17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners,(A) doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!(B) 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

19 “For through the law I died to the law(C) so that I might live for God.(D) 20 I have been crucified with Christ(E) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(F) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,(G) who loved me(H) and gave himself for me.(I) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,(J) Christ died for nothing!”[a]

Faith or Works of the Law

You foolish(K) Galatians!(L) Who has bewitched you?(M) Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.(N) I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit(O) by the works of the law,(P) or by believing what you heard?(Q) Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[b] Have you experienced[c] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles(R) among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?(S) So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[d](T)

Understand, then, that those who have faith(U) are children of Abraham.(V)

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 14.
  2. Galatians 3:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  3. Galatians 3:4 Or suffered
  4. Galatians 3:6 Gen. 15:6

17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.