The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(James 2:14–26)

O senseless Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth, crucified among you?

This only would I learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are you so foolish, that, whereas you began in the Spirit, you would now be made perfect by the flesh?

Have you suffered so great things in vain? If it be yet in vain.

He therefore who giveth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you; doth he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith?

As it is written: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.

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

And the scripture, foreseeing, that God justifieth the Gentiles by faith, told unto Abraham before: In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Therefore they that are of faith, shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.

Christ Has Redeemed Us

For as many as are of the works of the law, are under a curse. For it is written: Cursed is every one, that abideth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest: because the just man liveth by faith.

But the law is not of faith: but, He that doth those things, 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 Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

The Purpose of the Law

(Romans 7:1–6)

Brethren (I speak after the manner of man,) yet a man’s testament, if it be confirmed, no man despiseth, nor addeth to it.

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

Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.

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

Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come, to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

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

Was the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law.

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

But before the faith came, we were kept under the law shut up, unto that faith which was to be revealed.

Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.

Sons through Faith in Christ

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

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

There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if you be Christ’s, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

(James 2:14–26)

Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?

I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?

Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”(a)

Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham.

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”(b)

So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

Christ Has Redeemed Us

For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”(c)

Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”(d)

The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”(e)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”(f)

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

The Purpose of the Law

(Romans 7:1–6)

Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring.(g) He doesn’t say, “To descendants (h)”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”,(i) which is Christ.

Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

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

Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons through Faith in Christ

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

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

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

Footnotes

(a)3:6 ℘ Genesis 15:6

(b)3:8 ℘ Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18

(d)3:11 ℘ Habakkuk 2:4

(e)3:12 ℘ Leviticus 18:5

(f)3:13 ℘ Deuteronomy 21:23

(g)3:16 or, seed

(h)3:16 or, seeds

(i)3:16 ℘ Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7