1You foolish3:1 Rm 1:14 Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you,3:1 Other mss add not to obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed3:1 Other mss add among you as crucified?3:1 Mt 27:22

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?3:2 Lit hearing with faith, also in v. 5

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

4Did you experience3:4 Or suffer3:4 Php 1:29 so much for nothing — if in fact it was for nothing?

5So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles3:5 Mk 13:22 among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard — 

6just like Abraham who believed God,3:6 Jn 14:1and it was credited to him for righteousness?3:6Gn 15:63:6 Gn 15:6

10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,3:10 Jms 3:10 because it is written,3:10 Ac 15:15Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.3:10Dt 27:263:10 Dt 27:26; Rm 4:15

11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live3:11 Php 1:21by faith.3:11Hab 2:43:11 Hab 2:4

12But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.3:12Lv 18:53:12 Lv 18:5

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,3:13 1Pt 2:24 because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.3:13Dt 21:233:13 Dt 21:23; Ac 5:30

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.3:14 Rm 4:16

19Why, then, was the law given?3:19 Rm 4:15; 5:20 It was added for the sake of transgressions3:19 Or because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels3:19 Gn 16:7; Mt 13:49; Lk 1:11; Ac 5:19; Rv 14:6 by means of a mediator.3:19 Heb 8:6

20Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one.3:20 Dt 6:4

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 imprisoned everything under sin’s power,3:22 Lit under sin3:22 Rm 6:23 so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith3:22 Rm 3:22 in Jesus Christ to those who believe.3:22 Mk 11:24; Jn 3:16; Ac 10:43; Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:8–10

23Before this faith3:23 Jd 3 came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.3:23 Lk 10:21

24The law, then, was our guardian until Christ,3:24 Mt 5:17; Col 2:17; Heb 9:10 so that we could be justified by faith.

25But since that faith3:25 Jd 3 has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

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

27For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.3:27 Pr 31:25

28There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free,3:28 Jn 8:33 male and female;3:28 Rm 10:12; 1Co 12:13; Gl 5:6 since you are all one3:28 Jn 17:11 in Christ Jesus.

29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs3:29 Rm 4:14; 8:17 according to the promise.3:29 Rm 4:13