Paul defends the truth of his message

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 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? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4Did you experience so many things in vain? — if it really is in vain. 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?

63.6: Gen 15.6; Rom 4.3.Thus Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 7So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 83.8: Gen 12.3; 18.18; Acts 3.25.And 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.” 93.9: Rom 4.16.So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith.

103.10: Deut 27.26.For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.” 113.11: Hab 2.4; Rom 1.17; Heb 10.38.Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for “He who through faith is righteous shall live”;3.11 Or the righteous shall live by faith 123.12: Lev 18.5; Rom 10.5.but the law does not rest on faith, for “He who does them shall live by them.” 133.13: Deut 21.23.Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, “Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree” — 14that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15To give a human example, brethren: no one annuls even a man's will,3.15 Or covenant (as in verse 17) or adds to it, once it has been ratified. 163.16: Gen 12.7.Now 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,” which is Christ. 173.17: Ex 12.40.This is what I mean: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 183.18: Rom 11.6.For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

193.19: Rom 5.20.Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained by angels through an intermediary. 20Now an intermediary implies more than one; but God is one.

213.21: Rom 8.2-4.Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not; for if a law had been given which could make alive, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 223.22: Rom 3.9-19; 11.32.But the scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. 24So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 283.28: Rom 10.12.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.