Galatians 1-6

New American Standard Bible

Introduction

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle (^(B)not sent from men nor through human agency, but ^(C)through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who ^(D)raised Him from the dead), ² and all ^(E)the brothers who are with me,

To ^(F)the churches of Galatia:

^3 (G)Grace to you and peace from ^[a]God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who ^(H)gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from ^(I)this present evil ^[b]age, according to the will of ^(J)our God and Father, ^5 (K)to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Distortion of the Gospel

⁶ I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting ^(L)Him who called you ^[c]by the grace of Christ, for a ^(M)different gospel, ⁷ which is not just another account; but there are some who are ^(N)disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or ^(O)an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be ^[d](P)accursed! ⁹ As we ^(Q)have said before, even now I say again: ^(R)if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be ^[e](S)accursed!

¹⁰ For am I now ^(T)seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a ^(U)bond-servant of Christ.

Paul Defends His Ministry

¹¹ For ^(V)I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is ^(W)not ^[f]of human invention. ¹² For ^(X)I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a ^(Y)revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard of ^(Z)my former way of life in Judaism, how I ^(AA)used to persecute ^(AB)the church of God beyond measure and ^(AC)tried to destroy it; ¹⁴ and I ^(AD)was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my ^[g]countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ^(AE)ancestral traditions. ¹⁵ But when ^[h]He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and ^(AF)called me through His grace was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal His Son in me so that I might ^(AG)preach Him among the Gentiles, ^(AH)I did not immediately consult with ^[i](AI)flesh and blood, ^17 (AJ)nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to ^(AK)Damascus.

¹⁸ Then ^(AL)three years later I went up ^(AM)to Jerusalem to ^[j]become acquainted with ^[k](AN)Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I did not see another one of the apostles except ^[l](AO)James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ (Now in what I am writing to you, ^[m]I assure you ^(AP)before God that I am not lying.) ²¹ Then ^(AQ)I went into the regions of ^(AR)Syria and ^(AS)Cilicia. ²² I was still unknown by ^[n]sight to ^(AT)the churches of Judea which are ^(AU)in Christ; ²³ but they only kept hearing, “The man who once persecuted us is now preaching ^(AV)the faith which he once ^(AW)tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they ^(AX)were glorifying God ^[o]because of me.

The Council at Jerusalem

2 Then after an interval of fourteen years I ^(AY)went up again to Jerusalem with ^(AZ)Barnabas, taking ^(BA)Titus along also. ^2 [p]It was because of a ^(BB)revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the ^(BC)gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that somehow I might be ^(BD)running, or had run, in vain. ³ But not even ^(BE)Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was ^(BF)compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ Yet it was a concern because of the ^(BG)false brothers secretly brought in, who ^(BH)had sneaked in to spy on our ^(BI)freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to ^(BJ)enslave us. ⁵ But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that ^(BK)the truth of the gospel would remain with you. ⁶ But from those who ^[q]were of considerable ^(BL)repute (what they were makes no difference to me; ^(BM)God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. ⁷ But on the contrary, seeing that I had been ^(BN)entrusted with the ^(BO)gospel ^[r]to the uncircumcised, just as ^(BP)Peter had been ^[s]to the circumcised ⁸ (for He who was at work for Peter in his ^(BQ)apostleship ^[t]to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), ⁹ and recognizing ^(BR)the grace that had been given to me, ^[u](BS)James and ^[v](BT)Cephas and John, who were ^(BU)reputed to be ^(BV)pillars, gave to me and ^(BW)Barnabas the ^(BX)right ^[w]hand of fellowship, so that we might ^(BY)go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ They only asked us to remember the poor—^(BZ)the very thing I also was eager to do.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

¹¹ But when ^(CA)Cephas came to ^(CB)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he ^[x]stood condemned. ¹² For prior to the coming of some men from ^[y](CC)James, he used to ^(CD)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, ^(CE)fearing those from the circumcision. ¹³ The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even ^(CF)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they ^(CG)were not ^[z]straightforward about ^(CH)the truth of the gospel, I said to ^(CI)Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, ^(CJ)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?^[aa]

¹⁵ “We are ^(CK)Jews by nature and not ^(CL)sinners from the Gentiles; ¹⁶ nevertheless, knowing that ^(CM)a person is not justified by works of ^[ab]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by ^(CN)faith in Christ and not by works of ^[ac]the Law; since ^(CO)by works of ^[ad]the Law no ^[ae]flesh will be justified. ¹⁷ But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found ^(CP)sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? ^[af](CQ)Far from it! ¹⁸ For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I ^(CR)prove myself to be a wrongdoer. ¹⁹ For through ^[ag]the Law I ^(CS)died to ^[ah]the Law, so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been ^(CT)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but ^(CU)Christ lives in me; and ^[ai]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in ^(CV)the Son of God, who ^(CW)loved me and ^(CX)gave Himself up for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(CY)if righteousness comes through ^[aj]the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Faith Brings Righteousness

3 ^[ak]You foolish ^(CZ)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ ^(DA)was publicly portrayed as crucified? ² This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of ^[al]the Law, or by ^(DB)hearing ^[am]with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun ^[an]by the Spirit, are you now ^[ao]being perfected by the flesh? ⁴ Did you ^[ap]suffer so many things in vain—^(DC)if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ So then, does He who ^(DD)provides you with the Spirit and ^(DE)works ^[aq]miracles among you, do it by works of ^[ar]the Law, or by ^(DF)hearing ^[as]with faith?

⁶ Just as ^(DG)Abraham ^(DH)believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ⁷ Therefore, recognize that ^(DI)it is those who are of faith who are ^(DJ)sons of Abraham. ⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God ^[at]would justify the ^[au]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “^(DK)All the nations will be blessed in you.” ⁹ So then, ^(DL)those who are of faith are blessed with ^[av]Abraham, the believer.

¹⁰ For all who are of works of ^[aw]the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “^(DM)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” ¹¹ Now, that ^(DN)no one is justified ^[ax]by ^[ay]the Law before God is evident; for, “^[az](DO)the righteous one will live by faith.” ^12 [ba]However, the Law is not ^[bb]of faith; on the contrary, “^(DP)The person who performs ^[bc]them will live by ^[bd]them.” ¹³ Christ ^(DQ)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “^(DR)Cursed is everyone who hangs on ^(DS)a ^[be]tree”— ¹⁴ in order that ^(DT)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(DU)would receive ^(DV)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

^15 (DW)Brothers and sisters, ^(DX)I speak ^[bf]in terms of human relations: ^(DY)even though it is only a man’s ^[bg]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^[bh]conditions to it. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken ^(DZ)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “^(EA)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(EB)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For ^(EC)if the inheritance is ^[bi]based on law, it is no longer ^[bj]based on a promise; but ^(ED)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19 (EE)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the ^[bk]violations, having been ^(EF)ordered through angels ^(EG)at the hand of a ^[bl]mediator, until ^(EH)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now ^(EI)a mediator is not ^[bm]for one party only; but God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^[bn](EJ)Far from it! For ^(EK)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[bo]would indeed have been ^[bp]based on law. ²² But the Scripture has ^(EL)confined ^[bq]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ But before faith came, ^[br]we were kept in custody under the Law, ^(EM)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our ^[bs](EN)guardian to lead us to Christ, so that ^(EO)we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^[bt](EP)guardian. ²⁶ For you are all ^(EQ)sons and daughters of God through faith in ^(ER)Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were ^(ES)baptized into Christ have ^(ET)clothed yourselves with Christ. ^28 (EU)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is ^[bu]neither male nor female; for ^(EV)you are all one in ^(EW)Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ^(EX)you ^[bv]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ^[bw]descendants, heirs according to ^(EY)promise.

Sonship in Christ

4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a ^[bx]child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is ^[by]owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and ^[bz]managers until the ^[ca]date set by the father. ³ So we too, when we were children, were held ^(EZ)in bondage under the ^[cb](FA)elementary principles of the world. ⁴ But when ^(FB)the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, ^(FC)born of a woman, born ^(FD)under ^[cc]the Law, ⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under ^[cd]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^(FE)sons and daughters. ⁶ Because you are sons, ^(FF)God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “^(FG)Abba! ^[ce]Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^(FH)if a son, then an heir ^[cf]through God.

⁸ However at that time, ^(FI)when you did not know God, you were ^(FJ)slaves to ^(FK)those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be ^(FL)known by God, ^(FM)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^[cg](FN)elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You ^(FO)meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ^[ch]over you in vain.

¹² I beg of you, ^(FP)brothers and sisters, ^(FQ)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; ¹³ but you know that it was because of a ^[ci]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ^[cj]first time; ¹⁴ and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my ^[ck]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but ^(FR)you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ Where then is ^[cl]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So have I become your enemy ^(FS)by ^[cm]telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They eagerly seek you, not ^[cn]in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. ¹⁸ But it is good always to be eagerly sought ^[co]in a commendable way, and ^(FT)not only when I am present with you. ^19 (FU)My children, with whom ^(FV)I am again in labor until ^(FW)Christ is formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for ^(FX)I am at a loss about you!

Slave and Free

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^(FY)listen to the Law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(FZ)one by the slave woman and ^(GA)one by the free woman. ²³ But ^(GB)the son by the slave woman ^[cp]was born according to the flesh, and ^(GC)the son by the free woman through the promise. ^24 [cq](GD)This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from ^(GE)Mount Sinai giving birth to children ^[cr]who are to be ^(GF)slaves; ^[cs]she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. ²⁶ But ^(GG)the Jerusalem above is free; ^[ct]she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ And you, brothers and sisters, ^(GI)like Isaac, are ^(GJ)children of promise. ²⁹ But as at that time ^(GK)the son who was born according to the flesh ^(GL)persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, ^(GM)so it is even now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say?

³¹ So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.

Follow the Spirit

5 ^(GP)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^(GQ)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^(GR)yoke of slavery.

² Look! I, ^(GS)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves ^(GT)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ And I ^(GU)testify again to every man who has himself ^(GV)circumcised, that he is obligated to ^(GW)keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who ^[cu]are seeking to be justified by the ^[cv]Law; you have ^(GX)fallen from grace. ⁵ For we, ^[cw]through the Spirit, ^[cx]by faith, are ^(GY)waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in ^(GZ)Christ Jesus ^(HA)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^(HB)faith working through love.

⁷ You were ^(HC)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from ^(HD)Him who calls you. ^9 (HE)A little ^[cy]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. ^10 (HF)I have confidence ^[cz]in you in the Lord, that you ^(HG)will adopt no other view; but the one who is ^(HH)disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. ¹¹ But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still ^(HI)persecuted? Then ^(HJ)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. ¹² I wish that ^(HK)those who are troubling you would even ^[da](HL)emasculate themselves.

¹³ For you were called to ^(HM)freedom, brothers and sisters; ^(HN)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but ^(HO)serve one another through love. ¹⁴ For ^(HP)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “^(HQ)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(HR)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, ^(HS)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^(HT)the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(HU)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^(HV)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(HW)led by the Spirit, ^(HX)you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^(HY)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, ²⁰ idolatry, ^(HZ)witchcraft, hostilities, ^(IA)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^(IB)selfish ambition, dissensions, ^(IC)factions, ²¹ envy, ^(ID)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^(IE)inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(IF)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(IG)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, ^(IH)self-control; against such things ^(II)there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who ^[db]belong to ^(IJ)Christ Jesus ^(IK)crucified the flesh with its passions and ^(IL)desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow ^(IM)the Spirit as well. ²⁶ Let’s not become ^(IN)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 ^(IO)Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are ^(IP)spiritual are to ^(IQ)restore such a person ^(IR)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. ^2 (IS)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill ^(IT)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(IU)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must ^(IV)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for ^(IW)boasting, but ^[dc]to himself alone, and not ^[dd]to another. ⁵ For ^(IX)each one will bear his own load.

^6 (IY)The one who is taught ^(IZ)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. ^7 (JA)Do not be deceived, ^(JB)God is not mocked; for ^(JC)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. ^8 (JD)For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap ^(JE)destruction from the flesh, but ^(JF)the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ^9 (JG)Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we ^(JH)do not become weary. ¹⁰ So then, ^[de](JI)while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the ^(JJ)household of ^(JK)the faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you ^(JL)with my own hand! ¹² All who want ^(JM)to make a good showing in the flesh try to ^(JN)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they ^(JO)will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who ^[df]are circumcised do not even ^(JP)keep ^[dg]the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may ^(JQ)boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But ^(JR)[dh]far be it from me to boast, ^(JS)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(JT)through ^[di]which the world has been crucified to me, and ^(JU)I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(JV)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a ^(JW)new ^[dj]creation. ¹⁶ And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the ^(JX)Israel of God.

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

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