1 O foolish Galatians, who hath deluded you, you that have had the crucifixion of Jesus Christ represented to your view?
2 this one thing I desire to know of you, did you receive the spirit by the works of the law, or by the gospel preach'd to you?
3 have you so little understanding, as having begun in the spiritual doctrine of the gospel, to turn again to the law?
4 have you suffered so many things in vain?
5 if it be in vain. he therefore that ministreth the spirit to you, and worketh miracles among you, doth he it by the works of the law, or by the preaching of faith?
6 As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness:
7 so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham.
8 and the scripture insinuating, that God would justify the Gentiles thro' faith, gave Abraham an intimation of the gospel in these words, " in thee shall all nations be blessed."
9 so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe.
10 but they that rest themselves upon the works of the law, are obnoxious to the curse: for it is written, " cursed is every one, who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them:"
11 but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, " the just shall live by faith."
12 now the law does not justify by FAITH, but says, "he that DOES these things shall live by them."
13 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 upon a tree.")
14 that the blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles thro' Jesus Christ; that we by believing might receive the spirit that was promised.
15 Brethren, I speak according to the practice of men; contracts between men, when once ratified, cannot be disannulled or altered afterwards by any man.
16 now to Abraham and his offspring were the promises made. he does not say, "to offsprings," as if he spoke of many; but as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which means Christ.
17 this therefore I say, that the law, which was not till four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul the promise, that was ratified before by God, so as to set the promise afoot.
18 now if the right to the inheritance be from the law, it is no longer founded upon the promise; altho' God made a donation of it to Abraham by promise.
19 "To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator.
20 now a mediator supposes two parties, of which God is but one.
21 Is the law then opposite to the promises? by no means. for if there had been a law given, which could have given life, certainly justification should have been by the law.
22 but the scripture has declar'd all guilty of sin, that the blessing promised on condition of faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 but before faith came, we were shut up together as prisoners under the custody of the law, 'till faith was to be revealed.
24 so that the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 but now faith being come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.
26 for you are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians.
28 there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.