Dual Panel1You foolish <453> Galatians <1052>! Who <5101> has cast a spell <940> on you <5209>? Before <2596> your eyes <3788> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547> was vividly portrayed <4270> as crucified <4717>!
2The only <3440> thing I want <2309> to learn <3129> from <575> you <5216> is this: Did you receive <2983> the Spirit <4151> by <1537> doing the works <2041> of the law <3551> or <2228> by <1537> believing <4102> what you heard <189>?
3Are you <1510> so <3779> foolish <453>? Although you began <1728> with the Spirit <4151>, are you now <3568> trying to finish <2005> by human effort <4561>?
4Have you suffered <3958> so many things <5118> for nothing <1500>?– if <1487> indeed <1065> it was for nothing <1500>.
5Does <2023> God then <3767> give <2023> you <5213> the Spirit <4151> and <2532> work <1754> miracles <1411> among <1722> you <5213> by <1537> your doing the works <2041> of the law <3551> or <2228> by <1537> your believing <4102> what you heard <189>?
6Just as <2531> Abraham <11> believed <4100> God <2316>, and <2532> it was credited <3049> to him <846> as <1519> righteousness <1343>,
7so then <686>, understand <1097> that <3754> those <3778> who believe <4102> are <1510> the sons <5207> of Abraham <11>.
8And <1161> the scripture <1124>, foreseeing <4275> that <3754> God <2316> would justify <1344> the Gentiles <1484> by <1537> faith <4102>, proclaimed the gospel <4283> to Abraham <11> ahead of time <4283>, saying, “All <3956> the nations <1484> will be blessed <1757> in <1722> you <4671>.”
9So then <5620> those who believe <4102> are blessed <2127> along <4862> with Abraham <11> the believer <4103>.
10For <1063> all <3745> who rely on doing the works <2041> of the law <3551> are <1510> under <5259> a curse <2671>, because <1063> it is written <1125>, “Cursed <1944> is everyone <3956> who <3739> does <1696> not <3756> keep on doing <1696> everything <3956> written <1125> in <1722> the book <975> of the law <3551>.”
11Now <1161> it is clear <1212> no one <3762> is justified <1344> before <3844> God <2316> by <1722> the law <3551>, because <3754> the righteous <1342> one will live <2198> by <1537> faith <4102>.
12But <1161> the law <3551> is <1510> not <3756> based on faith <4102>, but <235> the one who does the works <4160> of the law <846> will live <2198> by <1722> them <846>.
13Christ <5547> redeemed <1805> us <2248> from <1537> the curse <2671> of the law <3551> by becoming <1096> a curse <2671> for <5228> us <2257> (because <3754> it is written <1125>, “Cursed <1944> is everyone <3956> who hangs <2910> on <1909> a tree <3586>”)
14in order that <2443> in <1722> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424> the blessing <2129> of Abraham <11> would come <1096> to <1519> the Gentiles <1484>, so that <2443> we could receive <2983> the promise <1860> of the Spirit <4151> by <1223> faith <4102>.
15Brothers and sisters <80>, I offer <3004> an example from everyday life: When a covenant <1242> has been ratified <2964>, even though <3676> it is only a human contract <444>, no one <3762> can set <114> it aside <114> or <2228> add <1928> anything to it.
16Now <1161> the promises <1860> were spoken <4482> to Abraham <11> and <2532> to his <846> descendant <4690>. Scripture does <3004> not <3756> say <3004>, “and <2532> to the descendants <4690>,” referring <5613> to <1909> many <4183>, but <235> “and <2532> to your <4675> descendant <4690>,” referring <5613> to <1909> one <1520>, who <3739> is <1510> Christ <5547>.
17What I am saying <3004> is this <5124>: The law <3551> that came <1096> four hundred <5071> thirty <5144> years <2094> later <3326> does <208> not <3756> cancel <208> a covenant <1242> previously ratified <4300> by <5259> God <2316>, so as <1519> to <2673> invalidate the promise <1860>.
18For <1063> if <1487> the inheritance <2817> is based on <1537> the law <3551>, it is no longer <3765> based on <1537> the promise <1860>, but <1161> God <2316> graciously gave <5483> it to Abraham <11> through <1223> the promise <1860>.
19Why <5101> then <3767> was the law <3551> given? It was added <4369> because of transgressions <3847>, until <891> the arrival <2064> of the descendant <4690> to whom <3739> the promise <1861> had been made. It was administered <1299> through <1223> angels <32> by <1722> an intermediary <3316>.
20Now <1161> an intermediary <3316> is <1510> not <3756> for one <1520> party alone, but <1161> God <2316> is <1510> one <1520>.
21Is the law <3551> therefore <3767> opposed <2596> to the promises <1860> of God <2316>? Absolutely <1096> not <3361>! For <1063> if <1487> a law <3551> had been given <1325> that was able <1410> to give life <2227>, then righteousness <1343> would certainly <3689> have come by <1722> the law <3551>.
22But <235> the scripture <1124> imprisoned <4788> everything and everyone <3956> under <5259> sin <266> so that <2443> the promise <1860> could be given <1325>– because of <1537> the faithfulness <4102> of Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>– to those who believe <4100>.
23Now before <4253> faith <4102> came <2064> we were held in custody <5432> under <5259> the law <3551>, being kept as prisoners <4788> until <1519> the coming <3195> faith <4102> would be revealed <601>.
24Thus <5620> the law <3551> had become <1096> our <2257> guardian <3807> until <1519> Christ <5547>, so that <2443> we could be declared righteous <1344> by <1537> faith <4102>.
25But <1161> now that faith <4102> has come <2064>, we are <1510> no longer <3765> under <5259> a guardian <3807>.
26For <1063> in <1722> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424> you are <1510> all <3956> sons <5207> of God <2316> through <1223> faith <4102>.
27For <1063> all <3745> of you who were baptized <907> into <1519> Christ <5547> have clothed <1746> yourselves with Christ <5547>.
28There is <1762> neither <3756> Jew <2453> nor <3761> Greek <1672>, there is <1762> neither <3756> slave <1401> nor <3761> free <1658>, there is <1762> neither <3756> male <730> nor <2532> female <2338>– for <1063> all <3956> of you <5210> are <1510> one <1520> in <1722> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424>.
29And <1161> if <1487> you <5210> belong to Christ <5547>, then <686> you are <1510> Abraham’s <11> descendants <4690>, heirs <2818> according to <2596> the promise <1860>.