Galatians 3Galatians3

Berean Standard BibleKing James Version

1. Faith and Belief

   (James 2:14–26)

2. 1BSBO foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.KJVKJV: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
3. 2BSBI would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?KJVKJV: This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
4. 3BSBAre you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?KJVKJV: Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
5. 4BSBHave you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?KJVKJV: Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
6. 5BSBDoes God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?KJVKJV: He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
7. 6BSBSo also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”KJVKJV: Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
8. 7BSBUnderstand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.KJVKJV: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
9. 8BSBThe Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”KJVKJV: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
10. 9BSBSo those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.KJVKJV: So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

11. Christ Has Redeemed Us

12. 10BSBAll who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”KJVKJV: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
13. 11BSBNow it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”KJVKJV: But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
14. 12BSBThe law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”KJVKJV: And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
15. 13BSBChrist redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”KJVKJV: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
16. 14BSBHe redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.KJVKJV: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

17. The Purpose of the Law

    (Romans 7:1–6)

18. 15BSBBrothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.KJVKJV: Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
19. 16BSBThe promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.KJVKJV: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
20. 17BSBWhat I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.KJVKJV: And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
21. 18BSBFor if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.KJVKJV: For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
22. 19BSBWhy then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.KJVKJV: Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
23. 20BSBA mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.KJVKJV: Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
24. 21BSBIs the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.KJVKJV: Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
25. 22BSBBut the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.KJVKJV: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
26. 23BSBBefore this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.KJVKJV: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
27. 24BSBSo the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.KJVKJV: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
28. 25BSBNow that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.KJVKJV: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

29. Sons through Faith in Christ

30. 26BSBYou are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.KJVKJV: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
31. 27BSBFor all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.KJVKJV: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
32. 28BSBThere is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.KJVKJV: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
33. 29BSBAnd if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.KJVKJV: And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.