To the Galatians
Greeting
1Paul, an apostle — not from man nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father after raising Him from the dead —
2 and all the brothers with me,
To the churches in Galatia:
3 Grace to you all and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 4 who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from the present evil age, according to the wish of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
No Other Gospel
6 I marvel that you all are so quickly removed from him who calleda you all in the grace of Christ to another gospel — 7 not that there is another except that some are troubling you all and wishing to corrupt the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or angels from heaven should preach a gospel to you all contrary to what we preached to you all, let him be accursedb. 9 As we have said before, and now again I say: if anyone preaches a gospel to you all contrary to what you all received, let him be accursed.
10 For now am I persuading men or God? Or am I seeking to please man? If I were still pleasing man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul Called by God
11 For I make known to you all, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you all heard of my former life in Judaism that violently I was persecuting the church of God and was destroying it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, supremely zealous I was being for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God pleased, after setting me apart from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace 16 to reveal His Son to me in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But the other apostles I did not see except James, the brother of the Lord. 20 (But in what I am writing to you all, behold, before God I am not lying!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Celicia. 22 But I was unknown in personc to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 But they were only hearing, “He who was persecuting us now preaches the faith which he was destroying.” 24 And they were glorifying God in me.
Paul Accepted by the Apostles
2 Then, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, after also taking Titus with me. 2 But I went up because of a revelation and set before them the gospel that I proclaimed among the Gentiles (and privately to those who seemed influential) that I might not run or was not running in vain. 3 But Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised. 4 But because of false brothers secretly brought in — who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus in order that they will enslave us — 5 to them we did not yield in subjection in order that the truth of the gospel might remain with you all. 6 And from those who thought to be someone (what they were makes no difference to me; God does not receive the face of a man)d — to me those seeming influential added nothing. 7 But on the contrary, after seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, as Peter was to the circumcised, 8 (for the one working in Peter for his apostleship to the circumcised also worked in me to the Gentiles), 9 and after learning about the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, seeking to be pillars, gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas in order that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked that we would remember the poor, and I was also eager to do this very thing.
Paul Opposes Peter
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he had been condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating the Gentiles, but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who are of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews were acting hypocritically with him, so even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not walking towards the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you are a Jew, living like a Gentile and not a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Justified by Faith
15 We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners 16 knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law except through faith in Jesus Christ, and we believed in Christ Jesus in order that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law because from works of the law no flesh will be justified.
17 But if we are seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are also found to be sinners. Then is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if what I destroyed, I built up again, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law, I am dead to the law in order that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, 20 but it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. But the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who after loving me, gave Himself for me. 21 I do not reject the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
By Faith, or by Works of the Law?
3 O foolish Galatians! Who bewitchede you all? It was before your eyes Jesus Christ was evidently set forth, after having been crucified. 2 I wish to learn only this from you all: By works of the law did you all receive the Holy Spirit, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you all so foolish, after beginning in the Spirit, now are you all perfected in the flesh? 4 Did you all suffer so many things in vain? If indeed, it was in vain; 5 therefore, does the one supplying you all the Spirit and working miracles among you all do so by works of the law or hearing by faith? 6 As Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”f
7 You all know then that those of the faith, those are the children of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, after foreseeing that by faith God would justify the Gentiles, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, “in you, all the nations will be blessed.”g 9 So then, those of the faith are blessed with the faith of Abraham.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it has been written, “Cursed is everyone who does not remain in all the things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”h 11 But that by the law, no one is righteous before God is evident because, “The righteous will live by faith.”i 12 But the law is not of faith, but, “The one doing them will live by them.”j 13 Christ redeemedk us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse for us — since it has been written, “Cursed is everyone hanging on a tree”l — 14 in order that to the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham may come in Christ Jesus that the promised Spirit might be received through faith.
The Law and the Promise
15 To Brothers, according to man, I say, even a man—made covenant, no one rejects or adds to, after having been ratified. 16 But to Abraham, the promises were made and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” as to many, but as to one, “And to your offspring,”m who is Christ. 17 But this I say, a covenant, after having been ratified by God, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul nor abolish the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of the promise; but God had given it to Abraham through a promise.
19 Why then, the law? It was added on account of transgressions until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, after having been appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law was given that could give life, righteousness would indeed be of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisonedn everything under sin in order that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those believing.
23 But before faith came, we were being guarded under the law, being imprisoned until the coming faith be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian unto Christ in order that we may be justified by faith. 25 But after faith came, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for all are sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 27 For as many of you all as were baptized into Christ, clothed themselves in Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 But if you all are Christ's, then you all are children of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.
Sons and Heirs
4 Now I say, while the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardianso and managers until the time appointed of the father. 3 In the same way, we also, when we were children, were enslaved under the elementary principlesp of the world. 4 But when the fullnessq of time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order that those under the law might be redeemed that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 But since you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 But then indeed not knowing God, you all were enslaved to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now, after knowing God, or rather, after being known by God, how can you all turn back again to the weak and poor elementary principles whose slaves you all wish to be again? 10 You all observe the days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you all that in vain I have labored over you all.
12 Become as I am since I also have become as you all are, brothers, I entreat you all. 13 But know that through an infirmary of the body, I preached the gospel to you all at first, 14 and the trial in my flesh you all did not scorn or despise, but as an angel of God received me, as Christ Jesus. 15 Where then, is your blessing? For I witness to you all that, if possible, after gouging of your eyes, you all would have given them to me. 16 Therefore, have I become your enemy by telling you all the truth? 17 They are zealous of you all for no good purpose but wish to shut you all out in order that you all might be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealously sought after for a good purpose always and not only when I am present with you all, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth, until Christ is formed in you all! 20 But I wish to be present with you all now and change my voice because I am perplexed about you all.
Example of Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me those wishing to be under the law, do you all not listen to the law? 22 For it has been written that Abraham had two sons: one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But, indeed, the son of the slave woman had been born according to the flesh, but the son of the free woman through the promise 24 which is an allegoryr: for these women are two covenants. One, indeed, is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds 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 has been written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
Since the children of the desolate one will be much more
than of the one having a husband.”s
28 Now you all, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise. 29 But just as then, the one being born according to the flesh was persecuting the one born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son,t for the son of the slave woman with not inheritu with the son of a free woman.” 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Christ Has Set Us Free
5 For freedom Christ set us free; stand fast, therefore, and do not be entangledv again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you all that if you all accept circumcision, Christ will be no advantage to you all. 3 But I witness again to every man accepting circumcision that he is indebted to keep the whole law. 4 You all were severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you all fell away from grace. 5 For we, in the Spirit of faith, eagerly await the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love.
7 You all were running well. Who hindered you all not to trust the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from Him calling you all. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you all in the Lord that you all will think no other way, and the one troubling you all will bear the judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brothers, if I still preach the circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? So then, the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 And I wish they will removew themselves, those who unsettle you all!
13 For you all were called to freedom, brothers, only do not use the freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another. 14 For the whole law has been fulfilled in one word: “You will love your neighborx as yourself.”y 15 But if you all bite and devour one another, watch out that you all are not consumedz by one another.
Keep in Step with the Spirit
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and the desires of the flesh you will not fulfillaa. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other in order that you all do not wish to do these things. 18 But if you all are led by the Spirit, you all are not under the law. 19 But the works of the flesh are manifest which are: illicit sexual intercourse, uncleanness, lasciviousnessab, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, rivalriesac, divisions, heresiesad, 21 envy,ae drunkenness, revelingaf, and things like these which I warn you all as I warned you all before that those practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindnessag, goodnessah, faithfulness, 23 meeknessai, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 But those of Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, we should also walk by the Spirit. 26 Do not be conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Bear One Another's Burdens
6 Brothers, if a person is caughtaj in any transgression, you all who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness while watching yourself, lest you also be tempted. ak 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something while being nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one test his own work, and then in himself alone he will have a boast and not in another. 5 For each will bear his own load.
6 But share, the one being taught the word with the one who teaches, in all good things. 7 Do not be deceivedal: God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 Since the one sowing to his own flesh from his own flesh will reap corruption, but the one sowing to the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 And we should not lose heart of doing good, for in due season, we will reap, not growing weary. 10 So then, as we have time, we should do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Final Warning and Benediction
11 See with what large letters I wrote to you all with my own hand. 12 It is to those who wish to look good in the flesh who compel you all to be circumcised, only to not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For none of those circumcised keep the law themselves but wish for you all to be circumcised in order that in your flesh, they may boast. 14 But it is certainly not for me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through whom 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 to all who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy to them and to the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.