Galatians 3

1 You foolish Galatians! Who put you under a spell? Was not Jesus the Messiah ^{a3:1 Or Christ} clearly portrayed before your very eyes as having been crucified?ISV — Galatians 3:1

2 I want to learn only one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by doing ^{b3:2 Lit. Spirit through} the actions of the Law or by believing what you heard? ^{c3:2 Lit. or through the hearing of faith}ISV — Galatians 3:2

3 Are you so foolish? Having started out with the Spirit, are you now ending up with the flesh?ISV — Galatians 3:3

4 Did you suffer so much for nothing? (If it really was for nothing!)ISV — Galatians 3:4

5 Does God ^{d3:5 Lit. he} supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you because you do the actions ^{e3:5 Lit. you through the works} of the Law or because you believe what you heard? ^{f3:5 Lit. you through the hearing of faith}ISV — Galatians 3:5

6 In the same way, Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ^{g3:6 Gen 15:6}ISV — Galatians 3:6

7 You see, then, that those who have faith are Abraham’s real descendants.ISV — Galatians 3:7

8 Because the Scripture saw ahead of time that God would justify the gentiles ^{h3:8 Or nations} by faith, it announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand when it said, “Through you all nations ^{i3:8 Or all the gentiles} will be blessed.” ^{j3:8 Gen 12:3}ISV — Galatians 3:8

9 Therefore, those who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the one who believed.ISV — Galatians 3:9

10 Certainly all who depend on the actions of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, “A curse on everyone who does not obey everything that is written in the Book of the Law!” ^{k3:10 Deut 27:26}ISV — Galatians 3:10

11 Now it is obvious that no one is justified in the sight of God by the Law, because “The righteous will live by faith.” ^{l3:11 Hab 2:4}ISV — Galatians 3:11

12 But the Law has nothing to do with faith. Instead, “The person who keeps the commandments ^{m3:12 Lit. who does them} will have life in them.” ^{n3:12 Lev 18:5}ISV — Galatians 3:12

13 The Messiah ^{o3:13 Or Christ} redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written, “A curse on everyone who is hung on a tree!” ^{p3:13 Deut 21:23}ISV — Galatians 3:13

14 This happened ^{q3:14 The Gk. lacks This happened} in order that the blessing promised to ^{r3:14 Lit. the blessing of} Abraham would come to the gentiles through the Messiah ^{s3:14 Or Christ} Jesus, so that we might receive the promised Spirit ^{t3:14 Or the promise of the Spirit} through faith.ISV — Galatians 3:14

15 Brothers, let me use an example from everyday life. ^{u3:15 Lit. I am speaking according to man} Once a person’s will has been ratified, no one can cancel it or add conditions to it.ISV — Galatians 3:15

16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. It doesn’t say “descendants,” referring to many, but “your descendant,” ^{v3:16 Gen 12:7} referring to one person, who is the Messiah. ^{w3:16 Or Christ}ISV — Galatians 3:16

17 This is what I mean: The Law that came 430 years later did not cancel the covenant that God ratified previously. The promise was never nullified.ISV — Galatians 3:17

18 For if the inheritance comes about through the Law, it no longer comes about through the promise. But it was through a promise that God so graciously gave it to Abraham.ISV — Galatians 3:18

19 Why, then, was the Law added? ^{x3:19 The Gk. lacks added} Because of transgressions, until the descendant ^{y3:19 Lit. seed} came about whom the promise pertained. It was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.ISV — Galatians 3:19

20 Now a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one.ISV — Galatians 3:20

21 So is the Law in conflict with the promises of God? Of course not! For if a law had been given that could give us life, then certainly righteousness would come through the Law.ISV — Galatians 3:21

22 But the Scripture has captured everything by means of sin’s net, so that what was promised by the faithfulness of ^{z3:22 Or by faith in} the Messiah ^{aa3:22 Or Christ} might be granted to those who believe.ISV — Galatians 3:22

23 Now before faith came about, we were held in custody and confined under the Law in preparation for the faith that was to be revealed.ISV — Galatians 3:23

24 And so the Law was our guardian until the Messiah ^{bb3:24 Or Christ} came, so that we might be justified by faith.ISV — Galatians 3:24

25 But now that faith has come about, we are no longer under a guardian.ISV — Galatians 3:25

26 For all of you are God’s children through faith in the Messiah ^{cc3:26 Or Christ} Jesus.ISV — Galatians 3:26

27 Indeed, all of you who were baptized into the Messiah ^{dd3:27 Or Christ} have clothed yourselves with the Messiah. ^{ee3:27 Or Christ}ISV — Galatians 3:27

28 Because all of you are one in the Messiah ^{ff3:28 Or Christ} Jesus, a person is no longer a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a male or a female.ISV — Galatians 3:28

29 And if you belong to the Messiah, ^{gg3:29 Or Christ} then you are Abraham’s descendants indeed, and heirs according to the promise.ISV — Galatians 3:29