| Chapter text (World English Bible version) |  |
| 1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed amongst you as crucified? 2 I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles amongst you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? | How have the Galatians changed? |
6 Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”* 7 Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”** 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. * Quotation from Genesis 15 v 6 ** Quotation from Genesis 12 v 3, 18 v 18 and 22 v 18 | How does Paul use Abraham’s example to explain who are truly children of Abraham? |
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."* 11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”** 12 The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”*** * Quotation from Deuteronomy 27 v 26 ** Quotation from Habakkuk 2 v 4 *** Quotation from Leviticus 18 v 5
| What does Paul say about keeping the law compared with living by faith? |
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”* 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. * Quotation from Deuteronomy 21 v 23 | How did Christ redeem people from the curse of the law, and what blessing comes as a result? |
15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring.* He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ. * Reference to Genesis 12 v 7, 15 v 19 and 24 v 7 | What point does Paul make about God’s promise to Abraham and to "descendants" or "offspring”? |
| 17 Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. | How does Paul explain that the law given later does not cancel God’s earlier promise? |
| 19 Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one. | Why was the law added, and what role did angels have in it? |
| 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. | What does Paul say about whether the law is against God’s promises, and what has Scripture done with all things under sin? |
| 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. | What was the law’s purpose before faith came, and what changed once faith arrived? |
| 26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise. | How can we become children of God, regardless of background? |
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