Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
1:1Paul, an apostle (not from men,
neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who
raised him from the dead), 1:2and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: 1:3Grace to you and peace from God
the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 1:4who gave
himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil
age, according to the will of our God and Father--1:5to whom be
the glory forever and ever. Amen.
1:6I marvel that you are so quickly
deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel;
1:7and there isn't another gospel.
Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Gospel of
Christ. 1:8But even though we, or an angel
from heaven, should preach to you any gospel other than that which we
preached to you, let him be cursed. 1:9As we have
said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any gospel
other than that which you received, let him be cursed. 1:10For am I now seeking the favor of
men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still
pleasing men, I wouldn't be a servant of Christ. 1:11But I make
known to you, brothers, concerning the Gospel which was preached by me,
that it is not according to man. 1:12For neither
did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through
revelation of Jesus Christ. 1:13For you have heard of my way of
living in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I
persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it. 1:14I advanced
in the Jews' religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being
more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 1:15But when it was the good pleasure
of God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me through his
grace, 1:16to reveal his Son in me, that I
might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn't immediately confer with
flesh and blood, 1:17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to
those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I
returned to Damascus. 1:18Then after three years I went up
to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 1:19But of the other apostles I saw
no one, except James, the Lord's brother. 1:20Now about
the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I'm not lying. 1:21Then I came to the regions of
Syria and Cilicia. 1:22I was still unknown by face to
the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, 1:23but they
only heard: "He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he
once tried to destroy." 1:24And they glorified God in me.
2:1Then after a period of fourteen
years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with
me. 2:2I went up by revelation, and I
laid before them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but
privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be
running, or had run, in vain. 2:3But not even Titus, who was with
me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 2:4This was
because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out
our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into
bondage; 2:5to whom we gave no place in the
way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might
continue with you. 2:6But from those who were reputed to
be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God
doesn't show partiality to man)--they, I say, who were respected imparted
nothing to me, 2:7but to the contrary, when they saw
that I had been entrusted with the Gospel for the uncircumcision, even as
Peter with the Gospel for the circumcision 2:8(for he who
appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also
to the Gentiles); 2:9and when they perceived the grace
that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to
be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we
should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. 2:10They only asked us to remember
the poor--which very thing I was also zealous to do.
2:11But when Peter came to Antioch, I
resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned. 2:12For before some people came from
James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and
separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 2:13And the rest of the Jews joined
him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their
hypocrisy. 2:14But when I saw that they didn't
walk uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter
before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and
not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
2:15"We, being Jews by nature,
and not Gentile sinners, 2:16yet knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in
Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be
justified by the works of the law. 2:17But if,
while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found
sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not! 2:18For if I
build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a
law-breaker. 2:19For I, through the law, died to
the law, that I might live to God. 2:20I have been
crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living
in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 2:21I don't
make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then
Christ died for nothing!"
3:1Foolish Galatians, who has
bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was
openly set forth among you as crucified? 3:2I just want
to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by hearing of faith? 3:3Are you so foolish? Having begun
in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 3:4Did you
suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 3:5He therefore who supplies the
Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of
the law, or by hearing of faith? 3:6Even as
Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for
righteousness." 3:7Know therefore that those who are
of faith, the same are children of Abraham. 3:8The
Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the
nations will be blessed." 3:9So then, those who are of faith
are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 3:10For as many
as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written,
"Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are
written in the book of the law, to do them." 3:11Now that no
man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, "The
righteous will live by faith." 3:12The law is
not of faith, but, "The man who does them will live by them."
3:13Christ redeemed us from the curse
of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed
is everyone who hangs on a tree," 3:14that the
blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that
we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 3:15Brothers, speaking of human
terms,though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed,
no one makes it void, or adds to it. 3:16Now the
promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn't say, "To
seeds," as of many, but as of one, "To your seed," which is
Christ. 3:17Now I say this. A covenant
confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred
thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no
effect. 3:18For if the inheritance is of the
law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by
promise.
3:19What then is the law? It was
added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the
promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a
mediator. 3:20Now a mediator is not between
one, but God is one. 3:21Is the law then against the
promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which
could make alive, most assuredly righteousness would have been of the law.
3:22But the Scriptures emprisoned all
things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given
to those who believe. 3:23But before faith came, we were
kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should
afterwards be revealed. 3:24So that the law has become our
tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 3:25But now that faith has come, we
are no longer under a tutor. 3:26For you are all children of God,
through faith in Christ Jesus. 3:27For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 3:28There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is
neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 3:29If you are Christ's, then you are
Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise.
4:1But I say that so long as the heir
is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of
all; 4:2but is under guardians and
stewards until the day appointed by the father. 4:3So we also,
when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles
of the world. 4:4But when the fullness of the time
came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 4:5that he might redeem those who
were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. 4:6And because you are children, God
sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" 4:7So you are
no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God
through Christ. 4:8However at that time, not knowing
God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 4:9But now that you have come to know
God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak
and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage
all over again? 4:10You observe days, months,
seasons, and years. 4:11I am afraid for you, that I might
have wasted my labor for you. 4:12I beg you, brothers, become as I
am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, 4:13but you know that because of
weakness of the flesh I preached the Gospel to you the first time. 4:14That which was a temptation to
you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but you received me as an
angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
4:15What was the blessing you
enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked
out your eyes and given them to me. 4:16So then,
have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 4:17They
zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that
you may seek them. 4:18But it is always good to be
zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
4:19My little children, of whom I am
again in travail until Christ is formed in you-- 4:20but I could
wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed
about you. 4:21Tell me, you that desire to be
under the law, don't you listen to the law? 4:22For it is
written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the
free woman. 4:23However, the son by the handmaid
was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born
through promise. 4:24These things contain an allegory,
for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to
bondage, which is Hagar. 4:25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in
Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in
bondage with her children. 4:26But the Jerusalem that is above
is free, which is the mother of us all. 4:27For it is
written,
"Rejoice, you barren who don't bear.
Break forth and shout, you that don't
travail.
For more are the children of the
desolate than of her who has a husband."
4:28Now we, brothers, as Isaac was,
are children of promise. 4:29But as then, he who was born
according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the
Spirit, so also it is now. 4:30However what does the Scripture
say? "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid
will not inherit with the son of the free woman." 4:31So then, brothers, we are not
children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
5:1Stand firm therefore in the
liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again
with a yoke of bondage. 5:2Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if
you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. 5:3Yes, I testify again to every man
who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 5:4You are alienated from Christ, you
who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace. 5:5For we, through the Spirit, by
faith wait for the hope of righteousness. 5:6For in
Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision,
but faith working through love. 5:7You were running well! Who
interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? 5:8This persuasion is not from him
who calls you. 5:9A little yeast grows through the
whole lump. 5:10I have confidence toward you in
the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will
bear his judgment, whoever he is.
5:11But I, brothers, if I still
preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling-block
of the cross has been removed. 5:12I wish that those who disturb you
would cut themselves off. 5:13For you, brothers, were called
for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but
through love be servants to one another. 5:14For the
whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself." 5:15But if you bite and devour one
another, be careful that you don't consume one another. 5:16But I say, walk by the Spirit,
and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh. 5:17For the
flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and
these are contrary to one other, that you may not do the things that you
desire. 5:18But if you are led by the Spirit,
you are not under the law. 5:19Now the works of the flesh are
obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
5:20idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 5:21envyings, murders, drunkenness,
orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also
forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
Kingdom of God.
5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 5:23gentleness, and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. 5:24Those who
belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 5:25If we live by the Spirit, let's
also walk by the Spirit. 5:26Let's not become conceited,
provoking one another, and envying one another.
6:1Brothers, even if a man is caught
in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit
of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted. 6:2Bear one another's burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ. 6:3For if a man thinks himself to be
something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 6:4But let each
man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in
his neighbor. 6:5For each man will bear his own
burden. 6:6But let him who is taught in the
word share all good things with him who teaches. 6:7Don't be
deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also
reap. 6:8For he who sows to his own flesh
will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will
from the Spirit reap eternal life. 6:9Let us not
be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give
up. 6:10So then, as we have opportunity,
let's do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are
of the household of the faith.
6:11See with what large letters I
write to you with my own hand. 6:12As many as desire to look good in
the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be
persecuted for the cross of Christ. 6:13For even
they who receive circumcision don't keep the law themselves, but they
desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. 6:14But far be it from me to boast,
except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has
been crucified to me, and I to the world. 6:15For in
Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a
new creation. 6:16As many as walk by this rule,
peace and mercy be on them, and on God's Israel. 6:17From now
on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord
Jesus branded on my body.
6:18The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Notes:
[1] back to 1:2
The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also
be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or
"siblings."
[2] back to
4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Chaldee word for
"Father" or "Daddy" used in a familiar, respectful,
and loving way.
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