Galatians 3:2
King James Version (KJV)
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Translations
Galatians 3:2 - Amplified Bible
Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law {and} doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?]
Galatians 3:2 - American Standard Version
This only would I learn from you. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:2 - Bible in Basic English
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?
Galatians 3:2 - Darby Bible
This 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?
Galatians 3:2 - English Standard Version
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:2 - King James Version
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:2 - La Biblia de las Americas
Esto es lo ùnico que quiero averiguar de vosotros: ¿recibisteis el Espìritu por las obras de la ley, o por el oìr con fe?
Galatians 3:2 - The Message
Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!
Galatians 3:2 - New American Standard Bible
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:2 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy
Esto es lo ùnico que quiero averiguar (aprender) de ustedes ¿Recibieron el Espìritu por las obras de la Ley, o por el oìr con fe?
Galatians 3:2 - World English Bible
I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:2 - Young's Living Translation
this only do I wish to learn from you -- by works of law the Spirit did ye receive, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:2 - Additional Comments
Verses 2-5 are a commentary on verse 2:20; only instead of speaking of Christ in us, Paul speaks of the Spirit. The experience is the same because 4:6 says the Spirit which God sends is the Spirit of his Son. Christ and the Spirit are one. Christ comes to us in his Spirit. So keep 2:20 in view as we look at 3:2-5.
This verse raises three questions:
1) What is the relationship between becoming a Christian and receiving the Spirit? (becoming a Christian means receiving the Spirit of Christ - Romans 8:9)
- This is why it is impossible to think of Christianity merely in terms of a change of beliefs and a change of status before God - it involves the coming of Christ's Spirit to dwell and work in the believer.
2) What is the evidence that the Spirit is present in your life?
- The New Testament teaches three kinds of evidence, and all of them are mentioned in Galatians
- The first is mentioned in verse 5 - miracles. But Paul is aware that physical miracles in themselves do not verify the work of God's Spirit, since (according to 2 Thess 2:9) Satan can produce powerful signs and wonders.
- The second is the assurance we feel that God is our Father and Jesus is Lord. See 4:6, Romans 8:15-16, 1 Cor. 12:3.
- But even assurance can be deceitful. Jesus tells about people who felt they were his disciples but will be turned away from heaven because their lives weren't changed (Mt. 7:21-23). So the third evidence of the Spirit's presence should be added, namely, a genuine impulse of love. Galatians 5:22 says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love." The bottom line in testing the Spirit is the test of love. For most of us there is a combination of these and other evidences (like joy in affliction, 1 Thess. 1:6; and boldness in witness, Acts 4:31) that signify the Spirit's reality in our lives.
3) How do you receive the Spirit? This verse gives 2 choices, and the answer - the hearing of faith. The Galatians did not receive Christ (and the Spirit) by works, but by the response when they heard the word. The word of God, shaper than a 2-edged sword (Heb 4:12), cut away all your defences and laid bare your need and God's provision. The word produced faith, the old rebellion died, and the Spirit of Christ took up residence in your heart. They did not become Christians by any work they had done. We received the Spirit when God drew us through His word or truth - James 1:18.
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