Galatians 4:8-6:18

New International Version

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God,^(A) you were slaves^(B) to those who by nature are not gods.^{(C) 9} But now that you know God—or rather are known by God^(D)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved^(E) by them all over again?^{(F) 10} You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!^{(G) 11} I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.^(H)

¹² I plead with you, brothers and sisters,^(I) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. ¹³ As you know, it was because of an illness^(J) that I first preached the gospel to you, ¹⁴ and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.^{(K) 15} Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?^(L)

¹⁷ Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.^{(M) 18} It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.^{(N) 19} My dear children,^(O) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,^{(P) 20} how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law,^(Q) are you not aware of what the law says? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman^(R) and the other by the free woman.^{(S) 23} His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,^(T) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.^(U)

²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above^(V) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(X) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(Y) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(Z) It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”^{[c](AA) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(AB) but of the free woman.^(AC)

Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.^(AD) Stand firm,^(AE) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.^(AF)

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,^(AG) Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.^{(AH) 4} You who are trying to be justified by the law^(AI) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^{(AJ) 5} For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.^{(AK) 6} For in Christ Jesus^(AL) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^(AM) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^(AN)

⁷ You were running a good race.^(AO) Who cut in on you^(AP) to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.^{(AQ) 9} “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”^{(AR) 10} I am confident^(AS) in the Lord that you will take no other view.^(AT) The one who is throwing you into confusion,^(AU) whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?^(AV) In that case the offense^(AW) of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators,^(AX) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.^(AY) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[d];^(AZ) rather, serve one another^(BA) humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[e](BB) 15} If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit,^(BC) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^{(BD) 17} For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.^(BE) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[f] you want.^{(BF) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit,^(BG) you are not under the law.^(BH)

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^(BI) impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.^(BJ) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(BK)

²² But the fruit^(BL) of the Spirit is love,^(BM) joy, peace,^(BN) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.^(BO) Against such things there is no law.^{(BP) 24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(BQ) with its passions and desires.^{(BR) 25} Since we live by the Spirit,^(BS) let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited,^(BT) provoking and envying each other.

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit^(BU) should restore^(BV) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^{(BW) 3} If anyone thinks they are something^(BX) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^{(BY) 4} Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,^(BZ) without comparing themselves to someone else,^{(CA) 5} for each one should carry their own load.^{(CB) 6} Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^(CC)

⁷ Do not be deceived:^(CD) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.^{(CE) 8} Whoever sows to please their flesh,^(CF) from the flesh will reap destruction;^(CG) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.^{(CH) 9} Let us not become weary in doing good,^(CI) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.^{(CJ) 10} Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good^(CK) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family^(CL) of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

¹¹ See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!^(CM)

¹² Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh^(CN) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.^(CO) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted^(CP) for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,^(CQ) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.^{(CR) 14} May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(CS) through which^[g] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.^{(CT) 15} Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;^(CU) what counts is the new creation.^{(CV) 16} Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to^[h] the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks^(CW) of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ^(CX) be with your spirit,^(CY) brothers and sisters. Amen.