[1] O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus
Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? [2] Let me ask you only this:
Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
[3] Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending
with the flesh? [4] Did you experience so many things in vain?--if it
really is in vain. [5] Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works
miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? [6]
Thus Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
[7] So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. [8] And
the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the
nations be blessed." [9] So then, those who are men of faith are blessed
with Abraham who had faith. [10] For all who rely on works of the law are
under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be every one who does not abide
by all things written in the book of the law, and do them." [11] Now it is
evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for "He who through
faith is righteous shall live"; [12] but the law does not rest on faith,
for "He who does them shall live by them." [13] Christ redeemed us from the
curse of the law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed
be every one who hangs on a tree"-- [14] that in Christ Jesus the blessing
of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise
of the Spirit through faith. [15] To give a human example, brethren: no one
annuls even a man's will, or adds to it, once it has been ratified. [16]
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not
say, "And to offsprings," referring to many; but, referring to one, "And to
your offspring," which is Christ. [17] This is what I mean: the law, which
came four hundred and thirty years afterward, does not annul a covenant
previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. [18] For if the
inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise; but God gave it to
Abraham by a promise. [19] Why then the law? It was added because of
transgressions, till the offspring should come to whom the promise had been
made; and it was ordained by angels through an intermediary. [20] Now an
intermediary implies more than one; but God is one. [21] Is the law then
against the promises of God? Certainly not; for if a law had been given
which could make alive, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. [22]
But the scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to
faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [23] Now before
faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until
faith should be revealed. [24] So that the law was our custodian until
Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But now that faith
has come, we are no longer under a custodian; [26] for in Christ Jesus you
are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ's, then you
are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
