Galatians 3:2 kjv
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 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?
Galatians 3:2 niv
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
Galatians 3:2 esv
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:2 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.
Galatians 3 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 3:2 | "This is the only question I want answered: Did you receive the Spirit by believing what you heard, or by obeying the Law?" | NT: Explicit question echoing the main point. |
| Gal 3:5 | "So, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does he do it because you obey the Law, or because you believe what you heard?" | NT: Reinforces the question and connects Spirit's work to faith. |
| Rom 10:17 | "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." | NT: Directly links hearing faith's message to its reception. |
| John 1:16 | "Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given." | NT: Suggests continuous reception of God's grace through Christ. |
| Acts 2:38 | "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" | NT: Links repentance and baptism in Jesus' name to receiving the Spirit. |
| Acts 8:15-17 | "As soon as they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because he had not yet fallen on them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." | NT: Demonstrates Spirit's reception through prayer and laying on of hands after faith. |
| Acts 10:44-46 | "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." | NT: Spirit's outpouring upon Gentiles who heard the gospel. |
| Eph 1:13 | "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." | NT: Links hearing, believing, and the sealing of the Spirit. |
| Rom 8:9 | "You, however, are in the realm of the Spirit, if at least the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ." | NT: Establishes Spirit's indwelling as a mark of belonging to Christ. |
| Gal 3:14 | "He redeemed us in order that the blessing Abraham promised might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." | NT: Connects redemption and faith to receiving the Spirit, fulfilling Abrahamic promise. |
| Deut 30:11-14 | "For this command which I am giving you today is not too hard for you, nor is it distant. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it for us and to proclaim it to us, that we may obey it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and to proclaim it to us, that we may obey it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." | OT: Contrasts outward adherence to law with an inward disposition, foreshadowing faith in the word. |
| John 7:39 | "By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." | NT: Points to the future reception of the Spirit after Jesus' glorification, which is accessed through faith. |
| Rom 3:28 | "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law." | NT: A foundational statement against justification by Law. |
| Rom 4:13-14 | "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring to be heir of the world did not come through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they are of the law, they are heirs, faith is null and the promise is void." | NT: Law does not bring the promise of inheritance; faith does. |
| Titus 3:5 | "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." | NT: Salvation, and by extension the Spirit, comes by mercy and renewal, not works. |
| Heb 4:2 | "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no benefit because it was not mixed with faith on the part of those who heard it." | NT: Emphasizes the necessity of faith for the message to be effective. |
| 1 Cor 2:5 | "so that your faith might not stand in the power of men but in the power of God." | NT: Links faith to God's power, not human effort. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." | NT: Salvation through faith is God's gift, separate from works. |
Galatians 3 verses
Galatians 3 2 Meaning
The verse emphasizes receiving the Holy Spirit solely through hearing the message of faith, not by observing the Law.
Galatians 3 2 Context
Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia. The Galatians have been swayed by false teachers who are insisting that salvation and a deeper relationship with God require adherence to the Mosaic Law, including circumcision. Paul’s letter is a strong defense of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. He has just argued that Abraham was declared righteous before God through faith, not through the Law, establishing faith as the foundational principle for both Jews and Gentiles to be part of God's people. This verse is the direct continuation of that thought, directly questioning the Galatians about the means by which they received the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 3 2 Word analysis
- Just (Latin: ei de) - This conjunction introduces a question, essentially meaning "but if" or "indeed if," serving to interrogate the previous assertion or premise. It probes the basis of their experience.
- e Labored (Greek: parelabete) - The Greek verb paralambano means to receive, to take to oneself, to accept. It's an aorist tense, indicating a completed action in the past – the act of receiving the Spirit.
- the from (Greek: ex*). A preposition indicating source or origin. The source of reception.
- Spirit (Greek: tou Pneumatos) - Refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. The divine power and presence.
- by (Greek: ex) - Used twice here, signifying the same concept of origin or means. The means by which the Spirit was received.
- hearing of faith (Greek: akroos episteos) - Akroos refers to hearing, or the act of hearing. Episteos is the genitive case of pistis, meaning faith. It translates to "hearing of faith" or "hearing the message of faith." It’s not just passive hearing but active reception of the preached gospel. This phrase encapsulates believing what was preached.
- or by (Greek: e). A disjunctive conjunction, presenting an alternative. The "or" here is an exclusive 'or', implying one or the other is the true source.
- hearing of the law (Greek: akroos nomou). Similar to the above, nomou is the genitive of nomos, meaning the Law, specifically the Mosaic Law. It refers to hearing or obeying the stipulations of the Law.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Did you receive the Spirit by hearing of faith?" - This central question interrogates the source of their spiritual empowerment and indwelling. The emphasis is on the "hearing of faith" – understanding and believing the preached Gospel. It suggests that the initial impartation and ongoing empowerment of the Spirit is tied to a faith response to God's word.
- "or by hearing of the law?" - This presents the stark contrast. Paul is asking if their possession of the Spirit is a result of their efforts to keep the Law. He implies that attempting to gain spiritual blessings through legalistic observance is misguided and incorrect. The Law’s purpose is not to impart the Spirit, but to reveal sin.
Galatians 3 2 Bonus section
The question posed is rhetorical, designed to lead the Galatians to a clear conclusion based on their own experience and Paul's earlier teaching. It functions as an immediate callback to the "faith apart from works" principle established in chapter 2 and expanded upon in chapter 3. The focus on "hearing" points to the audible proclamation of the gospel, highlighting the role of evangelism and teaching in God’s plan for impartation of the Spirit. The distinction made is between the passive hearing of divine commands (Law) and the active hearing of faith’s proclamation (Gospel).
Galatians 3 2 Commentary
Paul challenges the Galatians, compelling them to reflect on the genuine source of their spiritual experiences. He powerfully asserts that the Holy Spirit is given through the hearing and believing of the gospel message, not through any attempt to earn it by adhering to the Old Testament Law. This is a critical point because the Judaizers were promoting a works-based righteousness. The presence and work of the Spirit within a believer are undeniable evidence of their standing with God, and Paul insists this is received by faith, aligning with God’s gracious promise.