The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(James 2:14–26)

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?

Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?

Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?

So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”(a)

Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”(b)

So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Christ Has Redeemed Us

All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”(c)

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”(d)

The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”(e)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”(f)

He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham (g) would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Purpose of the Law

(Romans 7:1–6)

Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,”(h) meaning One, who is Christ.

What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.

A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.

Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

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

Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Sons through Faith in Christ

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

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

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Footnotes

(a)3:6 Genesis 15:6

(b)3:8 See Genesis 12:3, Genesis 18:18, and Genesis 22:18.

(d)3:11 Habakkuk 2:4

(e)3:12 Leviticus 18:5; see also Ezekiel 20:11, 13, and 21.

(f)3:13 Deuteronomy 21:23 (see also LXX)

(g)3:14 Literally the blessing of Abraham

(h)3:16 Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15

(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