1 O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that 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, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in 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 on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the trueth, before whose eyes Iesus Christ hath been euidently set forth, crucified among you?

2This onely would I learne of you, receiued ye the spirit, by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?

3Are ye so foolish? hauing begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4Haue ye suffered so many things in vaine? if it be yet in vaine.

5He therfore that ministreth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the workes of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?

6Euen as Abraham beleeued God, and it was accounted to him for righteousnesse.

7Knowe yee therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8And the Scripture foreseeing that God would iustifie the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel vnto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9So then, they which bee of faith, are blessed with faithfull Abraham.

10For as many as are of the works of the lawe, are vnder the curse: for it is written, Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to doe them.

11But that no man is iustified by the Lawe in the sight of God, it is euident: for, The iust shall liue by faith.

12And the Law is not of faith: but the man that doeth them, shall liue in them.

13Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for vs: for it is written, Cursed is euery one that hangeth on tree:

14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Iesus Christ: that wee might receiue the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15Brethren, I speake after the maner of men: though it be but a mans couenant, yet if it bee confirmed, no man disanulleth, or addeth thereto.

16Now to Abraham and his seede were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17And this I say, that the Couenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the Lawe which was foure hundred and thirtie yeres after, cannot disanul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18For if the inheritance bee of the Law, it is no more of promise: but God gaue it to Abraham by promise.

19Wherefore then serueth the Law? it was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come, to whome the promise was made, and it was ordeyned by Angels in the hand of a Mediatour.

20Now a mediatour is not a Mediatour of one, but God is one.

21Is the Lawe then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had beene a Lawe giuen which could haue giuen life, verily righteousnesse should haue bene by the Law.

22But the Scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne, that the promise by faith of Iesus Christ might be giuen to them that beleeue.

23But before faith came, wee were kept vnder the Law, shut vp vnto the faith, which should afterwards bee reuealed.

24Wherefore the Law was our Schoolemaster to bring vs vnto Christ, that we might be iustified by Faith.

25But after that Faith is come, we are no longer vnder a Schoolemaster.

26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus.

27For as many of you as haue bene baptized into Christ, haue put on Christ.

28There is neither Iewe, nor Greeke, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Iesus.

29And if yee be Christs, then are ye Abrahams seed, and heires according to the promise.

 

1 O stupid Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 I want to learn only this from you: did you receive the Spirit from works of the law, or from faith in what you heard? 3 Are you so stupid? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4 Did you experience so many things in vain? - if indeed it was in vain. 5 Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard? 6 Thus Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 7 Realize then that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture, which saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, "Through you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 Consequently, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. 10 For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law." 11 And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for "the one who is righteous by faith will live." 12 But the law does not depend on faith; rather, "the one who does these things will live by them." 13 Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree," 14 that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brothers, in human terms I say that no one can annul or amend even a human will once ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his descendant. It does not say, "And to descendants," as referring to many, but as referring to one, "And to your descendant," who is Christ. 17 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 cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance comes from the law, it is no longer from a promise; but God bestowed it on Abraham through a promise. 19 Why, then, the law? It was added for transgressions, until the descendant came to whom the promise had been made; it was promulgated by angels at the hand of a mediator. 20 Now there is no mediator when only one party is involved, and God is one. 21 Is the law then opposed to the promises (of God)? Of course not! For if a law had been given that could bring life, then righteousness would in reality come from the law. 22 But scripture confined all things under the power of sin, that through faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe. 23 Before faith came, we were held in custody under law, confined for the faith that was to be revealed. 24 Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian. 26 For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendant, heirs according to the promise.

v 1. How foolish, like being hexed, it was to try to mix law and grace. Christ had been declared as openly as a public announcement.
v 2. “Hearing”, Rom. 10:9,10.
There were seven things the law could not do:
2:21 Could not bring righteousness
3:2        ‘’        ‘’  give the Spirit
3:5        “        “   minister the Spirit and work miracles
3:11      “       “   justify man
3:17      “       “   disannul the Abrahamic Covenant 
3:18      “       “   make the promise of inheritance ineffective or bring inheritance
3:21      “       “   could not give life
There were seven things which the law could do:
3:19 Every mouth stopped and all the whole world become guilty before God.
4:15 Worketh wrath.
5:20 Caused the offense (sin) to abound (become very apparent).
7:7 It showed sin and covetousness.
Gal. 2:19 Cause us to become dead to the law so we can live unto Christ.
Gal. 3::10 Places all under the curse that are of the works of the law.
Gal. 3:24 Be schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, so we can be justified by faith.
v 3-5. Foolish to think that having received the Spirit at salvation, we would be kept saved by keeping the law. Paul’s preaching and miracle ministry had definitely been by faith, not by works of the law.
v 6. Abraham is given as an example of faith, even before law was given. Righteousness was put to his account as surely as money can be placed in account. 
v 7-9. As Abraham had faith, so Gentiles that have faith are his true sons.
v 10. This curse is from Deut. 27:26, and the people under Moses failed miserably to keep the law. It demands perfection, James 2:10.
v 11,12. This statement from Hab. 2:4 is the central theme of the Bible. He quotes Lev. 18:5 to show that since the law condemns, we can only call upon God in faith.
v 13. Christ has redeemed us, permanently bought us from the slave market of sin. Now quoting from Deut. 21:23, Christ took our curse by hanging on the cross.
v 14. Through Him we receive the blessing of Abraham, redemption, spiritual life, and the Spirit who had been promised, compare v 2.
v 15,16. The promises to Abraham fulfilled in Christ are in effect forever, unchangeable, like a will after death. In stressing seed, the Jews are reminded they have looked for one man, the Messiah. Notice the unconditional character of God’s promise as the Shekinah Glory went between the pieces, but Abraham did not need to, as in normal agreements, Gen, 15:9-17.
v 17,18. The law was given 430 years after the promise to Israel in Gen. 46:1-4. The sojourn was 430 years, Ex. 12:40. Gen. 15:13 and Acts 7:6 are rounded to 400. The inheritance, justification by faith, was an unconditional gift to those who believe.
v 19. Question: What is the purpose of the law?
(1) It was for us to recognize sins and gave to sin the character of personal guilt.
(2) It was for temporary service, just till the seed, Messiah came.
(3) It came by a mediator, Moses, while better promises came direct from God.
v 20. A mediator is between two parties, but we deal directly with God.
v 21,22. Question: Is there a conflict between the law and the promises of God?
(1) God forbid!. It couldn’t justify or give life, but it prepared the way for the Gospel.
(2) When people realize the hopelessness of their sin, they can put faith in Christ.
v 23,24. Justification has always been by faith, but faith in the person and work of Christ did not come until He was revealed. Before that, Israel was under the protective custody of the law. This is shown by the comparison to a schoolmaster. The schoolmaster of that day was not an instructor but a trusted slave who cared for the master’s sons from six to puberty. He was a strict disciplinarian, and accompanied them out of doors and guarded them from physical or moral evil and bad company. This was the function of the law until Christ came, and people could be justified by faith in Him.
v 25. The authority of the child discipliner, or pedagogue, totally ceased when the child became an adult son. He does voluntarily what he formerly did for fear of the  pedagogue, that is, the law. If he does not, it is no longer a matter between the son and the pedagogue, but between the son and the father, God.
v 26,27. All who believe in Christ have become sons of God. This is not water baptism, but the baptism by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, or they have put on Christ. The Roman youth was given a special toga, cloak, which admitted him to the full rights of the family and state. Paul is suggesting to the Galatians that having laid aside the old garment of law and put on Christ’s robe of righteousness His virtues and characteristics) with complete acceptance before God, it would be ridiculous to put on again the old clothes of law.
v 28,29. A Jewish prayer for men was, I thank God that I am not a Gentile,  a slave or a woman. We are all one in Christ and status of nationality and gender have been removed. But the scriptures give a matter of order in 1 Cor. 11:3 where man is the head of the woman, and 1 Timothy 2:12 concerning areas of Christian service. Christ is the seed of Abraham, so all who believe in Christ are in Christ and are a part of that seed. No way do Gentiles inherit the national promises given to Israel, but we inherit the promise of justification by faith.