20 I have been (A)crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (B)I live by faith in the Son of God, (C)who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for (D)if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died [a]in vain.”

Justification by Faith(E)

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you [b]that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed [c]among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, (F)or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? (G)Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by (H)the flesh? (I)Have you suffered so [d]many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham (J)“believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only (K)those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And (L)the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, (M)“In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The Law Brings a Curse

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, (N)“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is [e]justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for (O)“the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet (P)the law is not of faith, but (Q)“the man who does them shall live by them.”

13 (R)Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, (S)“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 (T)that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the (U)Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive (V)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:21 for nothing
  2. Galatians 3:1 NU omits that you should not obey the truth
  3. Galatians 3:1 NU omits among you
  4. Galatians 3:4 Or great
  5. Galatians 3:11 declared righteous

20 I have been crucified with Christ(A) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(B) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,(C) who loved me(D) and gave himself for me.(E) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,(F) Christ died for nothing!”[a]

Faith or Works of the Law

You foolish(G) Galatians!(H) Who has bewitched you?(I) Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.(J) I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit(K) by the works of the law,(L) or by believing what you heard?(M) Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[b] Have you experienced[c] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles(N) among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?(O) So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[d](P)

Understand, then, that those who have faith(Q) are children of Abraham.(R) Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”[e](S) So those who rely on faith(T) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.(U)

10 For all who rely on the works of the law(V) are under a curse,(W) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[f](X) 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,(Y) because “the righteous will live by faith.”[g](Z) 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”[h](AA) 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law(AB) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”[i](AC) 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,(AD) so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 14.
  2. Galatians 3:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  3. Galatians 3:4 Or suffered
  4. Galatians 3:6 Gen. 15:6
  5. Galatians 3:8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18
  6. Galatians 3:10 Deut. 27:26
  7. Galatians 3:11 Hab. 2:4
  8. Galatians 3:12 Lev. 18:5
  9. Galatians 3:13 Deut. 21:23

Glory Only in the Cross

11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, (A)only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the (B)cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by [a]whom the world has been crucified to me, and (C)I to the world. 15 For (D)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 6:14 Or which, the cross

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!(A)

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh(B) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.(C) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted(D) for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,(E) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.(F) 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,(G) through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.(H) 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;(I) what counts is the new creation.(J) 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[b] the Israel of God.

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks(K) of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ(L) be with your spirit,(M) brothers and sisters. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
  2. Galatians 6:16 Or rule and to