Faith and Belief (James 2:14–26)
1 UEB Foolish Galatians! Who has put a spell on you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly displayed as crucified. BSB BSB: O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
2 UEB This is the only thing I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? BSB BSB: I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
3 UEB Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now going to finish by the flesh? BSB BSB: Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
4 UEB Have you suffered so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? BSB BSB: Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?
5 UEB Does he who gives the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith? BSB BSB: Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?
6 UEB Just as Abraham "believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness," BSB BSB: So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
7 UEB in the same way, understand, then, that those of faith are the children of Abraham. BSB BSB: Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
8 UEB The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed." BSB BSB: The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
9 UEB So then, those of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. BSB BSB: So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Christ Has Redeemed Us 10 UEB All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; and so it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law, and do them." BSB BSB: All 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.”
11 UEB Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because "the righteous will live by faith." BSB BSB: Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
12 UEB But the law is not of faith, rather, "The person who does the works of the law must live by them." BSB BSB: The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
14 UEB so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. BSB BSB: He 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.
The Purpose of the Law (Romans 7:1–6)
15 UEB Brothers, let me speak in human terms. In a man-made contract, no one can set it aside or add to it, once it is established by law. BSB BSB: Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.
16 UEB Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. It does not say, "to descendants," referring to many, but instead to only one, "and to your descendant," who is Christ. BSB BSB: The 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.
17 UEB Now what I mean is this: The law, which came 430 years afterward, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God. BSB BSB: What 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.
18 UEB For if the inheritance comes by the law, then it no longer comes by promise. But God gave it to Abraham by a promise. BSB BSB: For 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.
19 UEB What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of trespasses, until the descendant of Abraham would come to whom the promise had been made. The law was put into force through angels by a mediator. BSB BSB: Why 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.
20 UEB Now a mediator implies more than one person, but God is one. BSB BSB: A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.
21 UEB So is the law against the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. BSB BSB: Is 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.
22 UEB But the scripture imprisoned everything under sin. God did this so that the promise to save us by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. BSB BSB: But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
23 UEB Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until faith should be revealed. BSB BSB: Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
24 UEB So then the law became our guardian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. BSB BSB: So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 UEB But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. BSB BSB: Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Sons through Faith in Christ 26 UEB For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. BSB BSB: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 UEB For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. BSB BSB: For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
29 UEB Then if you are Christ's, you are Abraham's descendants, and heirs according to promise. BSB BSB: And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
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