¹You foolish ^aGalatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ ^bwas publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of ¹the Law, or by ^ahearing ²with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun ¹by the Spirit, are you now ²being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you ¹suffer so many things in vain—^aif indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who ^aprovides you with the Spirit and ^bworks ¹miracles among you, do it by works of ²the Law, or by ^chearing ³with faith?

6 Just as ^aAbraham ^bBELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, recognize that ^ait is those who are of faith who are ^bsons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God ¹would justify the ²Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “^aALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then, ^athose who are of faith are blessed with ¹Abraham, the believer.

10 For all who are of works of ¹the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “^aCURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” 11 Now, that ^ano one is justified ¹by ²the Law before God is evident; for, “^3bTHE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12 ¹However, the Law is not ²of faith; on the contrary, “^aTHE PERSON WHO PERFORMS ³THEM WILL LIVE BY ⁴THEM.” 13 Christ ^aredeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “^bCURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON ^cA ¹TREE”— 14 in order that ^ain Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we ^bwould receive ^cthe promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 ^aBrothers and sisters, ^bI speak ¹in terms of human relations: ^ceven though it is only a man’s ²covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ³conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken ^ato Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “^bAnd to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^a430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For ^aif the inheritance is ¹based on law, it is no longer ²based on a promise; but ^bGod has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19 ^aWhy the Law then? It was added on account of the ¹violations, having been ^bordered through angels ^cat the hand of a ²mediator, until ^dthe Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now ^aa mediator is not ¹for one party only; but God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^1aFar from it! For ^bif a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness ²would indeed have been ³based on law. 22 But the Scripture has ^aconfined ¹everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, ¹we were kept in custody under the Law, ^abeing confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our ^1aguardian to lead us to Christ, so that ^bwe may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^1aguardian. 26 For you are all ^asons and daughters of God through faith in ^bChrist Jesus. 27 For all of you who were ^abaptized into Christ have ^bclothed yourselves with Christ. 28 ^aThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is ¹neither male nor female; for ^byou are all one in ^cChrist Jesus. 29 And if ^ayou ¹belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ²descendants, heirs according to ^bpromise.

¹You foolish ^aGalatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ ^bwas publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of ¹the Law, or by ^2ahearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun ¹by the Spirit, are you now ²being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you ¹suffer so many things in vain—^aif indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who ^aprovides you with the Spirit and ^bworks ¹miracles among you, do it by the works of ²the Law, or by ^3chearing with faith?

6 ¹Even so ^aAbraham ^bBELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, ¹be sure that ^ait is those who are of faith who are ^bsons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God ¹would justify the ²Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “^aALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then ^athose who are of faith are blessed with ¹Abraham, the believer.

10 For as many as are of the works of ¹the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “^aCURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” 11 Now that ^ano one is justified ¹by ²the Law before God is evident; for, “^3bTHE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12 ¹However, the Law is not ²of faith; on the contrary, “^aHE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE ³BY THEM.” 13 Christ ^aredeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “^bCURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON ^cA ¹TREE”— 14 in order that ^ain Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ¹come to the Gentiles, so that we ^bwould receive ^cthe promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 ^aBrethren, ^bI speak ¹in terms of human relations: ^ceven though it is only a man’s ²covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ³conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken ^ato Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “^bAnd to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^afour hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For ^aif the inheritance is ¹based on law, it is no longer ²based on a promise; but ^bGod has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19 ^aWhy the Law then? It was added ¹because of transgressions, having been ^bordained through angels ^cby the ²agency of a mediator, until ^dthe seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now ^aa mediator is not ¹for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^aMay it never be! For ^bif a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness ¹would indeed have been ²based on law. 22 But the Scripture has ^ashut up ¹everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, ^abeing shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our ^atutor to lead us to Christ, so that ^bwe may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^1atutor. 26 For you are all ^asons of God through faith in ^bChrist Jesus. 27 For all of you who were ^abaptized into Christ have ^bclothed yourselves with Christ. 28 ^aThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is ¹neither male nor female; for ^byou are all one in ^cChrist Jesus. 29 And if ^ayou ¹belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ²descendants, heirs according to ^bpromise.

O you foolish and thoughtless and superficial ^aGalatians, who has bewitched you that you would act like this, to whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ ^bwas publicly portrayed as crucified in the gospel message? 2 This is all I want to ask of you: did you receive the Holy Spirit as the result of obeying the requirements of the Law, or was it the result of ^ahearing the message of salvation and with faith believing it? 3 Are you so foolish and senseless? Having begun your new life by faith with the Spirit, are you now being perfected and reaching spiritual maturity by the flesh that is, by your own works and efforts to keep the Law? 4 Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing—^aif indeed it was all for nothing? 5 So then, does He who ^asupplies you with His marvelous Holy Spirit and ^bworks miracles among you, do it as a result of the works of the Law which you perform, or because you believe confidently in the message which you ^cheard with faith?

6 Just as ^aAbraham ^bBELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS, as conformity to God’s will and purpose—so it is with you also. Gen 15:6 7 So understand that ^ait is the people who live by faith with confidence in the power and goodness of God who are the true ^bsons of ¹Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news of the Savior to Abraham in advance with this promise, saying, “^aIN YOU SHALL ALL THE NATIONS BE BLESSED.” Gen 12:3 9 So then ^athose who are people of faith whether Jew or Gentile are blessed and favored by God and declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with Him along with Abraham, the believer.

10 For all who depend on the Law seeking justification and salvation by obedience to the Law and the observance of rituals are under a curse; for it is written, “^aCURSED (condemned to destruction) IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, SO AS TO PRACTICE THEM.” Deut 27:26 11 Now it is clear that ^ano one is justified that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing before God by the Law, for “^bTHE RIGHTEOUS (the just, the upright) SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Hab 2:4 12 But the Law does not rest on or require faith it has nothing to do with faith, but instead, the Law says, “^aHE WHO PRACTICES THEM the things prescribed by the Law SHALL LIVE BY THEM instead of faith.” Lev 18:5 13 Christ ^apurchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “^bCURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS crucified ON ^cA TREE (cross)”— Deut 21:23 14 in order that ^ain Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we ^bwould all receive the realization of ^cthe promise of the Holy Spirit through faith.

15 ^aBrothers and sisters, ^bI speak in terms of human relations: ^ceven though a last will and testament is just a human covenant, yet when it has been signed and made legally binding, no one sets it aside or adds to it modifying it in some way. 16 Now the promises in the covenants were decreed ^ato Abraham and to his seed. God does not say, “And to seeds (descendants, heirs) ,” as if referring to many persons, but as to one, “^bAnd to your Seed,” who is none other than Christ. Gen 13:15; 17:8 17 This is what I mean: the Law, which came into existence ^afour hundred and thirty years later after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah, does not and cannot invalidate the covenant previously established by God, so as to abolish the promise. Ex 12:40 18 For ^aif the inheritance of what was promised is based on observing the Law as these false teachers claim, it is no longer based on a promise; however, ^bGod granted it to Abraham as a gift by virtue of His promise.

19 ^aWhy, then, the Law what was its purpose? It was added after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt because of transgressions that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin, and the Law was ^bordained through angels and delivered to Israel ^cby the hand of a mediator Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect until ^dthe Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now ^athe mediator or go-between in a transaction is not needed for just one party; whereas God is only one and was the only One giving the promise to Abraham, but the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity depended on both. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^aCertainly not! For ^bif a system of law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness (right standing with God) would actually have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has ^aimprisoned ¹everyone everything—the entire world under sin, so that the inheritance, the blessing of salvation which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s precious Son.

23 Now before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, perpetually ^aimprisoned in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed, 24 with the result that the Law has become our ^atutor and our disciplinarian to guide us to Christ, so that ^bwe may be ¹justified that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the control and authority of a ^atutor and disciplinarian. 26 For you who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and are all ^achildren of God set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges through faith in ^bChrist Jesus. 27 For all of you who were ^abaptized into Christ into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed have ^bclothed yourselves with Christ that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values. 28 ^aThere is now no distinction in regard to salvation neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ^byou who believe are all one in ^cChrist Jesus no one can claim a spiritual superiority. Rom 3:22; 1+@Cor 12:13 29 And if ^ayou belong to Christ if you are in Him, then you are Abraham’s descendants, and spiritual heirs according to God’s ^bpromise.