Galatians 3:2-3

3:2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law ¹  or by believing what you heard? ²  3:3 Are you so foolish? Although you began ³  with ⁴  the Spirit, are you now trying to finish ⁵  by human effort? ⁶ 

[3:2]  ¹ tn Grk “by [the] works of [the] law,” a reference to observing the Mosaic law.

[3:2]  ² tn Grk “by [the] hearing of faith.”

[3:3]  ³ tn Grk “Having begun”; the participle ἐναρξάμενοι (enarxamenoi) has been translated concessively.

[3:3]  ⁴ tn Or “by the Spirit.”

[3:3]  ⁵ tn The verb ἐπιτελεῖσθε (epiteleisqe) has been translated as a conative present (see ExSyn 534). This is something the Galatians were attempting to do, but could not accomplish successfully.

[3:3]  ⁶ tn Grk “in/by [the] flesh.”