Galatians 4-6

English Standard Version

Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,^[a] though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, ^(A)were enslaved to the elementary principles^[b] of the world. ⁴ But ^(B)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^(C)born ^(D)of woman, born ^(E)under the law, ^5 (F)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ^(G)adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent ^(H)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, then ^(I)an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you ^(J)did not know God, you ^(K)were enslaved to those that by nature ^(L)are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^(M)to be known by God, ^(N)how can you turn back again to ^(O)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ^10 (P)You observe days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I am afraid ^(Q)I may have labored over you in vain.

¹² Brothers,^{[c] (R)}I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ^(S)You did me no wrong. ¹³ You know it was ^(T)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^(U)at first, ¹⁴ and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^(V)as an angel of God, ^(W)as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I then become your enemy by ^(X)telling you the truth?^{[d] 17} They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. ¹⁸ It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and ^(Y)not only when I am present with you, ^19 (Z)my little children, ^(AA)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^(AB)is formed in you! ²⁰ I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

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, ^(AC)one by a slave woman and ^(AD)one by a free woman. ²³ But ^(AE)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^(AF)the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^(AG)covenants. ^(AH)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;^[e] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But ^(AI)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ Now you,^[f] brothers, ^(AK)like Isaac, ^(AL)are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^(AM)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AN)so also it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? ^(AO)“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but ^(AP)of the free woman.

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For ^(AQ)freedom Christ has ^(AR)set us free; ^(AS)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(AT)a yoke of ^(AU)slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(AV)if you accept circumcision, ^(AW)Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^(AX)he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are ^(AY)severed from Christ, ^(AZ)you who would be justified^[g] by the law; ^(BA)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(BB)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus ^(BC)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^(BD)only faith working through love.

^7 (BE)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(BF)the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from ^(BG)him who calls you. ^9 (BH)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ^10 (BI)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(BJ)take no other view, and ^(BK)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers,^[h] still preach^[i] circumcision, ^(BL)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(BM)the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish ^(BN)those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^(BO)Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^(BP)serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(BQ)the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^(BR)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(BS)bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, ^(BT)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(BU)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(BV)the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^(BW)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(BX)led by the Spirit, ^(BY)you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now ^(BZ)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(CA)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[j] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(CB)those who do^[k] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(CC)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(CD)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(CE)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (CF)gentleness, ^(CG)self-control; ^(CH)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(CI)have crucified the flesh with its ^(CJ)passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, ^(CK)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ^26 (CL)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another's Burdens

6 Brothers,^{[l] (CM)}if anyone is caught in any transgression, ^(CN)you who are spiritual should restore him in ^(CO)a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ^2 (CP)Bear one another's burdens, and ^(CQ)so fulfill ^(CR)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(CS)if anyone thinks he is something, ^(CT)when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one ^(CU)test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For ^(CV)each will have to bear his own load.

^6 (CW)Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ^7 (CX)Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^(CY)whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For ^(CZ)the one who sows to his own flesh ^(DA)will from the flesh reap corruption, but ^(DB)the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And ^(DC)let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^(DD)if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, ^(DE)as we have opportunity, let us ^(DF)do good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^(DG)of the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you ^(DH)with my own hand. ^12 (DI)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(DJ)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(DK)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast ^(DL)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[m] the world ^(DM)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(DN)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^(DO)a new creation. ¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, ^(DP)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^(DQ)the Israel of God.

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

^18 (DR)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(DS)with your spirit, brothers. Amen.