Galatians 3:2
What does Galatians 3:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 3:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 3:2 means
Paul asks what should be an obvious question: How did they receive the Holy Spirit—by performing the law or by believing the message about Christ? Their own story answers it. When they first heard the gospel, God gave them the Spirit apart from circumcision or ritual. The Spirit’s arrival is God’s confirmation that they were accepted by faith. If the Spirit came through hearing with faith at the beginning, then adding law-works now cannot improve or complete what God already started by grace. Paul wants them to rest on what God did, not on what they can do.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
KJV
King James Version · 1611This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Give 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?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862this only do I wish to learn from you--by works of law the Spirit did ye receive, or by the hearing of faith?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752This only would I learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890This only I wish to learn of you, Have ye received the Spirit on the principle of works of law, or of [the] report of faith?
Context
Following the wake-up call of verse 1, Paul turns to the Galatians’ experience. He isn’t starting with abstract doctrine but with what God has done among them. This question anchors his entire argument: the Spirit’s gift came through faith, not law. Verses 3–5 will expand this line of reasoning, showing the absurdity of trying to finish in the flesh what began in the Spirit and pointing to ongoing miracles among them. Then, in verses 6–9, Paul will show that this faith principle goes back to Abraham, long before the law existed.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 3:14
that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
- Acts 10:44
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word.
- Acts 11:15
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
- Acts 8:15
who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
- Romans 1:17
For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.
- Ephesians 1:13
in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,—in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
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