 1 Cor 12:4-11 ^z. The Holy Spirit is present with believers and in the church because of faith in the message . . . about Christ.
Summary for Gal 3:6-9: 3:6-9 ^aa Abraham’s experience shows that faith has always been the basis for relationship with God and for receiving what God has promised. 3:6 ^ab This quote is from Gen 15:6 ^ac, where God established his covenant with Abraham (see Gen 15:1-21 ^ad; 17:1-27 ^ae). This statement is foundational in defining God’s relationship with humanity (see Hab 2:4 ^af; Rom 4:1-8 ^ag, 17-22 ^ah).
3:7 ^ai Gentile Christians—including the Galatians—are among the real children of Abraham, not by keeping the law of Moses, but by faith in God (see Rom 4:9-17 ^aj, 23-25 ^ak; cp. Matt 12:48-50 ^al).
3:8 ^am the Scriptures looked forward: By faith, Abraham foresaw the coming Messiah (cp. John 8:56 ^an) and received the message that “All nations will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:3 ^ao; 18:18 ^ap; 22:18 ^aq).Through Abraham’s offspring, the Messiah, God would accept all nations on the same basis as Abraham himself—by faith.
Summary for Gal 3:10-12: 3:10-12 ^ar By relying on circumcision, the Galatians depended on the law. Those who look to the law for right standing with God are under a curse. They cannot keep the whole law, so they cannot receive blessing under its terms. 3:10 ^as Paul here quotes Deut 27:26 ^at, which summarized the curse that Israel would experience if they failed to keep all the stipulations of God’s covenant (see Deut 27:9-26 ^au; cp. Deut 28:15-68 ^av; 31:26 ^aw; Josh 1:8 ^ax; Mal 2:2 ^ay; see also Gen 3:14-19 ^az; 4:10-12 ^ba). It is impossible for sinful human beings to obey God’s will completely (see Rom 3:9-20 ^bb).
3:11 ^bc So it is clear from Scripture, even if it was not clear to the Galatians or the false teachers who were insisting on circumcision for Gentile believers.

• “It is through faith that a righteous person has life”: Paul quotes Hab 2:4 ^bd, in which the prophet was waiting in faith for God’s promise to be fulfilled.
3:12 ^be The law itself is not opposed to faith (see 3:19-25 ^bf; Rom 7:7-13 ^bg), but trying to be righteous by keeping the law opposes righteousness by faith in Christ. Paul quotes Lev 18:5 ^bh to show that life under the law comes by obeying rather than believing. Right standing with God is impossible on that basis (Gal 3:10-11 ^bi).
Summary for Gal 3:13-14: 3:13-14 ^bj In contrast with those who depend on the law (3:10-12 ^bk), those who look to God through faith in Christ freely receive God’s life and blessings. 3:13 ^bl rescued us (or ransomed us): Christ paid a ransom to buy back his people (see 4:4-5 ^bm; 1 Pet 1:18-20 ^bn).

• “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”: Paul quotes Deut 21:23 ^bo, in which executed criminals exposed for public shame were under God’s curse (see study note on Deut 21:22). Jesus, when he was crucified, took upon himself God’s curse that should have fallen upon all sinners (cp. 2 Cor 5:21 ^bp).
3:14 ^bq Christ Jesus has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing ... promised to Abraham, as described in 3:6-13 ^br. Paul equates this blessing with receiving the promised Holy Spirit (3:2-6 ^bs; see also Rom 8:1-17 ^bt, 23 ^bu; Eph 1:13-14 ^bv).