Galatians · Bible in Basic English
Galatians 3 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 O foolish Galatians, by what strange powers have you been tricked, to whom it was made clear that Jesus Christ was put to death on the cross?
1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?
2 Give me an answer to this one question, Did the Spirit come to you through the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
2 I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
3 Are you so foolish? having made a start in the Spirit, will you now be made complete in the flesh?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?
4 Did you undergo such a number of things to no purpose? if it is in fact to no purpose.
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?
5 He who gives you the Spirit, and does works of power among you, is it by the works of law, or by the hearing of faith?
5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness.
6 Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”
7 Be certain, then, that those who are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.
7 Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham.
8 And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, In you will all the nations have a blessing.
8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”
9 So then those who are of faith have a part in the blessing of Abraham who was full of faith.
9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
10 For all who are of the works of the law are under a curse: because it is said in the Writings, A curse is on everyone who does not keep on doing all the things which are ordered in the book of the law.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
11 Now that no man gets righteousness by the law in the eyes of God, is clear; because, The upright will be living by faith.
11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”
12 And the law is not of faith; but, He who does them will have life by them.
12 The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”
13 Christ has made us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: because it is said in the Writings, A curse on everyone who is put to death by hanging on a tree:
13 Christ 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,”
14 So that on the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; in order that we through faith might have the Spirit which God had undertaken to give.
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brothers, as men would say, even a man's agreement, when it has been made certain, may not be put on one side, or have additions made to it.
15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it.
16 Now to Abraham were the undertakings given, and to his seed. He says not, And to seeds, as of a great number; but as of one, he says, And to your seed, which is Christ.
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ.
17 Now this I say: The law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, does not put an end to the agreement made before by God, so as to make the undertaking without effect.
17 Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
18 Because if the heritage is by the law, it is no longer dependent on the word of God; but God gave it to Abraham by his word.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
19 What then is the law? It was an addition made because of sin, till the coming of the seed to whom the undertaking had been given; and it was ordered through angels by the hand of a go-between.
19 Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a go-between is not a go-between of one; but God is one.
20 Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the words of God? in no way; because if there had been a law which was able to give life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
22 However, the holy Writings have put all things under sin, so that that for which God gave the undertaking, based on faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who have such faith.
22 But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in prison under the law, waiting for the revelation of the faith which was to come.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 So the law has been a servant to take us to Christ, so that we might have righteousness by faith.
24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a servant.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 Because you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For all those of you who were given baptism into Christ did put on Christ.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is no Jew or Greek, servant or free, male or female: because you are all one in Jesus Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and yours is the heritage by the right of God's undertaking given to Abraham.
29 If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Galatians 5:7–8; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 2:20; Galatians 1:6; Galatians 3:3
- 2 Romans 10:16–17; Galatians 3:14; Acts 15:8; Ephesians 1:13–14; Galatians 3:5
- 3 Galatians 5:4–8; Galatians 4:7–10; Hebrews 7:16–19; Hebrews 9:9–10; Galatians 6:12–14
- 4 2 John 8; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Hebrews 10:32–39; Hebrews 6:4–6; Ezekiel 18:24
- 5 Galatians 3:2; Acts 14:9–10; Acts 19:11–12; Acts 14:3; 2 Corinthians 13:3
- 6 Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:21–22; James 2:23; Romans 4:3–6; Romans 4:24
- 7 Galatians 3:9; Romans 9:7–8; Galatians 3:26–29; Psalm 100:3; Romans 4:24
- 8 Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 28:14; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 26:4
- 9 Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:29; Galatians 4:28; Romans 4:24; Romans 4:11
- 10 Deuteronomy 27:26; Romans 8:7; Romans 3:19–20; Deuteronomy 11:26–28; James 2:9–11
- 11 Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38; Galatians 2:16; Ecclesiastes 7:20
- 12 Leviticus 18:5; Romans 10:5–6; Nehemiah 9:29; Romans 4:14; Luke 10:25–28
- 13 1 Peter 2:24; Deuteronomy 21:23; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:18–21
- 14 Galatians 3:28–29; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:18; Galatians 3:2; Ezekiel 36:26–27
- 15 Hebrews 9:17; Romans 6:19; Romans 3:5
- 16 Genesis 17:7–8; Romans 4:13; Luke 1:55; Genesis 22:17–18; Galatians 3:27–29
- 17 Hebrews 11:39–40; Romans 4:13–14; Exodus 12:40–41; Genesis 15:13; 2 Corinthians 1:20
- 18 Romans 4:13–16; Hebrews 6:12–15; Galatians 2:21; Psalm 105:42; Luke 1:54–55
- 19 Acts 7:53; Romans 7:7–13; Hebrews 2:2; Galatians 3:16; Romans 5:20–21
- 20 1 Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; Job 9:33; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 8:6
- 21 Galatians 2:21; Romans 9:31; Romans 3:20–22; Galatians 2:19; Romans 10:3–6
- 22 Romans 11:32; Hebrews 9:15; John 11:25–26; Galatians 3:23; 1 John 2:25
- 23 Galatians 5:18; Galatians 3:24–25; Romans 6:14–15; Romans 11:32; Galatians 3:19
- 24 Romans 10:4; Acts 13:38–39; Hebrews 10:1–14; Romans 7:24–25; Matthew 5:17–18
- 25 Romans 6:14; Romans 7:4; Hebrews 10:15–18; Hebrews 7:11–19; Hebrews 8:3–13
- 26 Ephesians 1:5; 2 Corinthians 6:18; John 1:12–13; Galatians 4:5–6; 1 John 3:1–2
- 27 Romans 13:14; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21; Ephesians 4:24
- 28 1 Corinthians 12:12–13; Colossians 3:11; Romans 3:29–30; Galatians 5:6; Romans 10:12–15
- 29 Ephesians 3:6; Romans 9:7–8; Galatians 3:7; Romans 8:17; Romans 4:16–21
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
It was added, until the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a Mediator." For the order of the words runs thus: "Wherefore then the law of works?
… deep, saying, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." And, "Be not children in understanding, howbeit in malice be ye children," that in "understanding ye may be perfect;" and "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?" But now not in his own voice, but in Thine who sentest Thy Spirit from …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… ye are not so minded, our fathers thought it necessary by these boards to wall you off; since I hear from the elder ones, that of old there were not so much as these partitions; "For in Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female." And in the apostle's time also both men and women were together.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, and, the law hath been our tutor to bring us unto Christ.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
But you must hear too the words, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law;" and "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Give careful heed, too, to the words of the Lord, and note how, whenever He instructs us about His Father, He is in the habit of using terms of personal authority, saying, "I …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)