Galatians 3:5

KJV

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

KJV (with Strong's)

He therefore {G3767} that ministereth {G2023} to you {G5213} the Spirit {G4151}, and {G2532} worketh {G1754} miracles {G1411} among {G1722} you {G5213}, doeth he it by {G1537} the works {G2041} of the law {G3551}, or {G2228} by {G1537} the hearing {G189} of faith {G4102}?

Complete Jewish Bible

What about God, who supplies you with the Spirit and works miracles among you — does he do it because of your legalistic observance of Torah commands or because you trust in what you heard and are faithful to it?

Berean Standard Bible

Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?

American Standard Version

He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Galatians 3:5, the Apostle Paul employs a potent rhetorical question to challenge the Galatian believers, compelling them to reflect on the undeniable source of their spiritual experience. He asks whether the one who supplies them with the Holy Spirit and performs miracles among them does so by their adherence to the Mosaic Law or by their initial response of faith to the gospel. This verse serves as a pivotal point in Paul's argument, underscoring that divine power and spiritual blessings are received by grace through faith in Christ, not through human effort or legalistic observance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Galatians 3:5 is an integral part of Paul's sustained and impassioned argument against the Judaizers, who were attempting to persuade Gentile Christians in Galatia that they needed to be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law to be truly justified or "perfected" in Christ. The verse immediately follows Paul's direct challenge in [Galatians 3:2](/galatians/3-2 "Galatians 3:2 - Receiving the Spirit by Faith"), where he asks how they received the Spirit—by works of the law or by hearing with faith. Verse 5 reiterates and amplifies this point, connecting the reception of the Spirit with the ongoing manifestation of miracles, further solidifying the experiential evidence against legalism. Paul is systematically dismantling the Judaizers' theology by appealing to the Galatians' own spiritual history and undeniable encounters with God's power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The churches in Galatia were primarily Gentile converts who had embraced the gospel through Paul's ministry. The "Judaizers" were Jewish Christians who believed that Gentile converts must adopt Jewish customs and laws (like circumcision and dietary laws) to be considered full members of God's covenant people. This teaching directly contradicted Paul's gospel of justification by faith alone, which he had preached to them. The cultural setting was one where adherence to ancestral laws and traditions was highly valued, making the Judaizers' message appealing to those seeking a tangible framework for their new faith. Paul's letter vigorously defends the purity of the gospel against this syncretistic pressure, emphasizing the radical newness of salvation in Christ, which transcends ethnic and legal boundaries.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Galatians. Firstly, it reinforces the theme of **Justification by Faith**, arguing that salvation and spiritual vitality are gifts received through belief in Christ's finished work, not through human merit or adherence to a legal code. This is a foundational truth Paul champions throughout the letter, as seen in [Galatians 2:16](/galatians/2-16 "Galatians 2:16 - Justification by Faith, Not Works"). Secondly, it highlights the **Role and Power of the Holy Spirit**, demonstrating that the Spirit's presence and activity (including miracles) are direct consequences of faith, not legalistic practice. The Spirit is the seal and guarantee of God's promise, freely given to believers. Thirdly, Paul employs **Rhetorical Persuasion**, using a series of pointed questions in [Galatians 3](/galatians/3 "Galatians 3 - Law and Promise") to expose the logical inconsistencies and spiritual folly of abandoning faith for law, compelling the Galatians to confront the truth of their own experience.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **ministereth (Greek, _epichorēgéō'_):** From G2023, meaning "to furnish besides, i.e. fully supply, (figuratively) aid or contribute." This word conveys the idea of a generous, abundant, and continuous provision. It highlights God as the lavish provider of the Spirit, not someone who dispenses spiritual blessings based on human performance or merit. The ongoing nature of the supply emphasizes God's faithfulness to those who live by faith.
* **miracles (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** From G1411, meaning "force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)." This term refers to acts of supernatural power, divine interventions that transcend natural capabilities. Paul's use of this word points to tangible, undeniable manifestations of God's presence and power among the Galatians, serving as empirical evidence that their spiritual experience originated from faith, not from adherence to the Law.
* **hearing (Greek, _akoḗ'_):** From G189, meaning "hearing (the act, the sense or the thing heard)." In the phrase "hearing of faith," this refers not merely to the physical act of listening, but to the reception and comprehension of the gospel message. It implies an active, receptive posture towards God's revelation. This "hearing" is intrinsically linked to "faith" (G4102, _pístis_), which is "persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction... especially reliance upon Christ for salvation." Together, "hearing of faith" signifies the process of hearing the good news about Christ and responding to it with trust and belief, leading to justification and the reception of the Spirit.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit,"**: This clause refers to God (or the one through whom God works, likely Paul himself as an apostle, but ultimately God as the source) who generously supplies the Holy Spirit to the Galatian believers. The continuous tense of "ministereth" (present participle) implies an ongoing, abundant provision of the Spirit.
* **"and worketh miracles among you,"**: This continues the description of divine activity among the Galatians. The "worketh" (G1754, _energéō_) implies active, efficient, and effectual working. "Miracles" (G1411, _dýnamis_) refers to powerful, supernatural deeds. This clause underscores that the Galatians had not only received the Spirit but had also witnessed and experienced divine power in their midst, further validating the authenticity of their initial conversion experience.
* **"[doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"**: This is the core rhetorical question. Paul presents a stark dichotomy: was this spiritual provision and miraculous activity a result of their obedience to the Mosaic Law ("works of the law," G2041 _érgon_ and G3551 _nómos_) or by their receptive response to the gospel message with belief ("hearing of faith," G189 _akoḗ_ and G4102 _pístis_)? The implied answer is unequivocally the latter, forcing the Galatians to confront the logical inconsistency of their current inclination towards legalism. The prepositions "by" (G1537, _ek_) denote origin or source, emphasizing that the *means* of receiving these blessings is the central issue.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs several literary devices in Galatians 3:5. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, a technique where the speaker asks a question not to elicit an answer, but to make a point or create a dramatic effect, with the answer being obvious. By posing this question, Paul forces the Galatians to confront the undeniable truth of their own experience and the logical contradiction of their current leanings towards legalism. This device is highly persuasive, as it appeals directly to their memory and spiritual reality. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Antithesis** or **Contrast**, juxtaposing "the works of the law" with "the hearing of faith." This stark opposition highlights the fundamental difference between two mutually exclusive paths to righteousness and spiritual power, emphasizing that one is based on human effort and the other on divine grace received through belief. The vivid imagery of the Spirit being "ministered" and "miracles" being "worked" also adds to the persuasive power, grounding the theological argument in tangible, experiential reality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Galatians 3:5 is a profound theological statement that firmly establishes the **primacy of faith over works of the law** in the Christian life. It asserts that the Holy Spirit, the very lifeblood of Christian existence, and the accompanying manifestations of God's power, are not earned through human striving or adherence to legal codes, but are freely given through a simple, trusting reception of the gospel message. This foundational truth underscores God's character as a gracious giver and highlights the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross, which alone secures salvation and all its spiritual benefits. To suggest that these blessings come through law-keeping is to deny the very nature of grace and to undermine the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice.

* [Romans 10:17](/romans/10-17 "Romans 10:17 - Faith Comes by Hearing"): "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Saved by Grace Through Faith"): "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
* [Hebrews 2:4](/hebrew/2-4 "Hebrews 2:4 - God Bearing Witness with Signs and Wonders"): "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Galatians 3:5 serves as a timeless mirror for believers, inviting us to critically examine the wellspring of our spiritual vitality and our approach to living the Christian life. In a world that often values performance, achievement, and self-reliance, this verse calls us back to the radical simplicity and profound depth of grace. It challenges any tendency to subtly shift our reliance from Christ's finished work to our own efforts, good deeds, or adherence to a set of rules, whether explicit or implicit. True spiritual power, the indwelling Spirit, and the miraculous workings of God flow from a heart that trusts completely in Jesus, not from a life meticulously lived according to human prescriptions. We are encouraged to continually return to the "hearing of faith," allowing the gospel to shape our understanding of God's provision and our identity in Christ. This means cultivating a posture of humble reception, recognizing that every spiritual blessing is a gift, and resisting the urge to earn what has already been freely given.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "works" or "rules" in my life that I might subtly rely on for God's favor, rather than solely on the "hearing of faith"?**
* **How does my understanding of the Holy Spirit's work in my life align with the idea that He is "ministered" through faith, not performance?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to add human effort or religious rituals to Christ's finished work for my sanctification or acceptance by God?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper "hearing of faith" in my daily life, allowing God's grace to be the primary motivator for all I do?**

### FAQ

**What does Paul mean by "works of the law" in this context?**

Answer: In Galatians, "works of the law" refers primarily to the Mosaic Law, particularly those aspects that distinguished Jews from Gentiles, such as circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance. The Judaizers were insisting that Gentile Christians needed to perform these "works" to be truly righteous or "perfected" in God's eyes. Paul argues vehemently against this, asserting that these works cannot justify a person before God or bring about the Spirit's presence, as salvation and spiritual life come solely through faith in Christ, not through adherence to a legal code. This concept is central to Paul's argument for [justification by faith](/galatians/2-16 "Galatians 2:16 - Justification by Faith").

**What is the "hearing of faith" and why is it significant?**

Answer: "Hearing of faith" (Greek: _ex akoēs pisteōs_) refers to the act of hearing the gospel message—the good news about Jesus Christ—and responding to it with belief and trust. It's not just passive listening, but a receptive and obedient response that embraces the truth of God's revelation. This phrase is significant because it highlights that salvation, the reception of the Holy Spirit, and the experience of God's power are initiated and sustained by this act of faith, rather than by human effort or obedience to the Law. It underscores that God's blessings are gifts received by grace, not earned by merit, as emphasized throughout [Paul's epistles](/romans/1-16-17 "Romans 1:16-17 - The Righteousness of God Revealed").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Galatians 3:5 profoundly points to Christ as the ultimate source and object of the "hearing of faith" through which the Spirit is ministered and miracles are worked. The "Spirit" that is supplied to believers is the Spirit of Christ, poured out because of His finished work on the cross. It was Christ who perfectly fulfilled the Law, rendering "works of the law" obsolete as a means of justification or spiritual empowerment. His death and resurrection secured the new covenant, under which the promise of the Spirit is given freely to all who believe in Him, irrespective of their adherence to the Mosaic code. The "hearing of faith" is precisely the hearing of the gospel of Christ—His atoning sacrifice, His victorious resurrection, and His ascension, which made possible the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost ([Acts 2:33](/acts/2-33 "Acts 2:33 - Exaltation of Christ and Outpouring of the Spirit")). Thus, the spiritual life, marked by the Spirit's presence and divine power, is not a result of human performance but a gracious gift mediated solely through our union with Christ, the one in whom all God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - God's Promises are Yes in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Galatians 3:2

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Acts 19:11

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

Acts 19:12

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Acts 14:9

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

Acts 14:10

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

2 Corinthians 13:3

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

1 Corinthians 1:4

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;