This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Parallel translations
- WEB I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
- KJV This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- BSB I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
- NKJV This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- NLT Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul asks whether they received the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith. Their own experience answers: it was by faith.
Overview
Paul appeals to the Galatians' conversion experience as evidence. They received the Holy Spirit through believing the gospel, not through law-keeping. This single question exposes the absurdity of now adding law to faith, since their Christian life began entirely by grace through faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Rom 10:16–17But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
- Gal 3:14that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
- Acts 15:8God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
- Eph 1:13–14in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation — in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Gal 3:5He 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?
- Acts 8:15who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
- Heb 2:4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
- Acts 19:2–6He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 2:38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 10:44–47While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
- Acts 11:15–18As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
- Heb 6:4For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
- Rom 1:17For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
- 1 Cor 12:7–13But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
- 1 Pet 1:12To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
- 2 Cor 11:4For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different “good news”, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 3:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.