1   Foolish Galatians, who has cunningly deceived you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth 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? 3   Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4   Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5   He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 6   Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 7   Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. 8   The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the non-Jews by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "Through you all the nations will be blessed." 9   So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 10   For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11   Now it is evident that no one is justified by the law before God, for, "The righteous will live by faith." 12   The law is not of faith, but, "The one who does them 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," 14   that the blessing of Abraham might come on the non-Jews through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15   Brothers, I am speaking in human terms. Though it is only a human covenant, once it has been ratified, no one annuls it or adds to it. 16   Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He does not say, "And to offsprings," as of many, but as of one, "And to your offspring," which is Christ. 17   Now I say this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to cancel 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. 19   What then is 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. 20   Now a mediator is not between one, 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 give life, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22   But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ 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. 24   So that the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25   But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26   For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 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   If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to promise.

This website is public domain.