Galatians 1-6

New International Version

1 Paul, an apostle^(A)—sent not from men nor by a man,^(B) but by Jesus Christ^(C) and God the Father,^(D) who raised him from the dead^(E)— ² and all the brothers and sisters^[a] with me,^(F)

To the churches in Galatia:^(G)

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,^{(H) 4} who gave himself for our sins^(I) to rescue us from the present evil age,^(J) according to the will of our God and Father,^{(K) 5} to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(L)

No Other Gospel

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called^(M) you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel^(N)— ⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion^(O) and are trying to pervert^(P) the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,^(Q) let them be under God’s curse!^{(R) 9} As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,^(S) let them be under God’s curse!

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?^(T) If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul Called by God

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^(U) that the gospel I preached^(V) is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man,^(W) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation^(X) from Jesus Christ.^(Y)

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,^(Z) how intensely I persecuted the church of God^(AA) and tried to destroy it.^{(AB) 14} I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous^(AC) for the traditions of my fathers.^{(AD) 15} But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(AE) and called me^(AF) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(AG) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(AH) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(AI)

¹⁸ Then after three years,^(AJ) I went up to Jerusalem^(AK) to get acquainted with Cephas^[b] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(AL) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(AM) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(AN)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(AO) and Cilicia.^{(AP) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(AQ) that are in Christ.^{(AR) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(AS) he once tried to destroy.”^{(AT) 24} And they praised God^(AU) because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,^(AV) this time with Barnabas.^(AW) I took Titus^(AX) along also. ² I went in response to a revelation^(AY) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.^(AZ) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race^(BA) in vain. ³ Yet not even Titus,^(BB) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.^{(BC) 4} This matter arose because some false believers^(BD) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on^(BE) the freedom^(BF) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. ⁵ We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel^(BG) might be preserved for you.

⁶ As for those who were held in high esteem^(BH)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism^(BI)—they added nothing to my message.^{(BJ) 7} On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task^(BK) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,^[c](BL) just as Peter^(BM) had been to the circumcised.^{[d] 8} For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle^(BN) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle^(BO) to the Gentiles. ⁹ James,^(BP) Cephas^[e](BQ) and John, those esteemed as pillars,^(BR) gave me and Barnabas^(BS) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.^(BT) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,^(BU) and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,^(BV) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Paul Opposes Cephas

¹¹ When Cephas^(BW) came to Antioch,^(BX) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James,^(BY) he used to eat with the Gentiles.^(BZ) But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.^{(CA) 13} The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas^(CB) was led astray.

¹⁴ When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel,^(CC) I said to Cephas^(CD) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew.^(CE) How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?^(CF)

¹⁵ “We who are Jews by birth^(CG) and not sinful Gentiles^{(CH) 16} know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,^(CI) but by faith in Jesus Christ.^(CJ) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in^[f] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.^(CK)

¹⁷ “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners,^(CL) doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!^{(CM) 18} If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law^(CN) so that I might live for God.^{(CO) 20} I have been crucified with Christ^(CP) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(CQ) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,^(CR) who loved me^(CS) and gave himself for me.^{(CT) 21} I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,^(CU) Christ died for nothing!”^[g]

Faith or Works of the Law

3 You foolish^(CV) Galatians!^(CW) Who has bewitched you?^(CX) Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.^{(CY) 2} I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit^(CZ) by the works of the law,^(DA) or by believing what you heard?^{(DB) 3} Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^{[h] 4} Have you experienced^[i] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles^(DC) among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?^{(DD) 6} So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[j](DE)

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith^(DF) are children of Abraham.^{(DG) 8} Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”^{[k](DH) 9} So those who rely on faith^(DI) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.^(DJ)

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law^(DK) are under a curse,^(DL) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”^{[l](DM) 11} Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,^(DN) because “the righteous will live by faith.”^{[m](DO) 12} The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”^{[n](DP) 13} Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law^(DQ) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”^{[o](DR) 14} He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,^(DS) so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.^(DT)

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters,^(DU) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.^(DV) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[p](DW) meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years^(DX) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;^(DY) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

¹⁹ Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions^(DZ) until the Seed^(EA) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels^(EB) and entrusted to a mediator.^{(EC) 20} A mediator,^(ED) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

²¹ Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!^(EE) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.^{(EF) 22} But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(EG) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[q] we were held in custody^(EH) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.^{(EI) 24} So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(EJ) that we might be justified by faith.^{(EK) 25} Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^(EL)

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God^(EM) through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(EN) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{(EO) 28} There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,^(EP) nor is there male and female,^(EQ) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.^{(ER) 29} If you belong to Christ,^(ES) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(ET) and heirs^(EU) according to the promise.^(EV)

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^(EW) under the elemental spiritual forces^[r] of the world.^{(EX) 4} But when the set time had fully come,^(EY) God sent his Son,^(EZ) born of a woman,^(FA) born under the law,^{(FB) 5} to redeem^(FC) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(FD) to sonship.^{[s](FE) 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(FF) into our hearts,^(FG) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[t] Father.”^{(FH) 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.^(FI)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God,^(FJ) you were slaves^(FK) to those who by nature are not gods.^{(FL) 9} But now that you know God—or rather are known by God^(FM)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[u]? Do you wish to be enslaved^(FN) by them all over again?^{(FO) 10} You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!^{(FP) 11} I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.^(FQ)

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

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

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

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(GG) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(GH) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(GI) 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.”^{[w](GJ) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(GK) but of the free woman.^(GL)

Freedom in Christ

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

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

⁷ You were running a good race.^(GX) Who cut in on you^(GY) to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.^{(GZ) 9} “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”^{(HA) 10} I am confident^(HB) in the Lord that you will take no other view.^(HC) The one who is throwing you into confusion,^(HD) 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?^(HE) In that case the offense^(HF) of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators,^(HG) 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.^(HH) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[x];^(HI) rather, serve one another^(HJ) humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[y](HK) 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,^(HL) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^{(HM) 17} For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.^(HN) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[z] you want.^{(HO) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit,^(HP) you are not under the law.^(HQ)

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

²² But the fruit^(HU) of the Spirit is love,^(HV) joy, peace,^(HW) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.^(HX) Against such things there is no law.^{(HY) 24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(HZ) with its passions and desires.^{(IA) 25} Since we live by the Spirit,^(IB) let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited,^(IC) 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^(ID) should restore^(IE) 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.^{(IF) 3} If anyone thinks they are something^(IG) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^{(IH) 4} Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,^(II) without comparing themselves to someone else,^{(IJ) 5} for each one should carry their own load.^{(IK) 6} Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^(IL)

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

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

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

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

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

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