1 You|strong="G5210" people in|strong="G2596" Galatia are|strong="G3739" so|strong="G3739" foolish|strong="G0453"! Why|strong="G5101" do|strong="G5101" I|strong="G3739" say this|strong="G3739"? Because|strong="G2596" I|strong="G3739" told you|strong="G5210" very clearly about|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3739" death of|strong="G2596" Jesus|strong="G2424" Christ|strong="G5547" on|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3739" cross. But|strong="G3739" now it|strong="G3739" seems as|strong="G2596" though you|strong="G5210" have|strong="G5547" let someone|strong="G3739" use their|strong="G2596" magical powers to|strong="G2596" make you|strong="G5210" forget.
2 Tell me|strong="G2983" this|strong="G3778" one|strong="G3778" thing|strong="G3778": How did|strong="G2309" you|strong="G5210" receive|strong="G2983" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151"? Did|strong="G2309" you|strong="G5210" receive|strong="G2983" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" by|strong="G1537" following the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551"? No, you|strong="G5210" received|strong="G2983" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" because|strong="G1537" you|strong="G5210" heard|strong="G0189" the|strong="G3588" message|strong="G0189" about|strong="G3588" Jesus|strong="G3778" and|strong="G4151" believed it|strong="G3778".
3 You|strong="G1510" began|strong="G1728" your life|strong="G4561" in|strong="G3779" Christ with|strong="G4151" the|strong="G1510" Spirit|strong="G4151". Now|strong="G3568" do|strong="G1510" you|strong="G1510" try to|strong="G1510" complete|strong="G2005" it|strong="G3779" by|strong="G4561" your own power? That|strong="G1510" is|strong="G1510" foolish|strong="G0453".
4 You|strong="G1487" have|strong="G2532" experienced many|strong="G5118" things|strong="G5118". Were|strong="G2532" all|strong="G5118" those|strong="G2532" experiences wasted? I|strong="G2532" hope they|strong="G2532" were|strong="G2532" not|strong="G2532" wasted!
5 Does|strong="G2023" God|strong="G2023" give|strong="G2023" you|strong="G5210" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" because|strong="G1537" you|strong="G5210" follow the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551"? Does|strong="G2023" God|strong="G2023" work|strong="G2041" miracles|strong="G1411" among|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210" because|strong="G1537" you|strong="G5210" follow the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551"? No, God|strong="G2023" gives you|strong="G5210" his|strong="G2532" Spirit|strong="G4151" and|strong="G2532" works|strong="G2041" miracles|strong="G1411" among|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210" because|strong="G1537" you|strong="G5210" heard|strong="G0189" the|strong="G3588" message|strong="G0189" about|strong="G1722" Jesus|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" believed it|strong="G2532".
6 The|strong="G3588" Scriptures say the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G0846" thing|strong="G0846" about|strong="G1519" Abraham|strong="G0011". “Abraham|strong="G0011" believed|strong="G4100" God|strong="G2316", and|strong="G2532" because|strong="G2531" of|strong="G2316" this|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4100" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" accepted as|strong="G2531" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G2316" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316".”
7 So|strong="G0686" you|strong="G3754" should|strong="G3778" know|strong="G1097" that|strong="G3754" the|strong="G3588" true children of|strong="G5207" Abraham|strong="G0011" are|strong="G1510" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" have|strong="G1510" faith|strong="G4102".
8 The|strong="G3956" Scriptures|strong="G1124" told what|strong="G3588" would|strong="G1484" happen in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" future. These|strong="G3748" writings said that|strong="G3754" God|strong="G2316" would|strong="G1484" make the|strong="G3956" non-Jewish people|strong="G1484" right through|strong="G1722" their|strong="G3956" faith|strong="G4102". God|strong="G2316" told this|strong="G3588" Good News to|strong="G1722" Abraham|strong="G0011" before|strong="G1722" it|strong="G1161" happened|strong="G3588". God|strong="G2316" said to|strong="G1722" Abraham|strong="G0011", “I|strong="G3754" will|strong="G2316" use you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G1722" bless all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" people|strong="G1484" on|strong="G1722" earth.”
9 Abraham|strong="G0011" believed this|strong="G3588", and|strong="G4102" because|strong="G1537" he|strong="G4102" believed, he|strong="G4102" was|strong="G3588" blessed|strong="G2127". All|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" believe|strong="G4103" are|strong="G3588" blessed|strong="G2127" the|strong="G3588" same as|strong="G0011" Abraham|strong="G0011" was|strong="G3588".
10 But|strong="G3551" people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3739" depend on|strong="G1722" following|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" law|strong="G3551" to|strong="G1722" make|strong="G4160" them|strong="G0846" right are|strong="G1510" under|strong="G5259" a|strong="G1510" curse|strong="G2671". As|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" Scriptures say, “They|strong="G0846" must|strong="G4160" do|strong="G4160" everything|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3754" is|strong="G1510" written|strong="G1125" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" law|strong="G3551". If|strong="G3748" they|strong="G0846" do|strong="G4160" not|strong="G3756" always|strong="G3956" obey|strong="G4160", they|strong="G0846" are|strong="G1510" under|strong="G5259" a|strong="G1510" curse|strong="G2671".”
11 So|strong="G1161" it|strong="G1161" is|strong="G2316" clear that|strong="G3754" no|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" can be|strong="G2316" made right|strong="G1342" with|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316" by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551". The|strong="G3588" Scriptures say, “The|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3762" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G2316" right|strong="G1342" with|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316" by|strong="G1722" faith|strong="G4102" will|strong="G2316" live|strong="G2198" forever.”
12 The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" does|strong="G4160" not|strong="G3756" depend on|strong="G1722" faith|strong="G4102". No|strong="G3756", it|strong="G0846" says that|strong="G0846" the|strong="G3588" only|strong="G3756" way|strong="G1722" a|strong="G1510" person|strong="G0846" will|strong="G1510" find life|strong="G2198" by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" is|strong="G1510" to|strong="G1722" obey|strong="G4160" its|strong="G0846" commands.
13 The|strong="G3956" law|strong="G3551" says we|strong="G2249" are|strong="G3956" under|strong="G1909" a|strong="G1096" curse|strong="G2671" for|strong="G3754" not|strong="G1473" always|strong="G3956" obeying it|strong="G1909". But|strong="G3551" Christ|strong="G5547" took|strong="G1096" away that|strong="G3754" curse|strong="G2671". He|strong="G3754" changed places with|strong="G1537" us|strong="G1537" and|strong="G3956" put|strong="G1096" himself under|strong="G1909" that|strong="G3754" curse|strong="G2671". The|strong="G3956" Scriptures say|strong="G1473", “Anyone|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" hung|strong="G2910" on|strong="G1909" a|strong="G1096" tree|strong="G3586" is|strong="G3588" under|strong="G1909" a|strong="G1096" curse|strong="G2671".”
14 Because|strong="G1223" of|strong="G4151" what|strong="G3588" Jesus|strong="G2424" Christ|strong="G5547" did|strong="G1096", the|strong="G3588" blessing|strong="G2129" God promised|strong="G1860" to|strong="G1519" Abraham|strong="G0011" was|strong="G2424" given to|strong="G1519" all|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1484". Christ|strong="G5547" died so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" by|strong="G1722" believing|strong="G4102" in|strong="G1722" him|strong="G2983" we|strong="G1223" could|strong="G1096" have|strong="G5547" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" that|strong="G2443" God promised|strong="G1860".
15 Brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G0080" sisters, let|strong="G3004" me|strong="G3004" give|strong="G3004" you|strong="G3004" an|strong="G2228" example from|strong="G2596" everyday life: Think about|strong="G2596" an|strong="G2228" agreement that|strong="G3004" one|strong="G3762" person|strong="G0444" makes with|strong="G2596" another|strong="G2596". After|strong="G2596" that|strong="G3004" agreement is|strong="G0444" made|strong="G3004" official, no|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" can|strong="G3004" stop it|strong="G3004" or|strong="G2228" add|strong="G1928" anything|strong="G3762" to|strong="G3004" it|strong="G3004", and|strong="G0080" no|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" can|strong="G3004" ignore it|strong="G3004".
16 God|strong="G0846" made|strong="G3004" promises|strong="G1860" to|strong="G3004" Abraham|strong="G0011" and|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" Descendant|strong="G4690". The|strong="G3588" Scripture|strong="G3004" does|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" say|strong="G3004", “and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G3004" your|strong="G2532" descendants|strong="G4690".” That|strong="G3739" would|strong="G5547" mean|strong="G3004" many|strong="G4183" people|strong="G0846". But|strong="G1161" it|strong="G0846" says|strong="G3004", “and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G3004" your|strong="G2532" Descendant|strong="G4690".” That|strong="G3739" means|strong="G1510" only|strong="G3756" one|strong="G1520", and|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3739" one|strong="G1520" is|strong="G1510" Christ|strong="G5547".
17 This|strong="G3778" is|strong="G2316" what|strong="G3588" I|strong="G2532" mean|strong="G3004": The|strong="G3588" agreement that|strong="G3004" God|strong="G2316" gave to|strong="G1519" Abraham was|strong="G3588" made|strong="G1096" official long|strong="G2094" before|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" came|strong="G1096". The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" came|strong="G1096" 430 years|strong="G2094" later|strong="G3326". So|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" could|strong="G1096" not|strong="G3756" take|strong="G1096" away|strong="G2673" the|strong="G3588" agreement and|strong="G2532" change God’s|strong="G2316" promise|strong="G1860".
18 Can following the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" give|strong="G5483" us|strong="G5483" the|strong="G3588" blessing God|strong="G2316" promised|strong="G1860"? If|strong="G1487" we|strong="G1487" could receive it|strong="G1223" by|strong="G1223" following the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551", then|strong="G1161" it|strong="G1223" would not|strong="G3765" be|strong="G2316" God’s|strong="G2316" promise|strong="G1860" that|strong="G2316" brings it|strong="G1223" to|strong="G1537" us|strong="G5483". But|strong="G1161" God|strong="G2316" freely|strong="G5483" gave|strong="G5483" his|strong="G1223" blessings to|strong="G1537" Abraham|strong="G0011" through|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" promise|strong="G1860" God|strong="G2316" made.
19 So|strong="G3767" what|strong="G5101" was|strong="G3739" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" for|strong="G1223"? The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" was|strong="G3739" given|strong="G4369" to|strong="G2064" show the|strong="G3588" wrong things|strong="G3739" people|strong="G3588" do|strong="G5101". The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" would|strong="G5101" continue until|strong="G0891" the|strong="G3588" special Descendant|strong="G4690" of|strong="G1223" Abraham came|strong="G2064". This|strong="G3588" is|strong="G5101" the|strong="G3588" Descendant|strong="G4690" mentioned in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" promise|strong="G1861", which|strong="G3739" came|strong="G2064" directly|strong="G1722" from|strong="G2064" God|strong="G1861". But|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" was|strong="G3739" given|strong="G4369" through|strong="G1223" angels|strong="G0032", and|strong="G2064" the|strong="G3588" angels|strong="G0032" used Moses as|strong="G1722" a|strong="G3739" mediator|strong="G3316" to|strong="G2064" give|strong="G2064" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" to|strong="G2064" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588".
20 But|strong="G1161" when|strong="G1161" God|strong="G2316" gave the|strong="G3588" promise, there|strong="G1510" was|strong="G1510" no|strong="G3756" mediator|strong="G3316", because|strong="G1161" a|strong="G1510" mediator|strong="G3316" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" needed when|strong="G1161" there|strong="G1510" is|strong="G1510" only|strong="G3756" one|strong="G1520" side, and|strong="G1161" God|strong="G2316" is|strong="G1510" one|strong="G1520".
21 Does|strong="G1510" this|strong="G3588" mean|strong="G1510" that|strong="G1096" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" works against|strong="G2596" God’s|strong="G2316" promises|strong="G1860"? Of|strong="G1537" course not|strong="G3361". The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" was|strong="G1510" never|strong="G3361" God’s|strong="G2316" way|strong="G2596" of|strong="G1537" giving|strong="G1325" new life|strong="G2227" to|strong="G1410" people|strong="G1510". If|strong="G1487" it|strong="G1510" were|strong="G1510", then|strong="G3767" we|strong="G1487" could|strong="G1410" be|strong="G1510" made|strong="G1096" right|strong="G1343" with|strong="G1537" God|strong="G2316" by|strong="G1537" following|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551".
22 But|strong="G0235" this|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G0235" possible. The|strong="G3956" Scriptures|strong="G1124" put|strong="G1325" the|strong="G3956" whole|strong="G3956" world in|strong="G3956" prison under|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3956" control of|strong="G1537" sin|strong="G0266", so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" the|strong="G3956" only|strong="G0235" way|strong="G3956" for|strong="G2443" people|strong="G3956" to|strong="G2443" get what|strong="G3588" God|strong="G1325" promised|strong="G1860" would|strong="G5547" be|strong="G3956" through|strong="G1537" faith|strong="G4102" in|strong="G3956" Jesus|strong="G2424" Christ|strong="G5547". It|strong="G1537" is|strong="G3588" given|strong="G1325" to|strong="G2443" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" believe|strong="G4100" in|strong="G3956" him|strong="G1325".
23 Before|strong="G4253" this|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102" came|strong="G2064", the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" held us|strong="G1519" as|strong="G1519" prisoners. We|strong="G1161" had|strong="G2064" no freedom until|strong="G1519" God showed us|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" way of|strong="G3551" faith|strong="G4102" that|strong="G1161" was|strong="G3588" coming|strong="G2064".
24 I|strong="G1473" mean the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" was|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" guardian|strong="G3807" in|strong="G1519" charge of|strong="G1537" us|strong="G1519" until|strong="G1519" Christ|strong="G5547" came|strong="G1096". After|strong="G1537" he|strong="G4102" came|strong="G1096", we|strong="G2249" could|strong="G1096" be|strong="G1096" made|strong="G1096" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G1537" God through|strong="G1537" faith|strong="G4102".
25 Now|strong="G1161" that|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" way of|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102" has|strong="G4102" come|strong="G2064", we|strong="G1161" no|strong="G3765" longer|strong="G3765" need the|strong="G3588" law to|strong="G2064" be|strong="G1510" our|strong="G1161" guardian|strong="G3807".
28 Now|strong="G2532", in|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547", it|strong="G1510" doesn’t|strong="G3756" matter if|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" Jew|strong="G2453" or|strong="G3761" a|strong="G1510" Greek|strong="G1672", a|strong="G1510" slave|strong="G1401" or|strong="G3761" free|strong="G1658", male|strong="G0730" or|strong="G3761" female|strong="G2338". You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" same|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547" Jesus|strong="G2424".
29 You|strong="G5210" belong|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2596" Christ|strong="G5547", so|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" Abraham’s|strong="G0011" descendants|strong="G4690". You|strong="G5210" get all|strong="G3588" of|strong="G2596" God’s blessings because|strong="G1161" of|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" promise|strong="G1860" that|strong="G1161" God made to|strong="G2596" Abraham|strong="G0011".