3: 2 This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the 23hearing of faith?
23Or, message of faith? And so in vs. 5.
3: 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, 24are ye now perfected in the flesh?
24Or, do ye now make an end in the flesh?
3: 4 Did ye suffer so many things in vain? if it be indeed in vain.
3: 5 He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh 25miracles 26among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
25Gk. powers
26Or, in
3: 6 Even as Abraham 27believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
27Ge 15:6.
3: 7 28Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.
28Or, Ye perceive
3: 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God 29would justify the 30Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, 31In thee shall all the nations be blessed.
29Gk. justifieth
30Gk. nations
31Ge 12:3 merged with Ge 22:18.
3: 9 So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
3: 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, 32Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.
32Dt 27:26.
3: 11 Now that no man is justified 33by the law before God, is evident: for, 34The righteous shall live by faith;
33Gk. in
34Hab 2:4.
3: 12 and the law is not of faith; but, 35He that doeth them shall live in them.
35Lv 18:5.
3: 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, 36Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
36Dt 21:23. Or more poetically, Cursed be he that hangeth on a tree.
3: 14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the 37promise of the Spirit through faith.
37p46 D*G almost alone read blessing
3: 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto.
3: 16 Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, 38And to thy seed, which is Christ.
38Ge 13:15; 17:8.
3: 17 Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by 39God, the law covenant, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise covenant of none effect.
39So p46ℵBCA 1739 33 81 copsa,bo vg. I and a majority of lesser Gk. mss., read God in Christ,
3: 18 For if the inheritance be of the law covenant, it is no more of the promise covenant: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.
3: 19 40Why then was the law covenant? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
40Or, What then is the law covenant?
3: 20 Now the mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.
3: 21 Is the law covenant then against the promises 41of God? Be it not so: for if there had been a law covenant given which could make alive, truly righteousness would have been of the law covenant.
41p46B virtually alone omit of God
3: 22 But the scripture shut up all men under sin, that the promise covenant by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
3: 23 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law covenant, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
3: 24 So that the law covenant is become our 42guardian to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
42Lit. child guide That is, slave who went with a boy from home to school and back again (so Liddell and Scott; see also Thayer). Modern near-equivalent, school-bus driver. By extension, may be, tutor, instructor. (Also in vs. 25)
3: 25 But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a guardian.
3: 26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
3: 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
3: 28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for 43ye all are one kind in Christ Jesus.
43So BC 1739 81 and most lesser Gk. mss, arm. p46A alone read ye all are of Christ Jesus. 33 G vg read ye all are in one kind in Christ Jesus. ℵ* alone reads ye all are in Christ Jesus.
3: 29 And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise covenant.
