New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

1You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

2This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

2I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?

3Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

3Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?

4Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

4Did you experience so much for nothing--if in fact it was for nothing?

5Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

5So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard--

6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

6just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?

7Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

7You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham's sons.

8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”

8Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.

9So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

9Consequently those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.

10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.

11But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.

12Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

12But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.

13Christ has 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” ),

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.

14that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

14The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.

15Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.

15Brothers and sisters, I'm using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.

16Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.

16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say "and to seeds," as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ.

17And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.

17My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise.

18For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

18For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise.

19What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

19Why then was the law given? It was added for the sake of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

20Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

20Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one.

21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

21Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law.

22But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin's power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.

23But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

23Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.

24Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

24The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.

25But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

25But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

26for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.

27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

27For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.

28There 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.

28There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.