² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit^(A) by the works of the law,^(B) or by believing what you heard?^{(C) 3} Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^{[a] 4} Have you experienced^[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles^(D) among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?^{(E) 6} So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[c](F)

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith^(G) are children of Abraham.^{(H) 8} Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”^{[d](I) 9} So those who rely on faith^(J) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.^(K)

¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,^(A) so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.^(B)

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters,^(C) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.^(D) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[a](E) meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years^(F) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;^(G) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.