Commentary on Galatians and Ephesians

1O foolish Galatians, who hath enchanted you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes hath been clearly exhibited Jesus, Christ crucified among you?

2This only I wish to learn from you; Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the preaching of faith?

3Are ye so foolish, that, having begun by the Spirit, ye are now completed by the flesh?

4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be indeed in vain.

5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, (doth he it) by the works of the law, or by the preaching of faith?

6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. ((Genesis 15:6) (Romans 4:3) (James 2:23).)

7Know ye therefore that they who are of faith are the children of Abraham.

8And the scripture, because it foresaw ¹⁸² that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, formerly preached the gospel to Abraham: In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9And so they who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

10For all that are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ((Deuteronomy 22:6),) Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11Now that by the law no man is instilled before God is evident, for the just by faith shall live. ((Habakkuk 2:4); (Romans 1:17); (Hebrews 10:38).)

12And the law is not of faith; but the man who shall do these things shall live in them. ((Leviticus 18:5).)

13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us; (for it is written, ((Deuteronomy 21:23),) Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree;)

14That the blessing of Abraham may come upon the Gentiles by Christ Jesus; that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

15Brethren, (I speak after the manner of men,) though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man setteth aside or addeth any thing.

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

17And this I say: the covenant (which was) formerly confirmed by God concerning Christ, the law, which began four hundred and thirty years after, doth not annul, so as to abolish the promise.

18For, if the inheritance (is) by the law, (it is) no longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19To what then serveth the law? ¹⁸³ 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.

20Now the mediator is not of one; but God is one.

21(Is) the law then against the promises of God? ¹⁸⁴ By no means; for, if the law had been given that it might be able to give life, ¹⁸⁵ certainly righteousness would have been by the law.

22But the scripture hath shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23Now before faith came, we were guarded under the law, shut up to the faith which was to be revealed.

24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25But faith being come, ¹⁸⁶ we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

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

27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28There 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.

29And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.