[1] O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
[2] 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?
[3] Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
[4] Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?
[5] Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?
[6] So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
[7] Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
[8] The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
[9] So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
[10] 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.”
[11] Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
[12] The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
[13] 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.”
[14] He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
[15] Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.
[16] 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,” meaning One, who is Christ.
[17] 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.
[18] 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.
[19] 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.
[20] A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.
[21] 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.
[22] 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.
[23] Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
[24] So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
[26] You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
[29] And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.