BOOK 48 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

Galatians 3

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Galatians 3 Overview

Paul asks whether the Galatians received the Spirit by works of the law or by the hearing of faith. He appeals to Abraham, Scripture’s promise that the nations would be blessed through him, and the curse borne by Christ. The law, added later because of transgressions, could not cancel the earlier promise and served as a schoolmaster until Christ.

GalatiansBook

3Chapter

29Verses

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Before you read Galatians 3

Coming from

Paul recounts a Jerusalem meeting where Titus is not compelled to be circumcised and where the apostles recognize Paul’s gospel ministry among the Gentiles. He then describes confronting Peter at Antioch when Peter’s withdrawal from Gentiles contradicts gospel truth. Paul states plainly that a man is justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul explains that believers are no longer servants under elementary bondage but sons because God sent forth His Son, made of a woman and under the law, to redeem those under the law. The Spirit of His Son cries ‘Abba, Father.’ Paul then pleads with the Galatians not to return to bondage and uses Hagar and Sarah allegorically to contrast bondage and promise.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Abraham is Paul’s example of justification by faith, not of salvation by circumcision or later law-keeping.

The law has a real divine purpose, but giving life and justification are not that purpose.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

The Spirit is received by faith, not law performance

Paul begins with the Galatians’ own experience of believing the gospel.

Christ redeemed from the law’s curse

He became a curse for us so Abrahamic blessing could reach the Gentiles.

The law points to the need for Christ rather than competing with the promise

It shuts all under sin and serves a temporary pedagogical role.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Genesis 15:6

Abraham believed God, and righteousness was counted to him.

Genesis 12:3

The promise of blessing to all nations underlies Paul’s Gentile argument.

Romans 4

Paul gives a fuller treatment of Abraham being justified by faith before circumcision.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not teach that the law was evil

Paul says it was added for a purpose and later asks whether it is against God’s promises—‘God forbid.’

Do not make baptism in verse 27 a contradiction of justification by faith

The surrounding argument is faith, sonship, and union with Christ; baptism language must be read within that gospel framework.

Do not use ‘neither male nor female’ to erase every role distinction taught elsewhere

The verse addresses equal standing and inheritance in Christ.

Read Galatians 3 watching for…

The repeated contrast between hearing of faith and works of law.

Abraham’s role in the argument.

The curse texts and Christ becoming a curse.

Why the law was added.

The movement from schoolmaster to sonship in Christ.

Chapter outline5 sections

1-9Paul asks why the Galatians are turning from faith to works and points to Abraham’s faith 10-14The law brings a curse, but Christ redeems from the curse so Abraham’s blessing comes through faith 15-18The promise to Abraham came before the law and cannot be annulled by it 19-25The law was added because of transgressions and served as a schoolmaster unto Christ 26-29Believers are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and heirs according to the promise

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?

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

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

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

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?

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

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.

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

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.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

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:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

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.

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.

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.

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

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.

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

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.

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

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

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

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

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

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

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.

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

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Galatians 3:16

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