Preface: Paul disputes the claims of the Judaizers. In this chapter, he concentrates on the idea that believers in the Church Age are not under the Law of Moses (which is what the Judaizers claim). His final conclusions, that there are no distinctions between men and women, Jews and Greeks, slaves and freemen, are quite dramatic; but the final verse will have an even greater impact (If you are Christ’s, then you are the seed of Abraham, the heirs to the promise).

Bible Summary: Those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. In Christ you are all sons of God.

This should be the most extensive examination of Galatians 3 available, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text.

Brief Overview:

Outline of Chapter 3:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–9           Faith is Key to the Spiritual Life

         vv.    10–14         The Law Curses Man

         vv.    15–20         You Cannot Add to a Contract After the Fact

         vv.    21–25         How Faith and the Law Interact

         vv.    26–29         We Are All Sons of God Through Faith in Christ Jesus

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Preface

         Preface               Brief Overview

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Galatians 3 (by Various Commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Galatians 3 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Galatians 3

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Prequel to Galatians 3

         Introduction         The Principals of Galatians 3

         Introduction         The Places of Galatians 3

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Galatians 3

         Introduction         Outlines and Summaries of Galatians 3 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Galatians 3 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Galatians –)

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions

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         v.       8              Genesis As a Memorized Narrative

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         v.      10              Deuteronomy 27:26a

         v.      11              Habakkuk 2:4

         v.      12              Leviticus 18:3–5

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         v. 

         v.      16              Paul on God’s Contract with Abraham

         v.      17              Israel in Egypt and the Time Controversy

         v.      18              The Abrahamic Covenant (very brief)

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         v.      27              The Doctrine of Baptisms (Notes from R. B. Thieme, Jr.)

         v.      27              Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Basic Notes from R. B. Thieme, Jr.)

         v.      27              Why the Believer Does Not Seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

         v.      28              The Logical Progression to “There is no Jew or Greek (Distinction)”

         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Galatians 3 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Galatians 3

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Galatians 3

         Summary 

         Summary 

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Galatians 3

         Addendum 

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Galatians 3

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Kukis Paraphrase of Galatians 3

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Galatians 3

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An Introduction to Galatians 3

I ntroduction: Galatians 3 is where Paul punches the Judaizers back over their assertion that new believers should be attentive to the Mosaic Law. One can tell that Paul is both filled with emotion when responding here, and yet, his approach is strictly one of logic.

Twice, early on in this chapter, Paul calls the Galatians foolish. He asks them two questions based upon simle logic: Did you receive the Spirit by the hearing of faith or from the Law? And, did you expect to begin your spiritual life with faith and perfect it with the flesh?

Throughout this chapter, Paul tells them about the superiority of faith. They received the Spirit by faith; the miracles performed before them were by faith. Then Paul talks about Abraham: he exercise faith in God and this was his righteousness; and he received the promises of God before the Law was given. These promises of God are a contract so God cannot change this contract by adding the Law. Therefore, the promises of God cannot come by the Law, not even to the Jews.

Paul makes a great number of important points in this chapter: the justified will live by faith; the Law is not added as an additional requirement to the promises made to Abraham; the Scripture imprisons us under sin; the Law, like a pedagogue, guides us to Jesus Christ; and there are no differences between male and female, slave and free, Jew or Greek when it comes to faith in Christ.

Paul’s overall reasoning and approach to the problems of law, grace and faith are fairly easy to understand and to explain. However, in certain passages, his reasoning and approach may be somewhat difficult. When Paul gives his point of view on some specific issues, there are times when the grammar, sentence structure and reasoning gives us a run for our money (I use the editorial we here).

I strongly recommend that, before jumping into Romans, that the believer study Galatians first. Most of the overall arguments are not difficult; but some of the specific approaches that Paul makes are good preparations for his logical approach in Romans.

Throughout this chapter, I will make allusions to the dispensation of Israel and the dispensation of the church. Paul does not speak to this in this letter. He is able to make his arguments without having to talk about the change of dispensations (he does speak of the dispensations in other letters, of course). I am simply acknowledging that I am added a doctrinal dimension to this letter which is not inherent to the letter itself.

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Faith is Key to the Spiritual Life

When there are five questions, or five sets of questions, one wonders, will they all be answered in the next five verses? Will they be answered in the same order or in reverse order? Will some questions be answered and some ignored? Will the questions answer themselves?

The questions asked by Paul are rhetorical questions. He is asking these questions in order to make a number of points (actually, there is one main point which he keeps making, but in different ways). He seems to be using the shotgun approach. Some of the recipients get hit with all the buckshot; others by a few pellets. But this approach is designed to get all of those who have gone astray in their thinking.

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       I will use the Westcott-Hort Greek text as the basis for my English translation. I use that test primarily because e-sword has a nice module by Rob Wolfram which has the interlinear English text, Strong’s #’s, and the Greek morphology. The e-sword tab is IWH+P. I do not use their English text for my translation. Also, throughout, I take in consideration alternate readings.

As a young Christian, I was quite interested in the alternative readings. After many decades of study, I have found that, as with the Hebrew text, disputed readings rarely have any affect on the interpretation of a text (apart from perhaps a half-dozen fairly well-known alternate readings, like the end of the book of Mark).

I will compare the Greek text to English translations of the Latin and Syriac (= Aramaic) texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation and George Lamsa’s translation from the Syriac. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.).

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls are irrelevant, as they preceded the writing of the New Testament by over 200 years.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    O foolish Galatians—who you (all) bewitched? To whom, according to a norm or standard eyes Jesus Christ was publicaly crucified? This (thing) only I keep on desiring to learn from you (all): out from works of a Law the Spirit you (all) received or out from a hearing of faith? Therefore, foolish you (all) keep on being, beginning by a Spirit now by flesh you (all) bring to completion? So much you (all) keep on expiencing without purpose, if indeed even without purpose. The (one), therefore, supplying you (all) the Spirit, even working powers among you (all), out from works of Law or out from a hearing of faith?

Complete Apostles’ Bible      O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was portrayed publicly among you as crucified?

This only do I wish to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, will you now be made perfect in the flesh?

Have you suffered so many things in vain--If indeed they really were in vain?

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

Revised Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) 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?

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Eastern Aramaic Mnscrpts     .

James Murdock’s Syriac NT O ye Galatians, deficient in understanding! Who hath fascinated you? For lo, Jesus the Messiah hath been portrayed as in a picture, crucified before your eyes.

This only would I learn from you, Was it by works of the law, that ye received the Spirit? or by the hearing of faith?

Are ye so foolish, that having begun in the Spirit, ye now would consummate in the flesh?

And have ye borne all these things in vain? And I would, it were in vain!

He therefore who giveth the Spirit in you, and who worketh miracles among you, [doth he these things] by the deeds of the law? or by the hearing of faith?

Original Aramaic NT              Oh stupid Galatians! Who has rivaled you? For behold, The Fashioner was portrayed * before your eyes, Yeshua The Messiah, when he was crucified.

This only I wish to know of you: Did you receive The Spirit by the works of The Written Law or by the hearing of faith?

Are you so foolish that you began in The Spirit and now you finish in the flesh?

Have you endured all these things for nothing? But oh, that it were for nothing!

Is he, therefore, who gives The Spirit among you, and does miracles among you, of the works of The Written Law, or of the hearing of faith?

Plain English Aramaic Bible   .

Lamsa Peshitta (Syriac)         .

Significant differences: 

English Translations:          I have included translations which I disagree with and footnotes that I do not necessarily agree with. If I believe that the author is too far from the truth, I may even address that at the footnote. However, nearly all of the correct commentary will be found following the Greek text box and the translation of each phrase.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             O foolish Galatians, by what strange powers have you been tricked, to whom it was made clear that Jesus Christ was put to death on the cross? 

Give me an answer to this one question, Did the Spirit come to you through the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

Are you so foolish? having made a start in the Spirit, will you now be made complete in the flesh? 

Did you undergo such a number of things to no purpose? if it is in fact to no purpose. 

He who gives you the Spirit, and does works of power among you, is it by the works of law, or by the hearing of faith?

Bible in Worldwide English     O you Galatians, have you no sense at all? Who has fooled you? You knew, just as if you had seen him with your own eyes, that Jesus Christ was killed on a cross.

Here is one thing I want to ask you. You received the Holy Spirit. Was that because you obeyed the law given to the Jews by Moses? No, it was because you heard Gods word and believed it.

Have you no sense at all? You began living your new life by the power of the Spirit. And are you now trying to finish living it by your own power to keep the law?

So many things happened to you. Was it all for nothing? Surely it was not for nothing.

God gives you the Spirit. He does wonderful works among you. Does he do this because you obey the law? No, he does it because you heard the word of God and believed it.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  You people in Galatia are so foolish! Why do I say this? Because I told you very clearly about the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. But now it seems as though you have let someone use their magical powers to make you forget.

Tell me this one thing: How did you receive the Spirit? Did you receive the Spirit by following the law? No, you received the Spirit because you heard the message about Jesus and believed it.

You began your life in Christ with the Spirit. Now do you try to complete it by your own power? That is foolish.

You have experienced many things. Were all those experiences wasted? I hope they were not wasted!

Does God give you the Spirit because you follow the law? Does God work miracles among you because you follow the law? No, God gives you his Spirit and works miracles among you because you heard the message about Jesus and believed it.

God’s Word™                         You stupid people of Galatia! Who put you under an evil spell? Wasn't Christ Jesus' crucifixion clearly described to you?

I want to learn only one thing from you. Did you receive the Spirit by your own efforts to live according to a set of standards or by believing what you heard?

Are you that stupid? Did you begin in a spiritual way only to end up doing things in a human way?

Did you suffer so much for nothing? I doubt that it was for nothing!

Does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you through your own efforts or through believing what you heard?

Good News Bible (TEV)         You foolish Galatians! Who put a spell on you? Before your very eyes you had a clear description of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross!

Tell me this one thing: did you receive God's Spirit by doing what the Law requires or by hearing the gospel and believing it?

How can you be so foolish! You began by God's Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?

Did all your experience mean nothing at all? Surely it meant something!

Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you because you do what the Law requires or because you hear the gospel and believe it?

The Message                         .

NIRV                                      .

New Life Version                    .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Contemporary English V.       You stupid Galatians! I told you exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil spell on you?

I want to know only one thing. How were you given God's Spirit? Was it by obeying the Law of Moses or by hearing about Christ and having faith in him?

How can you be so stupid? Do you think that by yourself you can complete what God's Spirit started in you?

Have you gone through all of this for nothing? Is it all really for nothing?

God gives you his Spirit and works miracles in you. But does he do this because you obey the Law of Moses or because you have heard about Christ and have faith in him?

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        What has happened to you Galatians to be acting so foolishly? You must have been under some evil spell! Didn’t God open your eyes to see the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion? Wasn’t he revealed to you as the crucified one? 

So answer me this: Did the Holy Spirit come to you as a reward for keeping all the Jewish laws? No, you received him as a gift because you believed in the Messiah. 

Your new life in the Anointed One began with the Holy Spirit giving you a new birth. Why then would you so foolishly turn from living in the Spirit by trying to finish by your own works? 

Have you endured all these trials and persecutions for nothing? 

Let me ask you again: What does the lavish supply of the Holy Spirit in your life, and the miracles of God’s tremendous power, have to do with you keeping religious laws? The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us through the revelation and power of faith, not by keeping the law!

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  You fellow believers there in Galatia are very foolish! Someone must have bewitched you with their evil eye! I told you exactly how they had crucified Jesus the Messiah, did I not?  

So I want you to tell me only one thing: When the Holy Spirit came to you, did he come because you were obeying the law of Moses? Or did the Spirit come to you because you had heard the good news and trusted in the Messiah? Certainly this is what happened.  

You are very foolish! You first became Christians because God's Spirit enabled you. But now you think you will continue until you die by trying as hard as possible to obey the law.  

All the difficult things you have experienced after you believed in the Messiah would have been of no value at all if you had not been trusting in him.  

When God now generously gives to you his Spirit and performs mighty deeds among you, do you think that it is because you obey God's law? Surely you know it is because when you heard the good news about the Messiah, you trusted in him!

Williams’ New Testament      O senseless Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose very eyes Jesus Christ was pictured as the crucified One?

I want to ask you only this one thing: Did you receive the Spirit by doing what the law commands, or by believing the message you heard?

Are you so senseless? Did you begin by the Spirit, but are now approaching perfection by fleshly means?

Have you suffered so much for nothing? If it really is for nothing.

Now when He supplies you with the Spirit and performs His wonder-works among you, does He do it because you do what the law commands, or because you believe the message that you heard --...

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            O unobservant Galatians, who tricked you (to whom, right in front of your eyes, Jesus, the Anointed King, was openly written about, that He had been nailed to a cross)?

I only want to learn this out of you, did you receive the Spirit from actions of the law or from what was heard of trust?

This is how you are unobservant. After beginning in on it with the Spirit, are you now finishing up with the physical body?

Did you suffer so many things for no reason, if it definitely even is for no reason?

So the One supplying the Spirit to you and active with abilities among you, is He from actions of the law or from what is heard of trust?

Common English Bible           .

Len Gane Paraphrase           O foolish Galatians, who has cast a spell on you that you wouldn't obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ's crucifixion was vividly described to you.

I only want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit from the Law or from the message of faith?

Are you so foolish? Having started by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?

Have you suffered so many things in vain?

Therefore does he who is supplying the Spirit and working miracles in you [do it] by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith?

A. Campbell's Living Oracles O inconsiderate Galatians! who has deceived you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ crucified, was evidently represented among you?

This, only, I wish to learn from you, did you receive the Spirit by works of law, or by obedience of faith?

Are you so inconsiderate that, having begun in Spirit, you are now made perfect in flesh?

Have you suffered so many things in vain? if, indeed, it is in vain?

He, then, who ministered to you the Spirit, and wrought miracles among you, did he these by works of law, or by a hearing of faith?

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

NT for Everyone                     .

20^th Century New Testament Foolish Galatians! Who has been fascinating you--you before whose very eyes Jesus Christ was depicted upon the cross?

Here is the one thing that I want to find out from you--Did you receive the Spirit as the result of obedience to Law, or of your having listened with faith?

Can you be so foolish? After beginning with what is spiritual, do you now end with what is external?

Did you go through so much to no purpose?--if indeed it really was to no purpose!

He who supplies you abundantly with his Spirit and endows you with such powers--does he do this as the result of obedience to Law? or as the result of your having listened with faith?

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

An Understandable Version   .

Berean Study Bible                .

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Evangelical Heritage V.          .

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                .

Free Bible Version                 You Galatians, you’ve lost your heads!* Who has put you under a spell? The death of Jesus Christ on a cross was clearly presented to you so you could see!

So tell me—did you receive the Spirit by keeping the law or by placing your trust in what you heard?

You really have lost your heads! You began living* in the Spirit. Do you really think you can now make yourselves perfect by your own human efforts*?

Did you go through so much suffering for nothing? (It really wasn’t for nothing was it?)

Let me ask you: does God* give you the Spirit and do so many miracles among you because you keep the law, or is it because you trust in what you heard?

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

International Standard V        Believers are Approved by God

You foolish Galatians! Who put you under a spell? Was not Jesus the Messiah [Or Christ] clearly portrayed before your very eyes as having been crucified?

I want to learn only one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by doing [Lit. Spirit through] the actions of the Law or by believing what you heard? [Lit. or through the hearing of faith]

Are you so foolish? Having started out with the Spirit, are you now ending up with the flesh?

Did you suffer so much for nothing? (If it really was for nothing!)

Does God [Lit. he] supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you because you do the actions [Lit. you through the works] of the Law or because you believe what you heard? [Lit. you through the hearing of faith]

Lexham Bible                         Justified by the Law, or Justified by Faith?

O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as having been crucified?

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

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now trying to be made complete by the flesh?

Have you suffered so many things for nothing—if indeed also it was for nothing?

Therefore does the one who gives you the Spirit and who works miracles among you do so by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Montgomery NT                     O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? You, before whose very eyes Jesus Christ was placarded as crucified!

Answer me this one question. "When you received the Spirit, was it from doing what the Law commands or from believing the message heard?"

Are you so without sense? After beginning with the Spirit, will you now end with the flesh?

Did you have such experience to no purpose—if indeed it was really to no purpose?

Does he then who supplies you with his Spirit and works miracles among you, do it because you do what the law commands of because you believe the message heard?

NIV, ©2011                             .

Riverside New Testament      .

Leicester A. Sawyer’s NT      O FOOLISH Galatians, who has fascinated you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been set forth among you crucified?

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

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit do you now end in the flesh?

Have you suffered so much in vain? if indeed also it is in vain.

He then that imparts to you the Spirit, and exercises miraculous powers among you, does he do it by works of the law, or by the doctrine of faith?.

The Spoken English NT         .

UnfoldingWord Literal Text    .

Urim-Thummim Version         .

Weymouth New Testament    You foolish Galatians! Whose sophistry has bewitched you--you to whom Jesus Christ has been vividly portrayed as on the Cross?

Answer me this one question, "Is it on the ground of your obedience to the Law that you received the Spirit, or is it because, when you heard, you believed?"

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now going to reach perfection through what is external?

Have you endured such sufferings to no purpose--if indeed it has been to no purpose?

He who gives you His Spirit and works miracles among you--does He do so on the ground of your obedience to the Law, or is it the result of your having heard and believed: even as ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND HIS FAITH WAS PLACED TO HIS ACCOUNT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS? V. 6 is included for context.

Wikipedia Bible Project          .

Worsley’s New Testament    . void of

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)     .

The Heritage Bible                 .

New American Bible (2002)   .

New American Bible (2011)   .

New English Bible–1970        .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

New RSV                               .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               O you lacking exile Galatians, who bewitched you not to obey the truth, to whom before your eyes Yahshua Messiah was written before among you crucified?

This only I desire to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of Law or by hearing of faith?

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, do you now want to complete yourself in the flesh?

All of these vanities you endured. Oh that it might not be for no purpose.

Then He supplying the Spirit to you and working works of power in you, is it by works of (Levitical) Law or by obedience of faith?

Holy New Covenant Trans.    You people in Galatia were told very clearly about the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Why are you so foolish; you let someone trick you!

Tell me this one thing: how did you receive the Holy Spirit? Did you receive the Spirit by following the law? No! You received the Spirit because you heard the Good News and believed it.

You began your life in Christ with the Spirit. Are you trying to continue it by your own power? You are so foolish!

Many things have happened to you. Was it all a waste of time? I hope not!

Does God give you the Spirit because you follow the law? Does God work miracles among you because you follow the law? It is because you heard the Good News and believed it.

The Scriptures 2009              O senseless Galatians! Who has put you under a spell, not to obey the truth – before whose eyes יהושע Messiah was clearly portrayed among you as impaled? 

This only I wish to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of Torah, or by the hearing of belief? 

Are you so senseless? Having begun in the Spirit, do you now end in the flesh? 

Have you suffered so much in vain – if indeed in vain? 

Is He, then, who is supplying the Spirit to you and working miracles among you, doing it by works of Torah, or by hearing of belief?

Tree of Life Version                O foolish Galatians, who cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Yeshua the Messiah was clearly portrayed as crucified.

I want to find out just one thing from you: did you receive the Ruach by deeds based on Torah, or by hearing based on trust?

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Ruach, will you now reach the goal in the flesh?

Did you endure so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing?

So then, the One who gives you the Ruach and works miracles among you—does He do it because of your deeds based on Torah or your hearing based on trust and faithfulness?

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       ...Oh Foolish Galatians Who? you* misleads [to] whom* in eyes Jesus Christ is written (before) Having Been Crucified this only [I] want to learn from you* from works [of] law the spirit [You*] receive or from hearing [of] faith so Foolish [Men] [You*] are Beginning [by] spirit now [by] flesh [You*] are completed these [You*] suffer vainly if yet and {them You* suffer} vainly The [One] so Supplying [to] you* the spirit and Working powers in you* {is} from works [of] law or from hearing [of] faith...

Alpha & Omega Bible            . publicly

Awful Scroll Bible                   O un-thinking Galatians! Who allures yous not to be confiding to that Un-concealed, along down to whose eye, Jesus the Anointed One, is being written-beforehand, having been impaled from-among yous?

This alone I desire to learn from yous, received yous the Breath by the works of the Law, or by hearing in confidence?

Yous are the same-as-this un-appreciative, beginning-by- being -within the Breath, yous now complete-upon by the flesh?

Yous suffered sadly so many things unduly, if-surely indeed unduly.

Consequently, He ~outfitting-over to yous the Breath, and undertaking-from-among yous powers, is it by works of the Law or by the hearing in confidence?

Concordant Literal Version    O foolish Galatians! Who bewitches you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was graphically crucified?

This only I want to learn from you: Did you get the spirit by works of law or by hearing of faith?

So foolish are you? Undertaking in spirit, are you now being completed in flesh?

So much did you suffer feignedly? Since, surely, it also is feignedly!"

He, then, who is supplying you with the spirit, and operating works of power among you-did you get the spirit by works of law or by the hearing of faith, according as Abraham believes God, and it is reckoned to him for righteousness? V. 6 is included for context.

exeGeses companion Bible   TAKING THE HOLY SPIRIT

O mindless Galatians,

who fascinated you to not obey the truth

- in front of whose eyes Yah Shua Messiah

was preinscribed among you - staked?

I will to learn only this of you:

Took you the Spirit by the works of the torah?

Or by the hearing of trust?

Are you thus mindless?

Having begun in Spirit,

complete/shalam you now in flesh?

Suffer you so much in vain - if indeed in vain?

So he who supplies the Spirit to you

and energizes dynamis among you

- is it by the works of the torah

or by the hearing of trust?.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           O senseless Galatians, who bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua was publicly shown forth as having been TALUI AL HAETZ (hanging on the tree, DEVARIM 21:23).

This one thing only I want to learn from you: did you receive the Ruach HaKodesh by means of chukim of the Torah (laws of Torah) or by means of the hearing of emunah?

You lack seichel; having begun in the Ruach HaKodesh, will you now be perfected in the basar?

Did you suffer so many things lashav (in vain)? --if it really was lashav.

So then, Hashem who is supplying to you the Ruach HaKodesh and producing nifla'ot (miracles) among you, by what means does He do it, by chukim of the Torah or by the hearing of emunah?

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

An Understandable Version   You foolish people [of the churches] of Galatia [Note: This was a province in present-day Turkey], who tricked you? Was not Jesus Christ graphically portrayed before you as being put to death on a cross?

The only thing I would like to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Holy Spirit [into your lives] by [meeting the requirements of] the Law of Moses or by hearing [and obeying the message] of faith [in Christ]?

Are you so foolish [as to believe that after] having begun [your Christian lives] through [the power of] the Holy Spirit, you can [now] become complete by [living according to your human strength]?

Did you suffer so many things [for the faith] all for nothing? [That is], if it really was for nothing?

Therefore, as God has provided you with the Holy Spirit and has produced miracles among you, [do you think He has done all this] as a result of your obeying the requirements of the Law of Moses or as a result of hearing [and responding to the message of] the faith?

Benjamin Brodie’s trans.       Oh foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? Jesus Christ, who lived before your very eyes, was publicly proclaimed [well advertised] when He was crucified.

I want to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the [indwelling of the] Spirit from the law [obviously not, because as Gentiles they had never heard of the law] or from the message of the faith [the gospel message]?

Are you that foolish? Having begun in the Spirit [entrance into the spiritual life], are you now trying to finish in the flesh [attain maturity by keeping the law]?

Have you suffered so much [trials and tribulations for being a Christian] for no apparent reason? If, as a matter of fact, it appears to be indeed [as hard as it is for me to believe it, it appears to be true] for no apparent reason.

He [Jesus Christ], therefore, Who graciously provided the Spirit to you [indwelling of the Spirit which begins at regeneration] and keeps on working in you with supernatural power [the filling of the Spirit empowers you for the spiritual life], does He do this through the works of the law or through the message of the faith [gospel message]?

The Expanded Bible              .

Jonathan Mitchell NT             O senseless, unreflecting and foolish Galatians! Who suddenly harmed you with malicious words, or bewitched you folks with the evil eye – before whose eyes Jesus Christ was graphically placarded (= as though portrayed in writing before your own eyes) one having been crucified on a stake?

This only am I intending (wanting; purposing; willing) to learn from you people: Did you receive the Spirit (or: get the Breath-effect; take in hand the Attitude) forth from out of works of Law, or from out of a hearing of, and which is, faith or: from the midst of faith's hearing; or: from a hearing that arises from faith; (or: out of a listening which has the qualities and characteristics of trust and confidence)?

Are you so senseless, unreflecting and foolish? Being folks making a beginning inwardly by spirit (or: in breath-effect; by [the] Spirit; with [the] result of [the] Breath) are you folks now being progressively brought fully to the goal (being totally finished, perfected and brought to your destiny) by flesh (or, as a middle: are you now continuing to accomplish completeness in yourselves in, or with, flesh)? [note: Paul is using the word “flesh” here as a figure for “works of Law” (vs.2, above), with its circumcision, animal sacrifices, etc.; for other religions it would refer to “religious works” of those particular systems (including Christianity, in the following centuries)]

Did you folks experience or suffer so many things randomly, for no cause or purpose – if in reality [there] even [is] "for no cause," or "by random happenings"?

The One, therefore, continuously furnishing and supplying to (or: for; in) you folks the Spirit (or: the spirit; the breath; or: = attitude and vitality), and constantly and effectively energizing, being active, working and producing abilities and powers within you people – [is its source] from out of works of Law, or out of a "hearing" whose source is faith, (or: The one, then, constantly supplying the Breath-effect for you folks, and repeatedly working powers among you – [does he do it] from our of deeds based on [the] Law [= Torah], or from out of faith's attentive listening,)...

Syndein/Thieme                     .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

Lexham Bible                         .

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Passion Translation        .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

The Spoken English NT         Right with God-By Faith, or by Keeping All the Law’s Commands?
You unthinking^a Galatians, who hypnotized you? Your own eyes have seen Jesus Christ publicly hung on a cross!

I only want to learn one thing from you: did you receive the Spirit by doing what the Law requires, or by hearing and believing?^b

How can you be so unthinking? You started out in the Spirit-are you going to finish in the flesh?

Have you gone through all this for nothing? Was it really just for nothing?^c

So-when God^d gives out the Spirit to you, and does displays of power among you-does that come from doing what the Law requires, or from hearing with faith?

^a.Or “oblivious,” here and below: lit. “mindless”.

^b.Lit. “or by hearing of faith”.

^c.Lit. “Have you experienced/suffered so much for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing?”

^d.Lit. “So the one who”.

Wilbur Pickering’s New T.     Law or faith
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you not be persuaded by the Truth¹—Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as having been crucified, before your very eyes!²

Just tell me one thing: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Can you be so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, do you finish in the flesh?

Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing?

Furthermore, He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, is He activated by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?³—...

(1) Perhaps 3% of the Greek manuscripts omit “that you not be persuaded by the Truth” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

(2) It almost sounds like there was a dramatic demonstration.

(3) Although I have capitalized the pronoun, there must have been a human being involved as well.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you into not obeying the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ, crucified, was set forth in a written public proclamation? 

This only I desire to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit of God by works of law, or by the hearing of faith? 

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

Have you suffered so many things in vain, if indeed it has been in vain? 

Therefore consider this: He Who is supplying the Spirit to you, and Who is working deeds of power among you, is He doing it by works of law or by the hearing of faith?

Analytical-Literal Translation  O foolish Galatians! Who bewitched you_p [so as] not to be obeying the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed among you_p [as] having been crucified?

This only I want to learn from you_p: did you_p receive the Spirit by works of [the] Law or by hearing with faith?

You_p are so foolish! Having begun in [or, by] [the] Spirit, are you_p now being completed [or, perfected] in [or, by] the flesh?

You_p endured so many things for nothing! If indeed [they were] really for nothing.

Therefore, the One supplying the Spirit to you_p and supernaturally working miraculous powers [or, miracles] among you_p, [is He doing so] by works of [the] Law or by hearing with faith?

Berean Literal Bible                .

Bond Slave Version               .

C. Thomson updated NT        .

Charles Thomson NT             Inconsiderate Galatians! who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth; you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ crucified was evidently represented among you?

I wish to learn from you this only?Did you receive the spirit for works of law, or for the obedience of belief?

Are you so unwise? Having begun with spirit are you now perfecting your selves with flesh?

Have you suffered so many things in vain? But if indeed in vain;

doth he then, who ministereth the spirit to you abundantly, and worketh miracles among you, do this for works of law, or for the obedience of belief?

Context Group Version          O shameless Galatians, who gave you (pl) the evil-eye, before whose eyes Jesus the Anointed was openly set out crucified?

This only would I learn from you (pl). Did you (pl) receive the Spirit from the works of the law, or from the hearing of trust?

Are you (pl) shameless in this way? Having begun in the Spirit, are you (pl) now fully developed in the flesh?

Did you (pl) suffer so many things for no reason? If it is indeed for no reason.

He therefore that supplies to you (pl) the Spirit, and works power among you (pl), [does he do it] from the works of the law, or from the hearing of trust?

English Standard Version      .

Far Above All Translation       O foolish Galatians, who has spellbound you into not obeying the truth, you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was exhibited, crucified among you?

I just want to learn this from you: did you receive the spirit by works of the law or by heeding the principle of faith?

Are you so foolish? Having started in the spirit are you now going to finish in the flesh?

Have you suffered so much in vain? – if it was in vain, at least.

So he who provides you with the spirit and who works deeds of power among you, is it all by works of the law or by heeding the principle of faith?

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Literal New Testament           O SENSELESS GALATIANS, WHO YOU BEWITCHED, THE TRUTH NOT TO OBEY? WHOSE BEFORE EYES JESUS CHRIST WAS OPENLY SET FORTH AMONG YOU CRUCIFIED?

THIS ONLY I WISH TO LEARN FROM YOU, BY WORKS OF LAW THE SPIRIT RECEIVE YE, OR BY REPORT OF FAITH?

SO SENSELESS ARE YE? HAVING BEGUN IN SPIRIT, NOW IN FLESH ARE YE BEING PERFECTED?

SO MANY THINGS DID YE SUFFER IN VAIN? IF INDEED ALSO IN VAIN.

HE WHO THEREFORE SUPPLIES TO YOU THE SPIRIT, AND WORKS WORKS OF POWER AMONG YOU, [IS IT] BY WORKS OF LAW OR BY REPORT OF FAITH?

Literal Standard Version        O thoughtless Galatians, who bewitched you, not to obey the truth—before whose eyes [it] was previously written [about] Jesus Christ having been crucified?

I only wish to learn this from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are you so thoughtless? Having begun in the Spirit, do you now end in the flesh?

So many things you suffered in vain! If, indeed, even in vain.

He, therefore, who is supplying the Spirit to you and working mighty acts among you—[is it] by works of law or by the hearing of faith?

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you° that the truth is not to be obeyed, (in which your eyes, Jesus Christ was portrayed among you° as having been crucified)?

I only wish to learn this thing from you°. Did you° receive the Spirit from the works of the law or from the report of faith?

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

You° suffered vainly so-many things? If actually it was even vainly.

Therefore, is the one supplying the Spirit to you°, and working miracles among you°, are they from the works of the law or from the report of faith?

Modern KJV                           .

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

NT (Variant Readings)           .

Niobi Study Bible                   Justification by Faith

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you(p), that you(p) should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been clearly set forth, crucified among you(p)?

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

Are you(p) so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you(p) now made perfect by the flesh?

Have you(p) suffered so many (great) things in vain -- if it be yet in vain?

He therefore that ministereth to you(p) the Spirit and worketh miracles among you(p), doeth He it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Revised Young's Lit. Trans.   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

Webster’s Translation           .

World English Bible                .

Worrell New Testament         .

Young’s Updated LT             .

The gist of this passage: 

1-5

Translation: O [you] foolish Galatians—...

Paul calls the Galatians foolish, without understanding. What he taught was quite straightforward, and yet, they do not seem to understand any of it now.

Translation: ...who charmed you (all)?

Paul asks them? Did someone cast a spell on you? Did they bewitch you? Paul does not believe in casting spells or in people being bewitched. He is searching for an explanation as to why these Galatians have been blown so far off course from their Christian lives.

By saying this, Paul indicates that he is at a loss for the illogical approach these Galatians are taking to the Christian walk. What the hell happened to you? Paul is asking.

Translation: By what means, before [your] eyes was Jesus Christ publically crucified?

These are primarily gentile believers who live in Galatia. None of them saw Jesus publicly crucified. So, by what means was Jesus Christ publicly crucified before them? Paul, in the gospel message to the Galatians, made Christ known to them. His crucifixion was put on display for all to see; but they saw it in their mind’s eye, and they understood it by faith. They were told about it and they all believed it (this is why the Galatians who receive this letter from Paul are born again believers). Paul told them about the crucifixion, he explained what it meant, he explained that they were saved by hearing and believing the good news that Jesus died for their sins, and they believed what he said. How did this happen? Paul does not specifically answer the question right here, but the answer is, by the hearing of faith. They heard what Paul said and they believed it; and they are believers in Jesus Christ as a result.

Galatians 3:1 O [you] foolish Galatians—who charmed you (all)? By what means, before [your] eyes was Jesus Christ publically crucified? (Kukis nearly literal translation)

Translation: This one (thing) alone I keep on wanting to learn from you (all):...

Paul will give them the answer to his rhetorical question by asking them another rhetorical question. “Think about this,” Paul is saying, “I just want to know one thing from you all...”

No doubt, Paul has their full attention now. The rhetorical question which he just asked is in the back of their minds, but now they are ready—in their minds—to answer a question, the one thing that Paul wants to know.

Translation: ...[did] you (all) receive the Spirit by works of the Law...

Paul asks them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit by the works of the Law...?”

Now, these are gentile believers. They may or may not know that the Jews have this thing called the Mosaic Law. The Galatians all have the Holy Spirit; they are aware of this. Did they work for it by means of the Law? Well, of course not! Most of these gentiles did not even know what the Mosaic Law was exactly. Paul did not teach it to them. So obviously, option #1 can’t be the right answer. The Galatians were saved and received the Holy Spirit without the Mosaic Law, because Paul did not teach the Mosaic Law to them.

Translation: ...or by the hearing of faith?

Option #2 is the hearing of faith. What does this mean? Paul gave them the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they believed it and they were saved and filled with the Spirit. At this point in time, none of them knew about the Mosaic Law; or they knew very little about it. They were saved and received the Holy Spirit by the words of Paul, which they believed.

Galatians 3:2 This one (thing) alone I keep on wanting to learn from you (all): [did] you (all) receive the Spirit by works of the Law or by the hearing of faith? (Kukis nearly literal translation)

Translation: Accordingly, you (all) keep on being foolish,...

Paul points out to them just how illogical that they are being, at this point. With just a few questions, Paul has nailed down the problem and the illogical approach of the Galatians. They have been led into a theology which is completely illogical and inconsistent.

Now and again, to take a break from writing, I may exchange ideas on the internet (yes, I know perhaps that I shouldn’t). One of the great problems with believers nowadays is, they are saved, and then they are told, read your Bibles. What often happens is, the new believer comes up with a very inconsistent system of theology. As a new believer, they hear or read X, Y and Z; and then they exalt these concepts over everything else. Now, as it happens, X, Y and Z might be modified slightly by A, B and C.

The example which comes to mind is Jesus; is He man or is He God? The mistake would be to emphasize one of those words way over the other. Anyone who knows the Bible a little bit can come up with 10 examples where Jesus says, “The Father is greater than I” (or something which implies that). This does not mean that Jesus is, therefore, human and nothing else. When Jesus spoke, He did not reveal His entire character and essence in every single sentence which He spoke (just as we do not reveal our entire selves by everything that we say). The proper understanding is, Jesus is fully man and fully God.

I recently exchanged ideas with a person who believed that the Bible was dictated to man; and that there is nothing human in the writing of the Word of God. That is just silly! The writing styles of Luke and of John are so dramatically different. There are various chapters in the book of Genesis which have a much different writing style than the other chapters (Genesis 24 comes to mind). Vocabularies and sentences structure varies throughout the Bible; so clearly, God did not dictate the Bible. I can tell you even within a chapter, when God actually speaks, that is sometimes much harder to translate than the narrative of the rest of the chapter. So, like the previous example, the Bible is both the written word of God and the writings of man.

So many Christians who are self-taught often develop blind spots because they realm of theology is quite extensive and portions of it are quite difficult.

The Galatians are illogical and inconsistent in their theology because someone stepped in and knocked them off balance with some false teaching.

Translation: ...beginning by the Spirit now you (all) keep on bringing to completion by the flesh?

Paul makes the point—and this is self-evident to every Galatian hearing this being read—that they began their Christian lives with the Holy Spirit. What sense would it make to continue and bring to completion one’s Christian walk by means of the flesh? By human effort?

Galatians 3:3 Accordingly, you (all) keep on being foolish, beginning by the Spirit now you (all) keep on bringing to completion by the flesh? (Kukis nearly literal translation)

Translation: You (all) suffered so many things without purpose,...

Like many of the gentile churches, there have been pressures put upon the Galatians and sufferings which they have experienced. Many times, this is done to supercharge the believer’s Christian growth.

Paul is asking, did this suffering which you endured occur without purpose?

Translation: ...if indeed even without purpose [you suffered]?

I think the point that Paul is making here is, Christian suffering happens for a number of reasons. Sometimes, it is simply a matter of discipline. “Are you being disciplined by God for going astray?” is the implication of these words.

Galatians 3:4 You (all) suffered so many things without purpose, if indeed even without purpose [you suffered]? (Kukis nearly literal translation)

Translation: Therefore, the (one) who keeps on supplying the Spirit to you (all),...

Paul came to the people in Galatia (along with his team). He gave them the gospel; they believed, and they receive the Holy Spirit. I would understand this person to be Paul, but as empowered by God the Holy Spirit.

There are some evangelists who can command an audience. I have seen this with my own eyes. Gary Horton came to speak to the students at the school where I taught, and he grabbed their attention as I have never seen anyone do before. There were times when he spoke to a double classroom; and there were times when he spoke to an auditorium of perhaps 700 or 800 kids. I saw him hold a class of Sophomores from lunch for a minute or two. To me, that was like a miracle.

So, Paul does not say here, “Listen, I gave you the Holy Spirit.” Obviously, he did not. God working through him did.

Translation: ...even [the one] working mighty deeds among you (all)—...

Again, Paul does not say, “Listen, I did all of these great signs and wonders among you; don’t you remember them?” Again, Paul acted from the power of the Holy Spirit. God worked through him.

Furthermore, Paul is not trying to get them hung up on him in particular here. He wants them to make a more important observation.

Translation: ...[was this done] by works of the Law...

“The things which you experienced when you first heard the gospel, was that done by the works of the Mosaic Law?” Paul asks them. Of course it did not come by the Mosaic Law. Paul probably never even mentioned the Mosaic Law.

Translation: ...or by the hearing of faith?

“Or did all of this come to you by the hearing of faith?” Paul asks. Obviously, they heard the gospel message and they believed it. This is the hearing of faith.

Galatians 3:5 Therefore, the (one) who keeps on supplying the Spirit to you (all), even [the one] working mighty deeds among you (all)—[was this done] by works of the Law or by the hearing of faith? (Kukis nearly literal translation)

Galatians 3:1–5 O [you] foolish Galatians—who charmed you (all)? By what means, before [your] eyes was Jesus Christ publically crucified? This one (thing) alone I keep on wanting to learn from you (all): [did] you (all) receive the Spirit by works of the Law or by the hearing of faith? Accordingly, you (all) keep on being foolish, beginning by the Spirit now you (all) keep on bringing to completion by the flesh? You (all) suffered so many things without purpose, if indeed even without purpose [you suffered]? Therefore, the (one) who keeps on supplying the Spirit to you (all), even [the one] working mighty deeds among you (all)—[was this done] by works of the Law or by the hearing of faith? (Kukis nearly literal translation)

Galatians 3:1–5 You Galatians must be really stupid. Did someone cast a spell on you? How exactly was Jesus Christ publicly portrayed as crucified in your sight? This one thing only I want to learn from you: did you receive the Holy Spirit by works of the Law or by the hearing of faith? Accordingly, you keep on being illogical, if not stupid: having begun your spiritual lives by means of the Holy Spirit, are you now going to bring them to completion in the power of your human nature? Did you really suffer so many things without a purpose? Therefore, consider the one who gave you the Holy Spirit and the one who did mighty works and miracles among you—was this done by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith? (Kukis paraphrase)

——————————

At this point, Paul uses the ammunition of the Judaizers against them. They went to the Old Testament Scriptures in order to convince the Galatians to follow the Law of Moses; so now Paul goes to the Scriptures, but he goes back further in time. He begins to examine Abraham from the Old Testament, who predated the Mosaic Law (Abraham is considered to be the father of the Jewish race; and Moses the father of the Jewish nation). In the next four verses, Paul will use Abraham’s name four times.

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    Just as Abraham believed in the God and it was counted to him for righteousness. Know consequently that the (ones) out from faith, these children are of Abraham. Now, seeing the future, the writing [says] that, out from faith, keeps on declaring righteous the gentiles the God [Who also] has proclaimed the good news to Abraham, that will be blessed in you all the gentiles, so that out from faith they are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

Complete Apostles Bible        Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness."

Know therefore that those who are of faith, these are sons of Abraham.

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying that, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."

Therefore those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Revised Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) 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.

V. Alexander’s Aramaic         .

Eastern Aramaic Manuscript  .

James Murdock’s Syriac NT In like manner Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

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

For, because God knew beforehand that the Gentiles would be made just by faith, he preannounced it to Abraham; as saith the holy scripture, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Believers, therefore, it is, who are blessed with believing Abraham.

Original Aramaic NT              Just as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness,

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

For because God knew beforehand that the nations are made right by faith, he preached The Good News to Abraham beforehand, as The Holy Scriptures say: "In you shall all the nations be blessed."

So then, believers are blessed with the believer Abraham.

Plain English Aramaic Bible   .

Lamsa Peshitta (Syriac)         .

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             Even as Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness. 

Be certain, then, that those who are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. 

And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, In you will all the nations have a blessing. 

So then those who are of faith have a part in the blessing of Abraham who was full of faith.

Bible in Worldwide English     So it was with Abraham. The holy writings say He believed God, and that was why God called him a good man.

You see then, the people who believe God are children of Abraham.

The holy writings say that he will put people right with himself if they believe him, even those who are not Jews. It was written down before God did it. The holy writings told the good news to Abraham ahead of time. It said, God will make you a blessing to all nations and people.

Abraham believed God and was blessed. And so those who believe God are blessed too, along with him.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. V. 5 is included for context.

God’s Word™                         Abraham serves as an example. He believed God, and that faith was regarded by God to be his approval of Abraham. You must understand that people who have faith are Abraham's descendants. Scripture saw ahead of time that God would give his approval to non-Jewish people who have faith. So Scripture announced the Good News to Abraham ahead of time when it said, "Through you all the people of the world will be blessed." So people who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the man of faith.

Good News Bible (TEV)         Consider the experience of Abraham; as the scripture says, "He believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous." You should realize, then, that the real descendants of Abraham are the people who have faith. The scripture predicted that God would put the Gentiles right with himself through faith. And so the scripture announced the Good News to Abraham: "Through you God will bless all people." Abraham believed and was blessed; so all who believe are blessed as he was.

The Message                         .

NIRV                                      .

New Life Version                    .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Contemporary English V.       The Scriptures say that God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith. And so, you should understand that everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham. Long ago the Scriptures said that God would accept the Gentiles because of their faith. That's why God told Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed because of him. This means that everyone who has faith will share in the blessings that were given to Abraham because of his faith.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Century Version             .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        Abraham, our father of faith, led the way as our pioneering example. He believed God and the substance of his faith released God’s righteousness to him.  So those who are the true children of Abraham will have the same faith as their father!  God’s plan all along was to bring this message of salvation to the nations through the revelation of faith. Long ago God prophesied over Abraham, as the Holy Scriptures say: “Through your example of faith all the nations will be blessed!”  And so the blessing of Abraham’s faith is now our blessing too!

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  What you have experienced is just as Moses had written in the scriptures about Abraham. He wrote that Abraham trusted God, and as a result God declared Abraham good in his sight. You should realize, therefore, that it is those who trust in the Messiah to save them whom God has made into descendants of Abraham. Even before God began to make non- Jews good in his sight when they trusted in him, men wrote in the scriptures that he would do this. God announced this good news to Abraham, as we read in the scriptures, "Because of what you have done, I will bless all the people groups in the world." So, we know by this that it is all those who trust in the Messiah whom God blesses along with Abraham, who also trusted in God.

Williams’ New Testament      Now when He supplies you with the Spirit and performs His wonder-works among you, does He do it because you do what the law commands, or because you believe the message that you heard -- just as "Abraham put his faith in God, and it was credited to him as right standing with God"? So you see, it is the men of faith who are the real descendants of Abraham. Because the Scripture foresaw that God would bring the heathen into right standing with Himself on condition of faith, He beforehand proclaimed the good news to Abraham in the promise, "It is through you that all the heathen will be blessed." So the men of faith are blessed as partners with trusting Abraham. V. 5 is included for context.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            Just as, "Abraham trusted God, and it was considered to him as the right way" (Genesis 15:6), you clearly know that the people from trust, these are Abraham's sons. When the Old Testament writing saw beforehand that God makes the non-Jews right from trust, it shared good news with Abraham beforehand, "All the non-Jews will be conferred with prosperity in you" (Genesis 22:18). In such a way, the people from trust are conferred with prosperity together with trusting Abraham.

Common English Bible           .

A. Campbell's Living Oracles He, then, who ministered to you the Spirit, and wrought miracles among you, did he these by works of law, or by a hearing of faith? even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness; know, therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. For the scripture, foreshowing that God would justify the nations by faith, formerly announced the gospel to Abraham, saying, "Surely in you shall all the nations be blessed." Wherefore, they who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. V. 5 is included for context.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

NT for Everyone                     .

20^th Century New Testament It is just as it was with Abraham--'He had faith in God, and his faith was regarded by God as righteousness.' You see, then, that those whose lives are based on faith are the Sons of Abraham. And Scripture, foreseeing that God would pronounce the Gentiles righteous as the result of faith, foretold the Good News to Abraham in the words--'Through thee all the Gentiles shall be blessed.' And, therefore, those whose lives are based on faith share the blessings bestowed upon the faith of Abraham.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

An Understandable Version   .

Berean Study Bible                .

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Evangelical Heritage V.          .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

Free Bible Version                 It’s just like Abraham who “trusted God, and was considered to be right.”* So you should acknowledge that those who trust in God are the children of Abraham. In Scripture it’s foreseen that God would make right the foreigners who trusted in him. The good news is revealed to Abraham beforehand with the words, “Through you all the nations will be blessed.” Consequently those who trust in God are blessed along with Abraham who trusted God.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

Holman Christian Standard    .

International Standard V        In the same way, Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” [Gen 15:6]

You see, then, that those who have faith are Abraham’s real descendants. Because the Scripture saw ahead of time that God would justify the gentiles [Or nations] by faith, it announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand when it said, “Through you all nations [Or all the gentiles] will be blessed.” [Gen 12:3]

Montgomery NT                     Even as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness? Notice then that the true sons of Abraham are children of faith. And the Scripture, anticipating God's justification of the Gentiles by faith, announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand in the words, In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed. So then they who are children of faith are blessed with Abraham the faithful; but a curse rests on those who have their root in the works of the Law; for it is written.

NIV, ©2011                             .

Riverside New Testament      .

Leicester A. Sawyer’s NT      .

The Spoken English NT         .

UnfoldingWord Literal Text    .

Urim-Thummim Version         Even as Abraham believed Elohim and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know you therefore that those that are of Faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that Elohim would render righteous the pagans through Faith, announced the Good News to Abraham saying, In you will all nations be blessed. So then they that are of Faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Weymouth New Testament    He who gives you His Spirit and works miracles among you--does He do so on the ground of your obedience to the Law, or is it the result of your having heard and believed: even as ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND HIS FAITH WAS PLACED TO HIS ACCOUNT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS? Notice therefore that those who possess faith are true sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that in consequence of faith God would declare the nations to be free from guilt, sent beforehand the Good News to Abraham, saying, "IN YOU ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED." So we see that it is those who possess faith that are blessed with believing Abraham. V. 5 is included for context.

Wikipedia Bible Project          As Abraham believed God, it was credited to him as righteousness. Know that the people of faith are the children of Abraham. Having been foretold in the scriptures that God would justify the nations by faith, therefore the good news was prophesied to Abraham: "People of faith are blessed by the belief of Abraham."

Worsley’s New Testament    .

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  .

The Heritage Bible                 .

New American Bible (2002)   .

New American Bible (2011)   .

New English Bible–1970        .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

New RSV                               .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Hebraic Roots Bible               Even as Abraham "believed Elohim, and it was counted to him for righteousness." (Gen. 15:6) You must therefore know that those who trust in faith are the children of Abraham. Because YAHWEH knew in advance that the nations would be declared righteous through faith he first preached to Abraham, as it is said in the Holy Scripture, "in you shall all the nations be blessed." (Gen. 12:3) So that the believers are blessed by Abraham the faithful one.

Holy New Covenant Trans.    The Scriptures say the same thing about Abraham: "Abraham believed God and so God declared him a just man." So you should know that the true children of Abraham are those who have faith. The Scriptures told what would happen in the future. These writings said that God would make non-Jewish people right — through their faith. The Good News was told to Abraham long ago: "Abraham, God will use you to bless all people on earth." All people who believe are blessed in the same way that Abraham was blessed for his faith; but people who depend on following the law to make them right are under condemnation, because it is written, "A person must do everything which is written in the book of the law. If he does not always obey those things, then that person is under condemnation!" V. 10 is included for context.

The Scriptures 2009              Even so Araham “did believe Elohim, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.” Gen. 15:6.  Know, then, that those who are of belief are sons of Araham.  And the Scripture, having foreseen that Elohim would declare right the nations by belief, announced the Good News to Araham beforehand, saying, “All the nations shall be blessed in you,”^a Gen. 12:3. so that those who are of belief are blessed with Araham, the believer.

^aGen. 18:18. 

Tree of Life Version                .

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       ...as abraham believes the god and [She] is accounted [to] him to right [You*] know then for The from faith These Sons are {of} abraham Foreseeing but The Writing for from faith justifies the aliens The God announces (before) [to] the abraham for will be blessed in you All The Aliens that The [Men] from faith are blessed with the [man] faithful abraham...

Alpha & Omega Bible            EVEN SO ABRAHAM BELIEVED THEOS (The Alpha & Omega), AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. †(Gen. 15:6)

THEREFORE, BE SURE THAT IT IS THOSE WHO ARE OF FAITH WHO ARE SONS OF ABRAHAM.

THE SCRIPTURE, FORESEEING THAT THEOS (The Alpha & Omega) WOULD ACQUIT THE GENTILES BY FAITH, PREACHED THE GOSPEL BEFOREHAND TO ABRAHAM, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” †(Gen. 12:3)

SO THEN THOSE WHO ARE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED WITH ABRAHAM, THE BELIEVER.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Accordingly-as-to, "Abraham confides in God, and it is being reckoned to him for virtuousness."

So then be coming to understand, certainly-of-which they by confidence, these-same are sons of Abraham.

Moreover, the Writings perceiving-beforehand, certainly-of-which God makes righteous the nations by confidence, it heralds-the-Good-Tidings-beforehand to Abraham, certainly-of-what, "By-within you all the nations will be considering- it -good-from-among."

So-as those by confidence, are being considered- it -good with the confidence of Abraham.

Concordant Literal Version    He, then, who is supplying you with the spirit, and operating works of power among you-did you get the spirit by works of law or by the hearing of faith, according as Abraham believes God, and it is reckoned to him for righteousness?

Know, consequently, that those of faith, these are sons of Abraham."

Now the scripture, perceiving before that God is justifying the nations by faith, brings before an evangel to Abraham, that In you shall all the nations be blessed."

So that those of faith are being blessed together with believing Abraham. V. 5 is included for context.

exeGeses companion Bible   THE COVENANT OF ELOHIM WITH ABRAHAM

Even as Abraham trusted Elohim

and it was reckoned to him to justness

- so you know that whoever are of trust

are the sons of Abraham.

And the scripture,

foreseeing that Elohim justifies the goyim by trust

pre-evangelized to Abraham,

In you all the goyim are eulogized.

So they of trust

are blessed with trustworthy Abraham.

Genesis 12:1-3.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           Just as Avraham Avinu HE'EMIN BA'HASHEM VAYACHSHEVEHA LO TZDAKAH ("believed Hashem and it [his faith] was accounted to him for righteousness" BERESHIS 15:6),

Know then, that the Bnei HaEmunah, these ones are the Bnei Avraham Avinu!

And the Kitvei HaKodesh, having foreseen that Hashem would yatzdik (justify) the Goyim by emunah, preached the Besuras HaGeulah beforehand to Avraham Avinu, saying "VENIVRECHU VO KOL GOYEI HA'ARETZ ("All the families, peoples of the earth will be blessed in you" BERESHIS 18:18; 12:3).

For this reason, the ones of emunah receive the bracha (blessing) with Avraham Avinu hama'amin (the believer).

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

An Understandable Version   [An example of this is] Abraham, who believed God’s [promise] and [because of such faith] he was considered right with God. You should know, then, that people who have faith are [truly] God’s children. And, predicting that God would consider the Gentiles right with Him by [their] faith, the Scriptures previously recorded [this promise of] the Gospel to Abraham by saying [Gen. 12:3], “All nations will receive a blessing through your descendant [i.e., Jesus].” So then, all those who have faith [in Jesus] receive a blessing along with Abraham, a man of faith.

Benjamin Brodie’s trans.       Just as [for example] Abraham trusted God [in what He promised], and it [trusting in the promise of God] was credited [imputed] to him for righteousness [forensic justification].

You know, therefore, that those out from the source of [Christ’s] faithfulness, these are sons of Abraham.

And the scripture, forseeing that God would justify the Gentiles out from the source of [Abraham’s] faithfulness, proclaimed the good news in advance to Abraham: In you all peoples [including non-Jews] will be blessed.

So then, those [Jews and Gentiles] out from the source of faithfulness are being blessed together with faithful Abraham.

The Expanded Bible              .

Jonathan Mitchell NT             The One, therefore, continuously furnishing and supplying to (or: for; in) you folks the Spirit (or: the spirit; the breath; or: = attitude and vitality), and constantly and effectively energizing, being active, working and producing abilities and powers within you people – [is its source] from out of works of Law, or out of a "hearing" whose source is faith, (or: The one, then, constantly supplying the Breath-effect for you folks, and repeatedly working powers among you – [does he do it] from our of deeds based on [the] Law [= Torah], or from out of faith's attentive listening,)

just as Abraham, "trusts in God (or: believed by God; experienced confidence with God), and he is/was at once logically considered by Him [that he had come] into a right relationship (or: and it was counted for him into a rightwised [covenantal] relationship with freedom from guilt, equity and justice which comprise the Way pointed out)? [Gen. 15:6]

Be assured consequently, by your experiential knowledge and insight, (or, as an indicative: Surely you are coming to know) that the folks [springing] forth from out of the midst of faith (or: whose source is trust and confidence), these are Abraham's sons!

Now the Scripture – seeing before [as a picture] that God is progressively putting the nations in rightwised relationship (setting the ethnic groups of non-Jews into the Way pointed out and freeing them from guilt) from out of faith – announced to (or: for) Abraham beforehand the message of goodness, ease and well-being (or: And further – the Scripture perceiving in advance and making provision that He is presently making the multitudes fair and equitable {or: = including the Gentiles in the covenant} from trust and conviction as a source – God brought-before in Abraham the glad tidings of goodness {a gospel; an evangel}), namely that, "All the nations, ethnic groups and multitudes will continuously and progressively be inwardly blessed (receive the inner Word of wellness; participate within the Good Word) in a union with you (or: within you; in you; or: = in relation to you; or: = as in your case)." [Gen. 12:3; 22:18]

So then, those from out of faith (or: = folks who are derived from trust and confidence and who come from a place of loyal allegiance) are being constantly blessed (repeatedly given the Word of wellness; continuously made to participate in the Good Word) together with the full-of-faith Abraham (or: the trusting, believing, convinced and loyal Abraham). V. 5 is included for context.

P. Kretzmann Commentary    .

Syndein/Thieme                     .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

Lexham Bible                         Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, then understand that the ones who have faith [Literally “of faith”], these are sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news in advance to Abraham: “In you all the nations [Or “Gentiles”; the same Greek word can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles” depending on the context] will be blessed.” [A quotation from Gen 12:3; 18:18] So then, the ones who have faith are blessed together with Abraham who believed.

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Passion Translation        .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

The Spoken English NT         It’s like Abraham, who “believed God, and it was credited to him as being in the right”.^e

So understand that it’s the people who live on the basis of faith who are Abraham’s children.

And scripture sees ahead of time that God will find the Gentiles^f innocent on the basis of faith. It tells the good news to Abraham ahead of time:
All nations are going to be blessed through you.^g

The result is that those who live on the basis of faith are blessed along with Abraham, who believed.