Galatians 3 1

Galatians 3:1 kjv

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Galatians 3:1 nkjv

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

Galatians 3:1 niv

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

Galatians 3:1 esv

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

Galatians 3:1 nlt

Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ's death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross.

Galatians 3 verses

Galatians 3 1 Meaning

The Apostle Paul expresses intense dismay and frustration with the churches in Galatia. He marvels that they, who had so clearly apprehended the gospel of Christ's sacrificial death through his vivid preaching, could have so easily turned away to another message. He views their departure as irrational ("foolish") and the result of a powerful, deceptive influence ("bewitched"). The core of his challenge lies in their forsaking the simple, clear truth of Christ crucified for justification.

Galatians 3 1 Context

Galatians 3:1 begins the major theological section of Paul’s letter, moving from his personal defense in chapters 1-2 to a robust argumentation for justification by faith alone. The Galatian churches, primarily Gentile converts, were being swayed by "Judaizers" – Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised and adhere to the Mosaic Law to be truly saved and righteous before God. Paul opens this chapter with a strong rhetorical question, directly challenging the Galatians on their inexplicable shift away from the pure gospel they initially received. He emphasizes the clarity of his original teaching, especially regarding Christ's death as the sole basis for salvation, implying that their current folly is entirely without excuse given what was so vividly presented to them.

Galatians 3 1 Word Analysis

• O (ὦ, ō): An interjection expressing strong emotion, typically astonishment, grief, or indignation. Here, it conveys Paul’s deep dismay and exasperation at the Galatians’ spiritual reversal.
• foolish (ἀνόητοι, anoētoi): Lacking sound understanding; senseless; unintelligent; thoughtless. This does not imply a lack of mental capacity but rather a spiritual dullness or irrationality in relation to the truth. They are behaving contrary to the divine wisdom they had been taught, as if they have forgotten or dismissed fundamental truths. The word emphasizes their unthinking nature regarding the Gospel's clear logic.
• Galatians (Γαλάται, Galatai): The recipients of the letter, residents of the Roman province of Galatia. Paul addresses them collectively, identifying their shared susceptibility to false teaching despite having been firmly established in the gospel.
• who (τίς, tis): A rhetorical question challenging the identity of the instigator of their error. Paul isn't merely asking "who," but implying that some insidious, powerful force must be behind such a bewildering apostasy.
• has bewitched (ἐβάσκανεν, ebaskanen): From `baskainō` (βασκαίνω), meaning "to malign," "to envy," or "to cast an evil spell upon," implying to "fascinate" or "charm" by supernatural evil. In ancient contexts, "bewitching" or "casting the evil eye" meant to bring harm, ill-fortune, or to cause one to lose their senses, often due to envy or malevolent spiritual influence. Paul implies that a powerful, deceptive, and perhaps supernaturally tainted influence has captivated them, causing them to act irrationally against what they knew to be true.
• you (ὑμᾶς, hymas): The plural pronoun emphasizes that this bewitchment affected the entire community, indicating a widespread problem among them.
• Before your eyes (οἷς κατ᾽ ὀφθαλμοὺς, hois kat' ophthalmos): Literally "before whose eyes." This idiom emphasizes vividness and direct, unmistakable perception. The truth about Christ's crucifixion was made so clear by Paul’s preaching that it was as if they had physically witnessed it or had it visually depicted before them. It stresses the inexcusable nature of their backsliding.
• Jesus Christ (Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς, Iēsous Christos): The central figure of the Gospel message. "Jesus" (personal name meaning "the Lord saves"); "Christ" (title meaning "Anointed One," the Messiah). His person and work are foundational.
• was publicly portrayed as crucified (ἐγραφθή σταυρωμένος, egraphthē estaurōmenos):
  • publicly portrayed (ἐγραφθή, egraphthē): From `graphō` (to write, depict). In this context, it takes on the meaning of being "openly placarded," "clearly delineated," "painted before your eyes," or "publicly exhibited." It's not just a written word, but a vibrant, unmistakable declaration. Paul's preaching was so potent and graphic that the reality of the cross was unmistakably evident to them, like an announcement posted in the marketplace for all to see.
  • crucified (σταυρωμένος, estaurōmenos): Perfect passive participle of `stauroō` (to crucify). This signifies a completed action with ongoing results. It refers to the historical event of Christ's death on the cross and its enduring, effective redemptive power. This act is the core of the gospel message, the means by which redemption, justification, and new life are accomplished for believers.

• Words-group Analysis:
  • "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?": Paul’s indignant opening directly confronts their illogical and self-defeating behavior, immediately setting a tone of urgent warning and sharp rebuke, while simultaneously attributing their irrationality to a deceptive, external spiritual influence.
  • "Before your eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.": This phrase contrasts their current foolishness with the clarity of the truth they once received. It underscores the indefensibility of their departure by emphasizing the vividness, lucidity, and unmistakable nature of the gospel of Christ’s crucifixion as preached to them, serving as the powerful premise for his subsequent arguments against legalism.

Galatians 3 1 Bonus Section

• The rhetorical question "who has bewitched you?" suggests that Paul perceives their defection not just as a doctrinal error but as something actively driven by malevolent spiritual forces, making the task of regaining their understanding even more urgent. It implies a sense of wonder at how easily they succumbed to such an obvious deception.
• The emphasis on Christ "crucified" as being "publicly portrayed" is central. This speaks to the scandal and the glory of the cross simultaneously. For Jews, it was a stumbling block; for Gentiles, foolishness. Yet, for Paul, it was the raw, unadorned, essential truth, preached with such clarity and conviction through the Spirit’s power that its saving reality became self-evident to his hearers. His proclamation of the crucifixion was not an intellectual exercise but a Spirit-empowered declaration of a profound redemptive event, rendered so real it was as if they witnessed it firsthand.

Galatians 3 1 Commentary

Galatians 3:1 is Paul’s impassioned cry against spiritual irrationality and deception. His question "who has bewitched you?" is not merely an accusation but an expression of profound shock that the Galatians, who had witnessed such clear and compelling proclamation of the crucified Christ, could abandon the simplicity of faith for the complex burden of the law. The vividness implied by "publicly portrayed" highlights that the gospel Paul preached was not an obscure doctrine but a truth so clearly presented that its essence – salvation through Christ's death – should have been undeniable and unforgettable. Their backsliding is thus doubly tragic: it suggests both a spiritual blindness to the work of Christ and a susceptibility to malicious, deceptive influences that undermine the liberating power of grace. The verse establishes the foundational conflict of Galatians: whether justification is by faith in Christ's complete work or by human effort.