Galatians 3:1-18

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Justification through Faith

3 You foolish^(A) Galatians! Who has hypnotized you,^[a] before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed^[b] as crucified?^{(B) 2} I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?^{[c] 3} Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?^{[d] 4} Did you suffer^(C) so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? ⁵ So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles^(D) among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?^[e]

⁶ Just as Abraham believed God,^(E) and it was credited to him for righteousness,^{(F)[f] 7} then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons.^{(G) 8} Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham,^(H) saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.^{(I)[g] 9} So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham,^(J) who had faith.^[h]

Law and Promise

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,^(K) because it is written:^(L) Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed.^{(M)[i] 11} Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live^(N) by faith.^{(O)[j] 12} But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.^{(P)[k] 13} Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,^(Q) because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.^{(R)[l] 14} The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.^(S)

¹⁵ Brothers, I’m using a human illustration.^[m] No one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant^[n] that has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,^(T)[o] who is Christ. ¹⁷ And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later,^(U) does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God^[p] and cancel the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.