Gal 3 | LSB | STEP | O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

Galatians 3

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

1 O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of ^{▼▼Or law}the Law, or by ^{▼▼Lit the hearing of faith}hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun ^{▼▼Or with}by the Spirit, are you now ^{▼▼Or ending with}being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you ^{▼▼Or experience}suffer so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works ^{▼▼Or works of power}miracles among you, do it by the works of ^{▼▼Or law}the Law, or by ^{▼▼Lit the hearing of faith}hearing with faith?

6 Just as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness, 7 so know that those who are of faith, those are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God ^{▼▼Lit justifies}would justify the ^{▼▼Lit nations}Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with ^{▼▼Lit the believing Abraham}Abraham, the believer.

10 For as many as are of the works of ^{▼▼Or law}the Law are under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 Now that no one is justified ^{▼▼Or in}by ^{▼▼Or law}the Law before God is evident, ^{▼▼Or but he who is righteous by faith shall live}for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 ^{▼▼Or And}However, the Law is not ^{▼▼Or based on}of faith; rather, “He who does them shall live ^{▼▼Or in}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 ^{▼▼Or cross; lit wood}tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^{▼▼Or occur}come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Promise by Faith

15 Brothers, I speak ^{▼▼Lit according to man}in human terms: even though it is only a man’s ^{▼▼Or will or testament}covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^{▼▼Or a codicil}conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 And what I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through promise.

19 Why the Law then? It was added ^{▼▼Or for the sake of defining}because of trespasses, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not ^{▼▼Lit of one}for one person only, whereas God is one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up ^{▼▼Lit all things}everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor unto Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^{▼▼Lit child-conductor}tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 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 no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you ^{▼▼Lit are Christ’s}belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ^{▼▼Or descendants}seed, heirs according to promise.