Galatians
Greetings and Grace
1Paul, aan apostle—bnot sent from men nor through man, but cthrough Jesus Christ and God the Father, who draised Him from the dead— 2and all athe brothers who are with me, To bthe churches of Galatia:
3aGrace to you and peace from 1God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who agave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from bthis present evil 1age, according to the will of cour God and Father, 5ato whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Distorting the Gospel
6I marvel that you are so quickly deserting aHim who called you 1by the grace of Christ for a bdifferent gospel, 7which is really not another, only there are some who are adisturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or aan angel from heaven, should proclaim to you a gospel 1contrary to the gospel we have proclaimed to you, let him be 2,baccursed! 9As we ahave said before, so I say again now, bif any man is proclaiming to you a gospel 1contrary to what you received, let him be 2,caccursed!
10For am I now aseeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bslave of Christ.
Paul Called by God
11For aI make known to you, brothers, that the gospel which I am proclaiming as good news is bnot according to man. 12For aI neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a brevelation of Jesus Christ.
13For you have heard of amy former conduct in Judaism, how I bused to persecute cthe church of God beyond measure and dtried to destroy it. 14And I awas advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being far more zealous for the traditions of my bfathers. 15But when God, who had set me apart from my mother’s womb and acalled me through His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might aproclaim Him as good news among the Gentiles, bI did not immediately consult with 1,cflesh and blood, 17anor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to bDamascus.
18Then athree years later I went up bto Jerusalem to 1become acquainted with cCephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I did not see any other of the apostles except 1,aJames, the Lord’s brother. 20(Now in what I am writing to you, 1I assure you abefore God that I am not lying!) 21Then aI went into the regions of bSyria and cCilicia. 22And I was still unknown by 1sight to athe churches of Judea which are bin Christ; 23but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of athe faith which he once btried to destroy.” 24And they awere glorifying God 1because of me.
Paul Accepted by the Apostles
2Then after fourteen years I awent up again to Jerusalem with bBarnabas, taking cTitus along also. 2And I went up 1because of a arevelation, and I laid out to them the bgospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, lest somehow I might be crunning, or had run, in vain. 3But not even aTitus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was bcompelled to be circumcised. 4But this was because of the afalse brothers secretly brought in, who bhad sneaked in to spy out our cfreedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to denslave us. 5But we did not yield in subjection to them for even 1a moment, so that athe truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6But from those who 1were of high areputation (what they were makes no difference to me; bGod 2shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7But on the contrary, seeing that I had been aentrusted with the bgospel 1to the uncircumcised, just as cPeter had been 2to the circumcised 8(for He who worked in Peter unto his aapostleship 1to the circumcised worked in me also unto the Gentiles), 9and recognizing athe grace that had been given to me, bJames and cCephas and 1John, who were dreputed to be epillars, gave to me and fBarnabas the right 2hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10Only they asked us to remember the poor—athe very thing I also was eager to do.
Paul Opposes Peter (Cephas)
11But when aCephas came to bAntioch, I opposed him to his face, because he 1stood condemned. 12For prior to the coming of certain men from aJames, he used to beat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he began to shrink back and separate himself, cfearing 1the party of the circumcision. 13And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even aBarnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they awere not 1straightforward about bthe truth of the gospel, I said to cCephas before everyone, “If you, being a Jew, dlive like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?2
15“We are aJews by nature and not bsinners from among the Gentiles; 16nevertheless 1knowing that aa man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by bfaith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since cby the works of 2the Law no 3flesh will be justified. 17“But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found asinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? bMay it never be! 18“For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I aprove myself to be a transgressor. 19“For through 1the Law I adied to 2the Law, so that I might live to God. 20“I have been acrucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but bChrist lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in cthe Son of God, who dloved me and egave Himself up for me. 21“I do not set aside the grace of God, for aif righteousness comes through 1the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
3O foolish aGalatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ bwas publicly portrayed as crucified? 2This is the only thing I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of 1the Law, or by 2,ahearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun 1by the Spirit, are you now 2being perfected by the flesh? 4Did you 1suffer so many things for nothing—aif indeed it was for nothing? 5So then, does He who aprovides you with the Spirit and bworks 1miracles among you, do it by the works of 2the Law, or by 3,chearing with faith?
6Just as aAbraham bbelieved God and it was counted to him as righteousness, 7so know that athose who are of faith, those are bsons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God 1would justify the 2Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “aAll the nations will be blessed in you.” 9So then athose who are of faith are blessed with 1Abraham, the believer.
10For as many as are of the works of 1the Law are under a curse, for it is written, “aCursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11Now that ano one is justified 1by 2the Law before God is evident, 3for “bThe righteous shall live by faith.” 121However, the Law is not 2of faith; rather, “aHe who does them shall live 3by them.” 13Christ aredeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “bCursed is everyone who hangs on ca 1tree”— 14in order that ain Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might 1come to the Gentiles, so that we bwould receive cthe promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Promise by Faith
15aBrothers, bI speak 1in human terms: ceven though it is only a man’s 2covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds 3conditions to it. 16Now the promises were spoken ato Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And bto your seed,” that is, Christ. 17And what I am saying is this: the Law, which came a430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise. 18For aif the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but bGod has granted it to Abraham through promise.
19aWhy the Law then? It was added 1because of trespasses, having been bordained through angels cby the hand of a mediator, until dthe seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20Now aa mediator is not 1for one person only, whereas God is one. 21Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? aMay it never be! For bif a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law. 22But the Scripture has ashut up 1everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, abeing shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. 24Therefore the Law has become our atutor unto Christ, so that bwe may be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a 1,atutor. 26For you are all asons of God through faith in bChrist Jesus. 27For all of you who were abaptized into Christ have bclothed yourselves with Christ. 28aThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no bmale and female, for cyou are all one in dChrist Jesus. 29And if ayou 1belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s 2seed, heirs according to bpromise.
Sonship in Christ
4Now I say, as long as the heir is a 1child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is 2owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and stewards until the date set by the father. 3So also we, while we were children, were aenslaved under the 1,belemental things of the world. 4But when athe fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, bborn of a woman, born cunder 1the Law, 5so that He might redeem those who were under 1the Law, that we might receive the adoption as asons. 6And because you are sons, aGod sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “bAbba! Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and aif a son, then an heir 1through God.
8However at that time, awhen you did not know God, you were bslaves to cthose which by nature are no gods. 9But now, having known God, or rather having been aknown by God, bhow is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless 1,celemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10You aobserve days and months and seasons and years. 11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored 1over you for nothing.
12I beg of you, abrothers, bbecome as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13But you know that it was because of a 1bodily illness that I proclaimed the gospel to you the 2first time; 14and that which was a 1trial to you in my 2bodily condition you did not despise or 3loathe, but ayou received me as an angel of God, as bChrist Jesus Himself. 15Where then is 1that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16So have I become your enemy aby 1telling you the truth? 17They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will zealously seek them. 18But it is good always to be zealously sought in a commendable 1manner, and anot only when I am present with you. 19aMy children, with whom bI am again in labor until cChrist is formed in you— 20but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because aI am perplexed about you.
An Allegory of Two Covenants
21Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not alisten to the Law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, aone by the servant-woman and bone by the free woman. 23But athe son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while bthe son by the free woman through the promise. 241,aThis is 2spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from bMount Sinai bearing children into cslavery; 3she is Hagar. 25Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But athe Jerusalem above is free; 1she is our mother. 27For it is written, “aRejoice, barren woman who does not give birth;Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;For more numerous are the children of the desolate oneThan of the one who has a husband.”
28And you brothers, ain accordance with Isaac, are bchildren of promise. 29But as at that time ahe who was born according to the flesh bwas persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, cso it is now also. 30But what does the Scripture say? “aCast out the servant-woman and her son,For bthe son of the servant-woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, 1but of the free woman.
Christ Set Us Free
51,aIt was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore, bstand firm and do not be subject again to a cyoke of slavery.
2Behold I, aPaul, say to you that if you receive bcircumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3And I atestify again to every man who receives bcircumcision, that he is under obligation to ckeep the whole Law. 4You have been 1severed from Christ, you who are being justified by law; you have afallen from grace! 5For we 1through the Spirit, 2by faith, are aeagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6For in aChrist Jesus bneither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but cfaith working through love.
7You were arunning well; who hindered you from 1obeying the truth? 8This persuasion is not from aHim who calls you. 9aA little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10aI have confidence 1in you in the Lord that you bwill adopt no other view. But the one who is cdisturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still apersecuted? Then bthe stumbling block of the cross would have been abolished. 12I wish that athose who are upsetting you would even 1,bmutilate themselves.
13For you were called to afreedom, brothers; bonly do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love cserve one another. 14For athe whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “bYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you abite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.
Walk by the Spirit
16But I say, awalk by the Spirit and you will not carry out bthe desire of the flesh. 17For athe flesh 1sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, bso that you do not do the things that you want. 18But if you are aled by the Spirit, byou are not under the Law. 19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: asexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, asorcery, enmities, bstrife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, cselfish ambition, dissensions, 1,dfactions, 21envying, adrunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not binherit the kingdom of God. 22But athe fruit of the Spirit is blove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, aself-control. Against such things bthere is no law. 24Now those who 1belong to aChrist Jesus bcrucified the flesh with its passions and cdesires.
25If we live by the Spirit, let us also 1walk in step with athe Spirit. 26Let us not become those with avain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.
Bear One Another’s Burdens
6aBrothers, even if 1anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are bspiritual, crestore such a one din a spirit of gentleness, each of you looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2aBear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill bthe law of Christ. 3For aif anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But each one must aexamine his own work, and then he will have reason for bboasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5For aeach one will bear his own load.
6aAnd the one who is instructed in bthe word is to share in all good things with the one who instructs him. 7aDo not be deceived, bGod is not mocked, for cwhatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8aFor the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap bcorruption, but cthe one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9aAnd let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we bdo not grow weary. 10So then, 1,awhile we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the bhousehold of cthe faith.
11See with what large letters I 1am writing to you awith my own hand! 12As many as are wanting ato make a good showing in the flesh, these are trying to bcompel you to be circumcised, simply so that they cwill not be persecuted 1for the cross of Christ. 13For those who 1are circumcised do not even akeep 2the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may bboast in your flesh. 14But amay it never be that I would boast, bexcept in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, cthrough 1which the world has been crucified to me, and dI to the world. 15For aneither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a bnew 1creation. 16And those who will 1walk in step with this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the aIsrael of God.
17From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the amarks of Jesus.