The Spirit, and the blessing promised to Abraham cometh not by the law,
but by faith.
3:1. O senseless Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not
obey the truth: before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth,
crucified among you?
3:2. This only would I learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the
works of the law or by the hearing of faith?
3:3. Are you so foolish that, whereas you began in the Spirit, you
would now be made perfect by the flesh?
3:4. Have you suffered so great things in vain? If it be yet in vain.
3:5. He therefore who giveth to you the Spirit and worketh miracles
among you: doth he do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of
the faith?
3:6. As it is written: Abraham believed God: and it was reputed to him
unto justice.
3:7. Know ye, therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are the
children of Abraham.
3:8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God justifieth the Gentiles by
faith, told unto Abraham before: In thee shall all nations be blessed.
3:9. Therefore, they that are of faith shall be blessed with faithful
Abraham.
3:10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For
it is written: Cursed is every one that abideth, not in all things
which are written in the book of the law to do them.
3:11. But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest:
because the just man liveth by faith.
3:12. But the law is not of faith: but he that doth those things shall
live in them.
3:13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a
curse for us (for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a
tree).
3:14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through
Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
3:15. Brethren (I speak after the manner of man), yet a man's
testament, if it be confirmed, no man despiseth nor addeth to it.
3:16. To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not:
And to his seeds as of many. But as of one: And to thy seed, which is
Christ.
3:17. Now this I say: that the testament which was confirmed by God,
the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years doth not
disannul, to make the promise of no effect.
3:18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise.
But God gave it to Abraham by promise.
3:19. Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until
the seed should come to whom he made the promise, being ordained by
angels in the hand of a mediator.
Because of transgressions. . .To restrain them from sin, by fear and
threats. Ordained by angels. . .The law was delivered by angels,
speaking in the name and person of God to Moses, who was the mediator,
on this occasion, between God and the people.
3:20. Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one.
3:21. Was the law then against the promises of God: God forbid! For if
there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should
have been by the law.
3:22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise,
by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.
Hath concluded all under sin. . .that is, hath declared all to be under
sin, from which they could not be delivered but by faith in Jesus
Christ, the promised seed.
3:23. But before the faith came, we were kept under the law shut up,
unto that faith which was to be revealed.
3:24. Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ: that we might be
justified by faith.
Pedagogue. . .That is, schoolmaster, conductor, or instructor.
3:25. But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.
3:26. For you are all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus.
3:27. For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on
Christ.
3:28. There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free:
there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Neither Jew, etc. . .That is, no distinction of Jew, etc.
3:29. And if you be Christ's, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs
according to the promise.