Galatians

Chapter 1

¹ Paul, an apostle—not from men nor by man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, the one who raised him from the dead— ² and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia: ³ Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ the one who gave himself for our sins so that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

⁶ I am amazed that you are turning away so quickly to a different gospel from the one who called you by the grace of Christ, ⁷ which is not another, except certain ones are causing you trouble and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven might proclaim to you a gospel other than the one we proclaimed to you, let him be cursed. ⁹ As we have said before, and now I say again, “If someone proclaims to you a gospel other than the one you received, let him be cursed.” ¹⁰ For am I now persuading men or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I am still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

¹¹ For I make known to you, brothers, that the gospel which was proclaimed by me is not according to man. ¹² For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it. Instead, it was by revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard about my former life in Judaism, that I was persecuting the church of God beyond measure and I was destroying it. ¹⁴ And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age, among my own race. I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when the one who had set me apart from the womb of my mother and called me through his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood. ¹⁷ I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me. Instead, I went to Arabia and again returned to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and I stayed with him 15 days. ¹⁹ But I did not see another of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord. ²⁰ But what I write to you, behold, before God, I am not lying. ²¹ Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² But I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ But they were only hearing, “The one who formerly persecuted us is now proclaiming the faith which he formerly was destroying.” ²⁴ And so they glorified God in me.

Chapter 2

¹ Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, also taking Titus along with me. ² But I went up according to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, but privately to those who seemed to be important, lest I might be running—or had run—in vain. ³ But not even Titus, who was with me, who was a Greek, was forced to be circumcised. ⁴ But it was because of the false brothers who came in secretly, who came in secretly to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus so that they would enslave us, ⁵ we did not even yield in submission to them for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. ⁶ But from those who seem to be something (what they were formerly matters nothing to me, God does not accept the face of man)—indeed, those who seem important added nothing to me. ⁷ But on the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcision, just as Peter to the circumcision. ⁸ For the one who worked in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcision, also worked in me to the Gentiles. ⁹ And when they had understood the grace that had been given to me, James, and Cephas and John, those who were recognized to be pillars, gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, so that we would be to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision, ¹⁰ only, so that we remember the poor, the same thing that I was also eager to do.

¹¹ But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he was to be condemned. ¹² For before certain ones came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles. But when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, being afraid of those from the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also joined with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not walking correctly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all of them, “If you, a Jew, are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” ¹⁵ We are Jews by birth and not sinners from the Gentiles; ¹⁶ but knowing that no man is justified by the works of the law except through faith in Jesus Christ, we also believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law. For by the works of the law no flesh will be justified. ¹⁷ But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves, were also found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! ¹⁸ For if I again rebuild those things which I destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. ¹⁹ For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. ²⁰ But I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. But that which I now live in the flesh I live in faith that is of the Son of God, the one who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

Chapter 3

¹ O foolish Galatians! Who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? ² I want to learn only this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? ⁴ Have you suffered so many things for nothing—if indeed it was really for nothing? ⁵ Therefore, the one providing the Spirit to you and working miracles among you, is it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ⁶ Just as Abraham “believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,” ⁷ know, then, that those by faith, these are sons of Abraham. ⁸ But the scripture, having forseen that God justifies the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” ⁹ So then, those by faith are blessed along with the faithful Abraham. ¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law to do them.” ¹¹ But, that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” ¹² But the law is not by faith, but, “The one who does these things will live in them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that through faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

¹⁵ Brothers, I am speaking according to man. Nevertheless, no one can set aside or add to a covenant established by man. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, “and to seeds,” as to many, but as to one, “and to your seed,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ And I say this: The law, having come after 430 years, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God, to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from promise. But God has shown kindness to Abraham through a promise. ¹⁹ What, then, is the law? It was put into effect through angels by the hand of a mediator, added because of transgressions, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not for one, but God is one. ²¹ Therefore is the law against the promises? May it never be! For if a law had been given that was able to make alive, then righteousness would have come by the law. ²² But the scripture imprisoned all things under sin so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ And before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned to the faith about to be revealed. ²⁴ So then the law became our guardian until Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But faith having come, we are no longer under a guardian. ²⁶ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ But if you are of Christ, then you are seed of Abraham, heirs according to promise.

Chapter 4

¹ But I say for as much time as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, though he is master of all. ² But he is under guardians and stewards until the date appointed by his father. ³ So also, when we were children, we were enslaved by the elemental principles of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his Son, having been born from a woman, having been born under the law, ⁵ in order to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ So then, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God.

⁸ But at that time, not knowing God, you were enslaved to those who are, by nature, not gods. ⁹ But now, having come to know God, or rather, having come to be known by God, how are you turning again to the weak and worthless elemental principles, to which once more you want to be enslaved again? ¹⁰ You are observing days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I am afraid for you lest I have labored among you for nothing.

¹² I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also am as you. You did me no harm. ¹³ But you have known that because of a weakness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time. ¹⁴ And you did not despise my trial in your flesh nor reject me, but you welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, having torn out your eyes, you would have given them to me. ¹⁶ So then, speaking truth to you, have I become your enemy? ¹⁷ They are zealous for you, not rightly, but to shut you out, desiring that you would be zealous for them. ¹⁸ But it is always good to be zealous for good, and not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹ My little children, with whom I am in labor again until Christ has been formed in you— ²⁰ but desiring to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave girl and one by the free woman. ²³ And the one was born from the slave girl according to the flesh, but the other from the free woman through promise. ²⁴ These are spoken as an allegory, for they are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, giving birth to slavery. This is Hagar. ²⁵ But Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponding to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

     “Rejoice, you barren one who does not give birth;

     break forth and shout, you who are not suffering the pains of childbirth;

     because the children of the desolate one are more

     than those of the one who has a husband.”

²⁸ But you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as then, the one who was born according to the flesh was persecuting the one according to the Spirit, so it also is now. ³⁰ But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave girl and her son. For the son of the slave girl will certainly not inherit with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave girl, but of the free woman.

Chapter 5

¹ For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not again be subjected to a yoke of slavery.

² Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will benefit you nothing. ³ But I testify again to every man letting himself be circumcised that he is obligated to do the whole law. ⁴ You were cut off from Christ, whoever is being justified by the law; you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is capable of anything, but only faith working through love. ⁷ You were running well. Who hindered you, not to be persuaded by truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from the one who calls you! ⁹ A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰ I am confident in you in the Lord that you will think nothing otherwise. But the one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. ¹¹ But brothers, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish those disturbing you would even castrate themselves!

¹³ For you have been called to freedom, brothers. But not freedom for an opportunity for the flesh; rather, through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For all the law has been fulfilled in one command, in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you are biting and devouring one another, watch out that you might not be consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit and you would certainly not fulfill the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. For these oppose each other, so that you are not doing these things which you desire. ¹⁸ But if you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ And the works of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalry, dissension, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, about which I warn you, just as I warned you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ But those of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become boastful, provoking one another, envying one another.

Chapter 6

¹ Brothers, even if a man is caught in any trespass, let you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. ² Carry one another’s burdens, and thus you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself alone and not in someone else. ⁵ For each one will carry his own burden.

⁶ But let the one being taught the word share in all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷ Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man may sow, that he will also reap. ⁸ For the one sowing to his own flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction. But the one sowing to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ But we should not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time, not giving up, we will reap. ¹⁰ So then, as we have time, we should do good to all people, but especially to those of the household of faith.

¹¹ See what large letters I wrote to you with my own hand. ¹² As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh, they are compelling you to be circumcised, only so that they might not be persecuted for the cross of Christ Jesus. ¹³ For not even those who have been circumcised keep the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But may it never be to 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. ¹⁵ For neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ¹⁶ And as many as will walk in this standard, peace and mercy upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I carry in my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.