The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(James 2:14–26)

O thoughtless Galatians, who bewitched you, not to obey the truth—before whose eyes [it] was previously written [about] Jesus Christ having been crucified?

I only wish to learn this from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are you so thoughtless? Having begun in the Spirit, do you now end in the flesh?

So many things you suffered in vain! If, indeed, even in vain.

He, therefore, who is supplying the Spirit to you and working mighty acts among you—[is it] by works of law or by the hearing of faith?

According as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness;

know, then, that those of faith—these are sons of Abraham,

and the Writing, having foreseen that God declares righteous the nations by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham:

“All the nations will be blessed in you”; so that those of faith are blessed with the believing Abraham,

Christ Has Redeemed Us

for as many as are of works of law are under a curse, for it has been written: “Cursed [is] everyone who is not remaining in all things that have been written in the Scroll of the Law—to do them,”

and [it] is evident that in law no one is declared righteous with God, because “The righteous will live by faith”;

and the Law is not by faith, rather, “The man who did them will live in them.”

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us, for it has been written: “Cursed is everyone who is hanging on a tree,”

that the blessing of Abraham may come to the nations in Christ Jesus, that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Purpose of the Law

(Romans 7:1–6)

Brothers, I say [it] as a man, no one even makes void or adds to a confirmed covenant of man,

and to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his Seed; He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” which is Christ;

and this I say, a covenant confirmed before by God to Christ, the Law, that came four hundred and thirty years after, does not set aside, to make void the promise,

for if the inheritance [is] by law, [it is] no longer by promise, but God granted [it] to Abraham through promise.

Why, then, the Law? It was added on account of the transgressions, until the Seed might come to which the promise has been made, having been set in order through messengers in the hand of a mediator—

and the mediator is not of one, but God is one.

[Is] the Law, then, against the promises of God? Let it not be! For if a law was given that was able to make alive, truly there would have been righteousness by law,

but the Writing shut up the whole under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ may be given to those believing.

And before the coming of faith, we were being kept under law, shut up to the faith about to be revealed,

so that the Law became our tutor—to Christ, that we may be declared righteous by faith,

and faith having come, we are no longer under a tutor,

Sons through Faith in Christ

for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

for as many as were immersed into Christ put on Christ;

there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither servant nor freeman, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus;

and if you [are] of Christ then you are seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.

(James 2:14–26)

Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?

I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?

Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”(a)

Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham.

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”(b)

So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

Christ Has Redeemed Us

For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”(c)

Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”(d)

The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”(e)

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,”(f)

that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Purpose of the Law

(Romans 7:1–6)

Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring.(g) He doesn’t say, “To descendants (h)”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”,(i) which is Christ.

Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

Then why is there 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.

Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.

Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons through Faith in Christ

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

Footnotes

(a)3:6 ℘ Genesis 15:6

(b)3:8 ℘ Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18

(d)3:11 ℘ Habakkuk 2:4

(e)3:12 ℘ Leviticus 18:5

(f)3:13 ℘ Deuteronomy 21:23

(g)3:16 or, seed

(h)3:16 or, seeds

(i)3:16 ℘ Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7