Galatians 3:5

He therfore that ministreth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the workes of the Law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:5 (KJV)

In this rhetorical question the apostle Paul confronts the Galatian believers about the source of their spiritual experience. He refers first to “the Spirit” that has been ministered to them, the Holy Spirit who empowers, guides, and confirms the Christian life. Paul then notes that “miracles” were being worked among them, signs that testified to God’s presence and the reality of the gospel.

The heart of the question is the contrast between “the works of the law” and “the hearing of faith.” By “the works of the law” Paul means the observance of the Mosaic Law—its ceremonial rituals and moral commandments—an effort that he repeatedly argues cannot bring justification before God. The draft notes that all have fallen short of God’s perfect standard (cf. Romans 3:23), and that the law cannot produce the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

“By the hearing of faith” points to the act of hearing the gospel and responding in trust to Jesus Christ—believing in His death, resurrection, and saving work. Salvation, according to Paul, is received through faith, not through human effort. The drafts emphasize that the Spirit was given because of that faith, not because of legal observance.

Paul’s purpose is to lead the Galatians to recognize that the miracles and the ministry of the Spirit are rooted in faith, not in legalism. In the broader context he is confronting the Judaizers who taught that Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the law to be saved. By refuting that teaching, Paul affirms that justification comes by faith in Christ alone, apart from any works of the law. The passage therefore highlights the primacy of faith as the basis for salvation, the reception of the Holy Spirit, and the working of God’s power among believers.