Galatians 3:6 kjv
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:6 nkjv
just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Galatians 3:6 niv
So also Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Galatians 3:6 esv
just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
Galatians 3:6 nlt
In the same way, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."
Galatians 3 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:6 | Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. | Foundational for faith |
| Rom 4:3 | For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." | Direct repetition |
| Rom 4:13 | For the promise to Abraham and his offspring was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. | Reinforces faith over law |
| Rom 5:1 | Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Result of faith |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. | Christ's righteousness |
| Gal 2:16 | yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. | Rejection of law's works |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. | Grace and faith |
| Phil 3:9 | and be found in him, not having the righteousness that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. | Contrast righteousness |
| Heb 11:1 | Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | Definition of faith |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | Importance of faith |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." | Belief leads to life |
| Acts 16:31 | "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." | Salvation through belief |
| Rom 1:17 | For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." | Righteousness in Gospel |
| Rom 3:22 | the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. | Righteousness of God |
| Rom 3:27 | Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, but by the law of faith. | Law of faith excludes boasting |
| Rom 10:4 | For Christ, the end of the law, that everyone who believes might be righteous. | Christ as fulfillment |
| Deut 30:14 | But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it. | Implied accessibility |
| Gal 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love. | Faith and love |
| Ps 32:1-2 | Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. | Righteousness imputed |
| Rom 4:9 | Is this blessedness then only for the circumcised, or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. | Blessedness of faith |
| Rom 4:22 | That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." | Faith counted as righteousness |
| Gal 3:1 | O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. | Appeal to clear teaching |
| Gal 3:5 | Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? | Spirit through faith |
Galatians 3 verses
Galatians 3 6 Meaning
This verse highlights that faith, specifically belief in God's promises, is the basis of true righteousness. It emphasizes that being counted as righteous by God stems from trusting in what He has declared, not from adhering to the Law. This highlights the foundational principle of justification by faith, a core tenet of the Gospel.
Galatians 3 6 Context
Galatians chapter 3 is addressing a controversy within the Galatian church where some were teaching that Gentiles must first become Jews (by observing the Mosaic Law, including circumcision) to be truly saved and receive God's blessings. Paul's argument in this chapter, starting from verse 1, vigorously counters this idea. He uses Abraham as the prime example of justification before the Law. He explains that Abraham was declared righteous by God based on his faith, long before the Law was given. This verse (Galatians 3:6) is a crucial link in this argument, explicitly stating the Old Testament basis for Paul's teaching on justification by faith. Paul is arguing that what was true for Abraham is true for believers today, regardless of their ethnicity or adherence to Jewish ceremonial laws. The immediate context is refuting those who were trying to impose legalistic requirements for salvation and spiritual adoption.
Galatians 3 6 Word Analysis
- Or: (Greek: ho – an adversative or interrogative particle) - Used here to introduce a contrasting thought or a question that highlights the contrasting thought.
- even: (Greek: kai – and, also, even) - A conjunction used here to emphasize or connect the following phrase, signifying "and also" or "even."
- as: (Greek: hōs – as, like, when, in the degree that) - Used here to indicate likeness or equivalence, meaning "in the same way as."
- so: (Greek: outōs – thus, so, in this manner) - Indicates manner or result.
- is: (Greek: estin – he/she/it is, there is) - A form of the verb "to be," indicating existence or identity.
- faith: (Greek: pistis – faith, belief, trust, faithfulness) - This is the central concept. It refers to a firm belief in God's promises and His character, a trust that leads to action. It’s not mere intellectual assent but a deep-seated reliance and commitment.
- Abraham: (Greek: Abraam – Abraham) - The patriarch of the Jewish people, whose life and relationship with God are used as a foundational example.
- believed: (Greek: pisteuō – to believe, trust, have faith in) - The active act of trusting and having faith. It signifies a surrender and reliance on God.
- counted: (Greek: logizomai – to reckon, calculate, count, impute) - Implies an action of accounting or crediting. God imputes or credits righteousness to Abraham because of his faith. It's not that Abraham was inherently righteous, but that God declared him righteous.
- to: (Greek: autō – to him, for him) - Refers back to Abraham.
- righteousness: (Greek: dikaiosunē – righteousness, justice) - In a biblical context, it refers to being declared righteous by God. It’s God’s perfect standard that believers receive through faith in Christ, often understood as imputed righteousness.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:
- "even as Abraham believed": This connects the Galatians' current situation or the point Paul is making to Abraham's historical act of faith. It implies that faith is the universal principle at play.
- "it was counted to him as righteousness": This phrase encapsulates the doctrine of imputation. God’s act of crediting Abraham’s faith as righteousness is the core point. It wasn't Abraham’s works, but God’s gracious imputation based on his belief. This establishes a precedent that faith, not works of law, leads to righteousness.
Galatians 3 6 Bonus Section
The concept of righteousness being "counted" or "imputed" (logizomai) is crucial. It means God attributes righteousness to a person. This contrasts with an inherent or achieved righteousness. For Abraham, it was God's judicial decision based on his faith. For Christians, this imputed righteousness is fundamentally derived from Christ's perfect righteousness, which is credited to believers through their faith in Him. This aligns with the understanding that "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21). This doctrine is foundational to the Reformation and continues to be a cornerstone of evangelical theology, emphasizing God’s grace and human faith as the basis of salvation, separate from meritorious works.
Galatians 3 6 Commentary
Paul cites Abraham as the quintessential example of one justified by faith. Before the Law of Moses was given, Abraham demonstrated trust in God's promises, and in response, God declared him righteous. This imputation of righteousness signifies that God forgives sins and accounts believers as righteous not based on their performance under the Law, but on their trusting reliance on God's Word. This established a precedent that grace and faith, not legalistic obedience, are the pathway to God. The faith mentioned is an active, obedient trust, evidenced by Abraham’s willingness to leave his home and later offer his son. This highlights that true faith is transformative and is the basis of one’s relationship with God, preceding and transcending any works-based system.