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Faith and Belief
Galatians 3:1 to 9 uses urgent questions to contrast works of the law with hearing of faith. The passage points to the Galatians’ experience of the Spirit and then to Abraham as a key example.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This part of the letter is written as direct teaching and correction. The writer addresses the Galatians sharply, asks what happened when they received the Spirit, mentions their suffering and miracles among them, and then quotes Scripture about Abraham, righteousness and blessing for the nations.
Galatians 3:1–9Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Abraham believed God and was counted righteous, and that those who are of faith are counted as Abraham’s children and are blessed with him.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A sharp challenge about the truthThe passage opens with a strong rebuke. The Galatians are called foolish and asked who has bewitched them not to obey the truth.
Explanation
The passage opens with a strong rebuke. The Galatians are called foolish and asked who has bewitched them not to obey the truth. Jesus Christ had been openly portrayed among them as crucified, so the writer confronts them for turning from what had been clearly set before them.
02How did they receive the Spirit?The writer asks one central question in two closely related ways. Did they receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing of faith?
Explanation
The writer asks one central question in two closely related ways. Did they receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing of faith? The same contrast appears again when the passage speaks about the Spirit being supplied and miracles happening among them.
03Beginning in the SpiritThe next questions press the point further. If they began in the Spirit, how could they now expect to be completed in the flesh?
Explanation
The next questions press the point further. If they began in the Spirit, how could they now expect to be completed in the flesh? The passage also mentions that they suffered many things and asks whether that was in vain. These questions urge them to think carefully about their present direction.
04Abraham, righteousness and blessingThe passage then quotes Scripture about Abraham: he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
Explanation
The passage then quotes Scripture about Abraham: he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. From this, the writer says that those who are of faith are children of Abraham. Scripture also speaks of the nations being blessed in Abraham, so those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two possibilities are compared when the passage asks how the Galatians received the Spirit?
Name both sides of the contrast exactly as the passage gives them and notice that the same comparison appears again with miracles.
02What does this passage say about Abraham, and what conclusion does it draw from that?
Start with the statement that Abraham believed God and was counted righteous, then read the next line about who are called children of Abraham.
03How does the passage connect Abraham with Gentiles and all nations?
Look for the sentence about God justifying the Gentiles by faith and the quoted promise that all the nations will be blessed in Abraham.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Galatians 3:1–9
1Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?
2I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
3Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?
4Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?
5He 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?
6Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”
7Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham.
8The 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.”
9So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.