1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed amongst you as crucified? 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 begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles amongst you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 6 Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 7 Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham. 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 are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 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 is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.” 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 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, 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 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 I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 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 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 mediator is not between one, but God is one. 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 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 custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 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 has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on 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 If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.
Galatians · World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Galatians 3 World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
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)