Galatians 3:7–22

⁷Therefore, ¹be sure that ^ait is those who are of faith who are ^bsons of Abraham.

⁸The Scripture, foreseeing that God ¹would justify the ²Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “^aAll the nations will be blessed in you.”

⁹So then ^athose who are of faith are blessed with ¹Abraham, the believer.

¹⁰For as many as are of the works of ¹the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “^aCursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”

¹¹Now that ^ano one is justified ¹by ²the Law before God is evident; for, “^3bThe righteous man shall live by faith.”

¹²¹However, the Law is not ²of faith; on the contrary, “^aHe who practices them shall live ³by them.”

¹³Christ ^aredeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “^bCursed is everyone who hangs on ^ca ¹tree”—

¹⁴in order that ^ain Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ¹come to the Gentiles, so that we ^bwould receive ^cthe promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

^15aBrethren, ^bI speak ¹in terms of human relations: ^ceven though it is only a man’s ²covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ³conditions to it.

¹⁶Now the promises were spoken ^ato Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “^bAnd to your seed,” that is, Christ.

¹⁷What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^afour hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

¹⁸For ^aif the inheritance is ¹based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but ^bGod has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19aWhy the Law then? It was added ¹because of transgressions, having been ^bordained through angels ^cby the ²agency of a mediator, until ^dthe seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

²⁰Now ^aa mediator is not ¹for one party only; whereas God is only one.

²¹Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^aMay it never be! For ^bif a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness ¹would indeed have been ²based on law.

²²But the Scripture has ^ashut up ¹everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.