Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

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

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

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?

2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

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

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

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

4Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

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--

5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—

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

6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

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

7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

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.

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

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

9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

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.

10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

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

11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

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

12But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”

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.

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

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.

14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

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

15To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.

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.

16Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

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.

17This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.

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.

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

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.

19Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

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

20Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

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.

21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.

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.

22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

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

23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

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

24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

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

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

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.