By their own conversion at the first, 6 and by the example of Abraham, and promise made to him, he showeth that the way to obtain the benediction, is to seek unto God by faith in Christ. 10 Seeing also that the Law curseth every one that hath not evermore kept the Law. 15 And, that the Law was not given to alter God's testament, 19 but to convince the Jews of sin, 23 and so to be their pedagogue or leader unto Christ, 25 and then to cease.By their owne conuersion at the first, 6 and by the example of Abraham, and promise made to him, he sheweth that the way to obtaine the benediction, is to seeke vnto God by faith in Christ. 10 Seing also that the Law curseth euery one that hath not euermore kept the Law. 15 And, that the Law was not giuen to alter Gods testament, 19 but to conuince the Iewes of sinne, 23 and so to be their pædagogue or leader vnto Christ, 25 and then to ceasse.✦
O Senseless Galatians, who hath bewitched you, not to obey the truth, before whose eyes JESUS Christ was præscriptus: banned, outlawed; openly set forth, portrayed before the eyes, being crucified among you?O Sensles Galatians, who hath bewitched you, not to obey the truth, before whose eies IESVS Christ was proscribed, being crucified among you?✦O insensati Galatæ, quis vos fascinavit non obedire veritati, ante quorum oculos Jesus Christus præscriptus est, in vobis crucifixus ?
2This only I would learn of you, By the works of the Law, did you receive the Spirit, or by the hearing of the faith?This only I would learne of you, By the workes of the Law, did you receiue the Spirit, or by the hearing of the faith?✦Hoc solum a vobis volo discere : ex operibus legis Spiritum accepistis, an ex auditu fidei ?
3Are you so foolish, that whereas you began with the spirit, now you will be consummemini: brought to a full end, finished, made perfect with the flesh?Are you so foolish, that whereas you began with the spirit, now you wil be consummate with the flesh?✦sic stulti estis, ut cum Spiritu cœperitis, nunc carne consummemini ?
4Have you suffered so great things without cause? if yet without cause.Haue you suffered so great things without cause? if yet without cause.✦tanta passi estis sine causa ? si tamen sine causa.
5He therefore that giveth you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you: by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of the faith doth he it?He therfore that giueth you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you: by the workes of the Law, or by the hearing of the faith doeth he it?✦Qui ergo tribuit vobis Spiritum, et operatur virtutes in vobis : ex operibus legis, an ex auditu fidei ?
6As, *Abraham believed God, and it was reputatum: supposed, rumoured to be; accounted, credited, reckoned to him unto justice.*As, Abraham beleeued God, and it was reputed to him vnto iustice.✦Sicut scriptum est : Abraham credidit Deo, et reputatum est illi ad justitiam :
7Know ye therefore that they that are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.Know ye therfore that they that are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.✦cognoscite ergo quia qui ex fide sunt, ii sunt filii Abrahæ.
8And the Scripture foreseeing that God justifieth the Gentiles by faith, showed unto Abraham before, That in thee shall all nations be blessed.And the Scripture foreseing that God iustifieth the Gentils by faith, shewed vnto Abraham before, That in thee shal al nations be blessed.✦Providens autem Scriptura quia ex fide justificat gentes Deus, prænuntiavit Abrahæ : Quia benedicentur in te omnes gentes.
9Therefore they that are of faith, shall be blessed with the faithful Abraham.Therfore they that are of faith, shal be blessed with the faithful Abraham.✦Igitur qui ex fide sunt, benedicentur cum fideli Abraham.
10For whosoever are of the works of the Law, are under curse. For it is written, Cursed be every one that abideth not in all things that be written in the book of the Law, to do them.For whosoeuer are of the workes of the Law, are vnder curse. For it is written, Cursed be euery one that abideth not in al things that be written in the booke of the Law, to doe them.¶✦Quicumque enim ex operibus legis sunt, sub maledicto sunt. Scriptum est enim : Maledictus omnis qui non permanserit in omnibus quæ scripta sunt in libro legis ut faciat ea.
11But that in the Law no man is justified with God, it is manifest, because The just liveth by faith.But that in the Law no man is iustified with God, it is manifest, because The iust liueth by faith.¶✦Quoniam autem in lege nemo justificatur apud Deum, manifestum est : quia justus ex fide vivit.
12But the Law is not by faith: but, He that doeth those things shall live in them.But the Law is not by faith: but, He that doeth those things shal liue in them.✦Lex autem non est ex fide, sed : Qui fecerit ea, vivet in illis.
13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us (because it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree)Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for vs (because it is written, Cursed is euery one that hangeth on a tree)✦Christus nos redemit de maledicto legis, factus pro nobis maledictum : quia scriptum est : Maledictus omnis qui pendet in ligno :
14that on the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham might be made in Christ JESUS: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.that on the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham might be made in Christ IESVS: that we may receiue the promisse of the Spirit by faith.✦ut in gentibus benedictio Abrahæ fieret in Christo Jesu, ut pollicitationem Spiritus accipiamus per fidem.
15Brethren (I speak according to man) yet a man's testament being confirmed no man despiseth, or further superordinat: gets rid of, throws away; ordaineth in addition, addeth thereto.Brethren (I speake according to man) yet a mans testament being confirmed no man despiseth, or further disposeth.✦Fratres (secundum hominem dico) tamen hominis confirmatum testamentum nemo spernit, aut superordinat.
16To Abraham were the promises said, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as in many: but as in one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.To Abraham were the promises said, and to his seede. He saith not, And to seedes, as in many: but as in one, And to thy seede, which is Christ.✦Abrahæ dictæ sunt promissiones, et semini ejus. Non dicit : Et seminibus, quasi in multis : sed quasi in uno : Et semini tuo, qui est Christus.
17And this I say, the testament being confirmed of God, the Law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, maketh not void to frustrate the promise.And this I say, the testament being confirmed of God, the Law which was made after foure hundred and thirtie yeres, maketh not void to frustrate the promisse.✦Hoc autem dico, testamentum confirmatum a Deo : quæ post quadringentos et triginta annos facta est lex, non irritum facit ad evacuandam promissionem.
18For if the inheritance be of the Law, now not of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.For if the inheritance be of the Law, now not of promisse. But God gaue it to Abraham by promisse.✦Nam si ex lege hæreditas, jam non ex promissione. Abrahæ autem per repromissionem donavit Deus.
19Why was the Law then? It was put for transgressions, until the seed came to whom he had promised: ordained by Angels in the hand of a mediator.Why was the Law then? It was put for transgressions, vntil the seede came to whom he had promised: ordeined by Angels in the hand of a mediatour.✦Quid igitur lex ? Propter transgressiones posita est donec veniret semen, cui promiserat, ordinata per angelos in manu mediatoris.
20And a mediator is not of one: but God is one.And a mediatour is not of one: but God is one.✦Mediator autem unius non est : Deus autem unus est.
21Was the Law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a Law given that could justify, undoubtedly justice should be of the Law.Was the Law then against the promisses of God? God forbid. For if there had been a Law giuen that could iustifie, vndoubtedly iustice should be of the Law.✦Lex ergo adversus promissa Dei ? Absit. Si enim data esset lex, quæ posset vivificare, vere ex lege esset justitia.
22But the Scripture hath conclusit: ended, inferred; shut up together, enclosed all things under sin: that the promise by the faith of JESUS Christ might be given to them that believe.But the Scripture * hath concluded al things vnder sinne: that the promise by the faith of IESVS Christ might be giuen to them that beleeue.✦Sed conclusit Scriptura omnia sub peccato, ut promissio ex fide Jesu Christi daretur credentibus.
23But before the faith came, under the Law we were kept shut up, unto that faith which was to be revealed.But before the faith came, vnder the Law we were kept shut vp, vnto that faith which was to be reuealed.✦Prius autem quam veniret fides, sub lege custodiebamur conclusi in eam fidem quæ revelanda erat.
24Therefore the Law was our pædagogus: the guardian-tutor that leads a child to school in Christ: that we may be justified by faith.Therfore the Law was our Pedagogue in Christ: that we may be iustified by faith.✦Itaque lex pædagogus noster fuit in Christo, ut ex fide justificemur.
25But when the faith came, now we are not under a pedagogue.But when the faith came, now we are not vnder a pædagogue.At ubi venit fides, jam non sumus sub pædagogo.
26For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ JESUS.For you are al the children of God by faith in Christ IESVS.✦Omnes enim filii Dei estis per fidem, quæ est in Christo Jesu.
27For as many of you as are baptized in Christ, have put on Christ.For as many of you as are baptized in Christ, haue put on Christ.¶✦Quicumque enim in Christo baptizati estis, Christum induistis.
28There is not Jew nor Greek, there is not bond nor free, there is not male nor female. For all you are one in Christ JESUS.There is not Iewe nor Greeke, there is not bond nor free, there is not male nor femal. For al you are one in Christ IESVS.✦Non est Judæus, neque Græcus : non est servus, neque liber : non est masculus, neque femina. Omnes enim vos unum estis in Christo Jesu.
29And if you be Christ's, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to promise.And if you be Christs, then are you the seede of Abraham, heires according to promisse.✦Si autem vos Christi, ergo semen Abrahæ estis, secundum promissionem hæredes.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
10Cursed be. By this place the Heretics would prove that no man is just truly before God, all being guilty of damnation and God's curse, because they keep not every jot of the Law. Where indeed the Apostle meaneth not such as offend venially (as it is plain by the place of Deuteronomy whence he reciteth this text) but only such as commit great and damnable crimes, and so by grievous and mortal transgressions wholly break God's precepts, and thereby incur the curse of the Law, from which the said Law could not deliver them of itself, nor by any other means, but by the faith and grace of CHRIST JESUS.Cursed be. By this place the Heretics would prove that no man is just truly before God, all being guilty of damnation and God's curse, because they keep not every jot of the Law. Where indeed the Apostle meaneth not such as offend venially (as it is plain by the place of Deuteronomy whence he reciteth this text) but only such as commit great and damnable crimes, and so by grievous and mortal transgressions wholly break God's precepts, and thereby incur the curse of the Law, from which the said Law could not deliver them of itself, nor by any other means, but by the faith and grace of CHRIST JESUS.
11Liveth by faith. It is neither the Heretics' special presumption and confidence, nor the faith of Devils, nor faith without works which is dead in itself as St. James saith, that can give life to the just. for that which is dead, cannot be the cause of life. but it is the Catholic faith, as St. Augustine writeth, which worketh by charity (according to the Apostle's own explication of this whole passage) by which the just liveth. Li. 3 c. 5. cont. duas ep. Pelag. See the Annotation upon the same words. Rom. 1.Liveth by faith. It is neither the Heretics' special presumption and confidence, nor the faith of Devils, nor faith without works which is dead in itself as St. James saith, that can give life to the just. for that which is dead, cannot be the cause of life. but it is the Catholic faith, as St. Augustine writeth, which worketh by charity (according to the Apostle's own explication of this whole passage) by which the just liveth. Li. 3 c. 5. cont. duas ep. Pelag. See the Annotation upon the same words. Rom. 1.
27Have put on Christ. Here the Adversaries might have seen, if they were not blinded by contentious striving against God's Church, that when Justification is attributed to faith without mention of good works or other Christian virtues and Sacraments, it is not meant to exclude any of the same from the working of justice or salvation. for here we learn that by the Sacrament of Baptism also we put on Christ, which is to put on faith, hope, charity, and all Christian justice. By the same we prove also that the Sacraments of the new law give grace, for that the receivers thereof put on Christ. And the Adversaries' evasion, that it is faith which worketh in the Sacrament, and not the Sacrament itself, is plainly false: Baptism giving grace and faith itself to the infant that had none before.Have put on Christ. Here the Adversaries might have seen, if they were not blinded by contentious striving against God's Church, that when Justification is attributed to faith without mention of good works or other Christian virtues and Sacraments, it is not meant to exclude any of the same from the working of justice or salvation. for here we learn that by the Sacrament of Baptism also we put on Christ, which is to put on faith, hope, charity, and all Christian justice. By the same we prove also that the Sacraments of the new law give grace, for that the receivers thereof put on Christ. And the Adversaries' evasion, that it is faith which worketh in the Sacrament, and not the Sacrament itself, is plainly false: Baptism giving grace and faith itself to the infant that had none before.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.