²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(A) that we might be justified by faith.^{(B) 25} Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^(C)

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God^(D) through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(E) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{(F) 28} There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,^(G) nor is there male and female,^(H) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.^{(I) 29} If you belong to Christ,^(J) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(K) and heirs^(L) according to the promise.^(M)

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery^(N) under the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of the world.^{(O) 4} But when the set time had fully come,^(P) God sent his Son,^(Q) born of a woman,^(R) born under the law,^{(S) 5} to redeem^(T) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(U) to sonship.^{[b](V) 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(W) into our hearts,^(X) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[c] Father.”^{(Y) 7} So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.^(Z)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God,^(AA) you were slaves^(AB) to those who by nature are not gods.^{(AC) 9} But now that you know God—or rather are known by God^(AD)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved^(AE) by them all over again?^{(AF) 10} You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!^{(AG) 11} I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.^(AH)

¹² I plead with you, brothers and sisters,^(AI) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. ¹³ As you know, it was because of an illness^(AJ) 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.^{(AK) 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?^(AL)

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.^{(AM) 18} It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.^{(AN) 19} My dear children,^(AO) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,^{(AP) 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,^(AQ) are you not aware of what the law says? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman^(AR) and the other by the free woman.^{(AS) 23} His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,^(AT) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.^(AU)

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^(AV) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(AX) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(AY) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(AZ) 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.”^{[f](BA) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(BB) but of the free woman.^(BC)

Freedom in Christ

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

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,^(BG) 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.^{(BH) 4} You who are trying to be justified by the law^(BI) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^{(BJ) 5} For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.^{(BK) 6} For in Christ Jesus^(BL) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^(BM) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^(BN)

⁷ You were running a good race.^(BO) Who cut in on you^(BP) to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.^{(BQ) 9} “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”^{(BR) 10} I am confident^(BS) in the Lord that you will take no other view.^(BT) The one who is throwing you into confusion,^(BU) 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?^(BV) In that case the offense^(BW) of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators,^(BX) 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.^(BY) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[g];^(BZ) rather, serve one another^(CA) humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[h](CB) 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,^(CC) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^{(CD) 17} For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.^(CE) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[i] you want.^{(CF) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit,^(CG) you are not under the law.^(CH)

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^(CI) 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.^(CJ) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(CK)

²² But the fruit^(CL) of the Spirit is love,^(CM) joy, peace,^(CN) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.^(CO) Against such things there is no law.^{(CP) 24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(CQ) with its passions and desires.^{(CR) 25} Since we live by the Spirit,^(CS) let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited,^(CT) 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^(CU) should restore^(CV) 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.^{(CW) 3} If anyone thinks they are something^(CX) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^{(CY) 4} Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,^(CZ) without comparing themselves to someone else,^{(DA) 5} for each one should carry their own load.^{(DB) 6} Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^(DC)

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

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

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

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

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

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

The Council at Jerusalem

15 Certain people^(A) came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:^(B) “Unless you are circumcised,^(C) according to the custom taught by Moses,^(D) you cannot be saved.” ² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(E) to see the apostles and elders^(F) about this question. ³ The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia^(G) and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.^(H) This news made all the believers very glad. ⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.^(I)

⁵ Then some of the believers who belonged to the party^(J) of the Pharisees^(K) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”^(L)

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.^{(M) 8} God, who knows the heart,^(N) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,^(O) just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them,^(P) for he purified their hearts by faith.^{(Q) 10} Now then, why do you try to test God^(R) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke^(S) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace^(T) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders^(U) God had done among the Gentiles through them.^{(V) 13} When they finished, James^(W) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon^[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.^{(X) 15} The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(AA) from sexual immorality,^(AB) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^{(AC) 21} For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”^(AD)