Galatians 5

J.B. Phillips New Testament

Do not lose your freedom by giving in to those who urge circumcision

5 Plant your feet firmly therefore within the freedom that Christ has won for us, and do not let yourselves be caught again in the shackles of slavery.

^2-6Listen! I, Paul, say this to you as solemnly as I can: if you consent to be circumcised then Christ will be of no use to you at all. I will say it again: every man who consents to be circumcised is bound to obey all the rest of the Law! If you try to be justified by the Law you automatically cut yourself off from the power of Christ, you put yourself outside the range of his grace. For it is by faith that we await in his Spirit the righteousness we hope to see. In Jesus Christ there is no validity in either circumcision or uncircumcision; it is a matter of faith, faith which expresses itself in love.

^7-10You were making splendid progress; who put you off the course you had set for the truth? That sort of “persuasion” does not come from the one who is calling you. Alas, it takes only a little leaven to affect the whole lump! I feel confident in the Lord that you will not take any fatal step. But whoever it is who is worrying you will have a serious charge to answer one day.

^11-12And as for me, my brothers, if I were still advocating circumcision (as some apparently allege!), why am I still suffering persecution? I suppose if only I would recommend this little rite all the hostility which the preaching of the cross provokes would disappear! I wish those who are so eager to cut your bodies would cut themselves off from you altogether!

^13aIt is to freedom that you have been called, my brothers. Only be careful that freedom does not become mere opportunity for your lower nature.

^13b-14You should be free to serve each other in love. For after all, the whole Law toward others is summed up by this one command, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’.

¹⁵But if freedom means merely that you are free to attack and tear each other to pieces, be careful that it doesn’t mean that between you, you destroy your fellowship altogether!

The way to live in freedom is by the Spirit

^16-18Here is my advice. Live your whole life in the Spirit and you will not satisfy the desires of your lower nature. For the whole energy of the lower nature is set against the Spirit, while the whole power of the Spirit is contrary to the lower nature. Here is the conflict, and that is why you are not free to do what you want to do. But if you follow the leading of the Spirit, you stand clear of the Law.

^19-21The activities of the lower nature are obvious. Here is a list: sexual immorality, impurity of mind, sensuality, worship of false gods, witchcraft, hatred, quarrelling, jealousy, bad temper, rivalry, factions, party-spirit, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like that. I solemnly assure you, as I did before, that those who indulge in such things will never inherit God’s kingdom.

^22-25The Spirit however, produces in human life fruits such as these: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control—and no law exists against any of them. Those who belong to Christ have crucified their old nature with all that it loved and lusted for. If our lives are centred in the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit.

²⁶Let us not be ambitious for our own reputations, for that only means making each other jealous.

Galatians 5

New International Version

Freedom in Christ

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

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

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

Life by the Spirit

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

¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit,^(Z) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^(AA) ¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.^(AB) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want.^(AC) ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit,^(AD) you are not under the law.^(AE)

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

²²But the fruit^(AI) of the Spirit is love,^(AJ) joy, peace,^(AK) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control.^(AL) Against such things there is no law.^(AM) ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(AN) with its passions and desires.^(AO) ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit,^(AP) let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited,^(AQ) provoking and envying each other.

Footnotes

Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what

Galatians 5

English Standard Version

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For ^(A)freedom Christ has ^(B)set us free; ^(C)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(D)a yoke of ^(E)slavery.

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

⁷^(O)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(P)the truth? ⁸This persuasion is not from ^(Q)him who calls you. ⁹^(R)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰^(S)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(T)take no other view, and ^(U)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹But if I, brothers,^[b] still preach^[c] circumcision, ^(V)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(W)the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹²I wish ^(X)those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

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

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶But I say, ^(AD)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(AE)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For ^(AF)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, ^(AG)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are ^(AH)led by the Spirit, ^(AI)you are not under the law. ¹⁹Now ^(AJ)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(AK)divisions, ²¹envy,^[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(AL)those who do^[e] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But ^(AM)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(AN)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(AO)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³^(AP)gentleness, ^(AQ)self-control; ^(AR)against such things there is no law. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(AS)have crucified the flesh with its ^(AT)passions and desires.

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

Footnotes

Galatians 5:4 Or counted righteous
Galatians 5:11 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13
Galatians 5:11 Greek proclaim
Galatians 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder
Galatians 5:21 Or make a practice of doing

Gálatas 5

La Biblia de las Américas

5 Para libertad^(A) fue que Cristo nos hizo libres^[a]; por tanto, permaneced firmes^(B), y no os sometáis otra vez al yugo de esclavitud^(C).

La libertad cristiana

²Mirad, yo, Pablo^(D), os digo que si os dejáis circuncidar, Cristo de nada os aprovechará^(E). ³Y otra vez testifico^(F) a todo hombre que se circuncida^(G), que está obligado a cumplir toda la ley^(H). ⁴De Cristo os habéis separado, vosotros que procuráis ser justificados por la ley; de la gracia habéis caído^(I). ⁵Pues nosotros, por medio del Espíritu, esperamos por la fe la esperanza de justicia^(J). ⁶Porque en Cristo Jesús^(K) ni la circuncisión ni la incircuncisión significan nada^(L), sino la fe que obra por amor^(M). ⁷Vosotros corríais^(N) bien, ¿quién os impidió obedecer a la verdad? ⁸Esta persuasión no vino de aquel que os llama^(O). ⁹Un poco de levadura fermenta toda la masa^(P). ¹⁰Yo tengo confianza respecto a^[b] vosotros^(Q) en el Señor de que no optaréis por otro punto de vista^(R); pero el que os perturba^(S) llevará su castigo^[c], quienquiera que sea. ¹¹Pero yo, hermanos, si todavía predico la circuncisión, ¿por qué soy perseguido aún^(T)? En tal caso, el escándalo^(U) de la cruz ha sido abolido. ¹²¡Ojalá que los que os perturban^(V) también se mutilaran^(W)!

La libertad y el amor

¹³Porque vosotros, hermanos, a libertad^(X) fuisteis llamados; solo que no uséis la libertad como pretexto para la carne^(Y), sino servíos por amor los unos a los otros^(Z). ¹⁴Porque toda la ley en una palabra se cumple en el precepto: Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo^(AA). ¹⁵Pero si os mordéis y os devoráis unos a otros, tened cuidado, no sea que os consumáis unos a otros^(AB).

Conflicto entre el Espíritu y la carne

¹⁶Digo, pues: Andad por el Espíritu^(AC), y no cumpliréis el deseo de la carne^(AD). ¹⁷Porque el deseo de la carne es contra^[d] el Espíritu, y el del Espíritu es contra la carne, pues estos se oponen el uno al otro^(AE), de manera que no podéis hacer lo que deseáis^(AF). ¹⁸Pero si sois guiados por el Espíritu^(AG), no estáis bajo la ley^(AH). ¹⁹Ahora bien, las obras de la carne son evidentes, las cuales son: inmoralidad, impureza, sensualidad^(AI), ²⁰idolatría, hechicería^(AJ), enemistades, pleitos, celos, enojos, rivalidades^(AK), disensiones^(AL), sectarismos^[e]^(AM), ²¹envidias, borracheras, orgías y cosas semejantes^(AN), contra las cuales os advierto, como ya os lo he dicho antes, que los que practican tales cosas no heredarán el reino de Dios^(AO).

El fruto del Espíritu en la conducta cristiana

²²Mas el fruto^(AP) del Espíritu es amor, gozo, paz, paciencia, benignidad, bondad, fidelidad^[f]^(AQ), ²³mansedumbre, dominio propio^(AR); contra tales cosas no hay ley^(AS). ²⁴Pues los que son de Cristo Jesús^(AT) han crucificado^(AU) la carne con sus pasiones y deseos^(AV).

²⁵Si vivimos por el Espíritu, andemos también por el Espíritu^[g]^(AW). ²⁶No nos hagamos vanagloriosos^(AX), provocándonos unos a otros, envidiándonos unos a otros.

Footnotes

Gálatas 5:1 Algunos eruditos prefieren unir 4:31 a 5:1, así: pero con la libertad de la libre, Cristo nos hizo libres.
Gálatas 5:10 Lit., hacia
Gálatas 5:10 O, sentencia
Gálatas 5:17 O, la carne tiene un deseo intenso contra
Gálatas 5:20 O, herejías
Gálatas 5:22 O, fe
Gálatas 5:25 O, sigamos también al Espíritu

J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

New International Version (NIV)

Galatians 5

J.B. Phillips New Testament

Do not lose your freedom by giving in to those who urge circumcision

The way to live in freedom is by the Spirit