CHRIST HAS SET US FREE

The Book of Galatians

ESV

N.T.Wrights Version

Chapter 1
Pauls Apostleship
v1Paul, an apostle---not from men nor through man, but through Jesus
Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--- v2and all
the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
v3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ, v4who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present
evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, v5to whom be the
glory forever and ever. Amen.

1Paul, an apostle . .. (my apostleship doesn't derive from

human sources! Nor did it come through a human being. It
came through Jesus the Messiah, and God the father who
raised him from the dead) . .. 2and the family who are with
me; to the churches of Galatia. 3Grace to you and peace from
God our father and Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, 4who gave
himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of God, our father, 5to whom be glory to
the ages of ages. Amen.

Pauls Astonishment
v6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you
in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--- v7not that
there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to
distort the gospel of Christ. v8But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you,
let him be accursed. v9As we have said before, so now I say again: If
anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received,
let him be accursed.

6I'm astonished that you are turning away so quickly from

the one who called you by grace, and going after another
gospel- 7not that it is another gospel, it's just that there are
some people stirring up trouble for you and wanting to pervert the gospel of the Messiah.
8But even if we - or an angel
from heaven! - should announce a gospel other than the one
we announced to you, let such a person be accursed. 9I said it
before and I now say it again: if anyone offers you a gospel
other than the one you received, let that person be accursed.

Pauls Serving Christ Through The Gospel

v10For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am
I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man,
I would not be a servant b of Christ.
v11For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was
preached by me is not man's gospel.c v12For I did not receive it
from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a
revelation of Jesus Christ.

10Well now . . . does that sound as though I'm trying to make

up to people - or to God? Or that I'm trying to curry favour
with people? If I were still pleasing people, I wouldn't be a
slave of the Messiah.
11You see, brothers and sisters, let me make it clear to you:
the gospel announced by me is not a mere human invention.
12I didn't receive it from human beings, nor was I taught it; it
came through an unveiling of Jesus the Messiah.

Pauls Prove His Apostleship & His Gospel through Comparing His Former Life With His Faith Life
v13For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I
persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
v14And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own
age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the
traditions of my fathers. v15But when he who had set me apart
before I was born, and who called me by his grace, v16was
pleased to reveal his Son toe me, in order that I might preach him
among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
v17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles
before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to
Damascus.

13You heard, didn't you, the way I behaved when I was still
within 'Judaism'. I persecuted the church of God violently,
and ravaged it. 14I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my
fellow-Jewish contemporaries; I was extremely zealous for my
ancestral traditions. 15But when God, who set me apart from
my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, was pleased
16to unveil his son in me, so that I might announce the good
news about him among the nations - immediately I did not
confer with flesh and blood. 17Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to
those who were aposdes before me. No; I went away to Arabia,
and afterwards returned to Damascus.

v18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas

and remained with him fifteen days. v19But I saw none of the
other apostles except James the Lord's brother. v20(In what I am
writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) v21Then I went into the
regions of Syria and Cilicia. v22And I was still unknown in
person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. v23They only
were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now
preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." v24And they
glorified God because of me.

18Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to speak with

Cephas. I stayed with him for two weeks. 19I didn't see any
other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother 20(what
I'm writing to you, see here - in the presence of God, I'm not
telling a lie!). 21Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22I remained unknown by sight to the messianic assemblies in
Judaea. 23They simply heard that the one who had been persecuting them was now announcing the good news of the faith
which he once tried to destroy. 24And they glorified God
because of me

Chapter 2
Pauls Apostleship & Gospel Recognized By The Jerusalem Apostles
v1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. v2I went up because of a
revelation and set before them (though privately before those
who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the
Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run
in vain.

1Then, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem. I

took Barnabas with me, and Titus. 2I went up because of a
revelation. I laid before them the gospel which I announce
among the Gentiles (I did this privately, in the presence of
the key people), in case somehow I might be running, or
might have run, to no good effect.

v3But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be
circumcised, though he was a Greek. v4Yet because of false
brothers secretly brought in---who slipped in to spy out our
freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us
into slavery--- v5to them we did not yield in submission even for
a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for
you. v6And from those who seemed to be influential (what they
were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. v7On
the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the
gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with
the gospel to the circumcised v8(for he who worked through
Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also
through me for mine to the Gentiles), v9and when James and
Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace
that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to
Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to
the circumcised. v10Only, they asked us to remember the poor,
the very thing I was eager to do.

3But even the Greek, Titus, who was with me, was not forced to
get circumcised . . .
4but because of some pseudo-family members who had been
secretly smuggled in, who came in on the side to spy on the
freedom which we have in the Messiah, Jesus, so that they
might bring us into slavery; 5and I didn't yield authority to
them, no, not for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel
might be maintained for you. 6However, those who had the
reputation of being Something - what sort of 'thing' they were
makes no difference to me, God shows no partiality - those of
reputation added nothing extra to me. 70n the contrary, they
saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the
uncircumcision, just as Peter had been with the gospel for the
circumcision 8(for the one who gave Peter the power to be an
apostle to the circumcision gave me the power to go to the
Gentiles). They knew, more-over, the grace that had been given
to me. 9So James, Cephas and John, who were reputed to be
'pillars', gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship,
that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
10The only extra thing they asked was that we should
continue to remember the poor
the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Confronted Apostle Peter Concerning His Conduct

v11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face,
because he stood condemned. v12For before certain men came
from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came
he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision
party. v13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with
him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
v14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the
truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you,
though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you
force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

1 1 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I stood up to him. He

was in the wrong. 12Before certain persons came from James,
Peter was eating with the Gentiles. But when they came, he
drew back and separated himself, because he was afraid of
the circumcision-people. 13The rest of the Jews did the same,
joining him in this play-acting. Even Barnabas was carried
along by their sham. 14But when I saw that they weren't walking straight down the line of gospel truth, I said to Cephas in
front of them all: 'Look here: you're a Jew, but you've been
living like a Gentile. How can you force Gentiles to become
Jews?'

Pauls Defence on Justification by Faith, Not by Works of the Law

v15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;
v16yet we know that a person is not justifieda by works of the
law but through faith in Jesus Christ,b so we also have believed
in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not
by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be
justified.
v17But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were
found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!

15We are Jews by birth, not 'Gentile sinners'. 16But we know

that a person is not declared 'righteous' by works of the Jewish
law, but through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah.
That is why we too believed in the Messiah, Jesus : so that we
might be declared 'righteous' on the basis of the Messiah's
faithfulness, and not on the basis of works of the Jewish law.
On that basis, you see, no creature will be declared 'righteous'.
17Well, then ; if, in seeking to be declared 'righteous' in the
Messiah, we ourselves are found to be 'sinners', does that make
the Messiah an agent of'sin'? Certainly not!

v18For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a

transgressor. v19For through the law I died to the law, so that I
might live to God. v20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no
longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me. v21I do not nullify the grace of God, for
if justificationc were through the law, then Christ died for no
purpose.

18If I build up once more the things which I tore down, I

demonstrate that I am a lawbreaker.
19Let me explain it like this. Through the law I died to the
law, so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with the
Messiah. I am, however, alive - but it isn't me, it's the Messiah
who lives in me. And the life I do still live in the flesh, I
live within the faithfulness of the son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me.
21 I don't set aside God's grace. If 'righteousness' comes
through the law, then the Messiah died for nothing.

Chapter 3
We Have Received The Promise And The Blessing: By Faith Not By Works of the Law
v1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before
your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
v2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works
of the law or by hearing with faith? v3Are you so foolish?
Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected bya the
flesh? v4Did you sufferb so many things in vain---if indeed it
was in vain? v5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works
miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing
with faith---

1You witless Galatians! Who has bewitched you? King Jesus

was portrayed on the cross before your very eyes! 2There's just
one thing I want to know from you. Did you receive the spirit
by doing the works of Torah - or by hearing and believing?
3You are so witless: you began with the spirit, and now you're
ending with the flesh? 4Did you really suffer so much for
nothing - if indeed it is going to be for nothing? 5The one who
gives you the spirit and performs powerful deeds among
you - does he do this through your performance of Torah, or
through hearing and believing?

v6just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as

righteousness"? v7Know then that it is those of faith who are the
sons of Abraham. v8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God
would justifyd the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel
beforehand to Abraham, saying,e "In you shall all the nations be
blessed." v9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with
Abraham, the man of faith.

6lt's like Abraham. 'He believed God, and it was counted to

him for righteousness.' 7So you know that it's people of faith
who are children of Abraham. 8The Bible foresaw that God
would justify the nations by faith, so it announced the gospel
to Abraham in advance, when it declared that 'the nations will be
blessed in you'. 9So you see: the people of faith are blessed
along with faithful Abraham.

Blessing For Those Who Live By Faith & Curse For Those Who Rely on the Works of the Law.
v10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it
is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things
written in the Book of the Law, and do them." v11Now it is
evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The
righteous shall live by faith." v12But the law is not of faith,
rather "The one who does them shall live by them." v13Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for
us---for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a
tree"--- v14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might
come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised
Spirit through faith.

10Because, you see, those who belong to the 'works-of-the-law'

camp are under a curse! Yes, that's what the Bible says: 'Cursed
is everyone who doesn't stick fast by everything written in
the book of the law, to perform it.' 1 1 But, because nobody
is justified before God in the law, it's clear that 'the
righteous shall live by faith'. 12The law, however, is not of
faith: rather, 'the one who does them shall live in them'.
13The Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law, by
becoming a curse on our behalf, as the Bible says: 'Cursed
is everyone who hangs on a tree.' 14This was so that the
blessing of Abraham could flow through to the nations in
King Jesus - and so that we might receive the promise of
the spirit, through faith.

Inheritance Comes by The Promise Not by The Law

v15To give a human example, brothers:k even with a man-made
covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.
v16Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his
offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many,
but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ.
v17This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years
afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God,
so as to make the promise void. v18For if the inheritance comes
by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to
Abraham by a promise.
v19Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions,
until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been
made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.
v20Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
v21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly
not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then
righteousness would indeed be by the law. v22But the Scripture
imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in
Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

15My brothers and sisters, let me use a human illustration.

When someone makes a covenanted will, nobody sets it aside
or adds to it. 16Well, the promises were made 'to Abraham and
his family'. It doesn't say 'his families', as though referring
to several, but indicates one: 'and to your family' - which
means the Messiah.
17This is what I mean. God made this covenanted will; the
law, which came 430 years later, can't undermine it and make
the promise null and void. 18If the inheritance came through
the law, it would no longer be by promise; but God gave it to
Abraham by promise.
19Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions,
until the family should come to whom it had been promised.
It was laid down by angels, at the hand of a mediator.
20He, however, is not the mediator of the 'one' - but God is one!
2 1 Is the law then against God's promises? Of course not!
No, if a law had been given that could have given life,
then covenant membership really would have been by the law.
22But the Bible shut up everything together under the power of
sin, so that the promise - which comes by the faithfulness of
Jesus the Messiah - should be given to those who believe.

Held Captive by the Law Regarded Sons of God through Faith

v23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the
law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
v24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in
order that we might be justified by faith. v25But now that faith
has come, we are no longer under a guardian, v26for in Christ
Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. v27For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. v28There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slavel nor free, there
is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
v29And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring,
heirs according to promise.

23Before this faithfulness arrived, we were kept under guard

by the law, in close confinement until the coming
faithfulness should be revealed. 24Thus the law was like a
babysitter for us, lookin g after us until the coming of the
Messiah, so that we might be given covenant
membership on the basis of faithfulness.
25But now that faithfulness has come, we are no longer
under the rule of the babysitter. 26For you are all children
of God through the faithfulness which is in the Messiah,
Jesus.
27You see, every one of you who has been baptized into the
Messiah has put on the Messiah. 28There is no longer
Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no
'male and female'; you are all one in the Messiah, Jesus.
29 And, if you belong to the Messiah, you are Abraham's
family. You stand to inherit the promise.

Chapter 4
Because Your Are Sons, God Has Sent The Spirit of His Son
v1I 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, v2but he is
under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
v3In the same way we also, when we were children, were
enslaved to the elementary principlesb of the world. v4But when
the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of
woman, born under the law, v5to redeem those who were under
the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. v6And
because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our
hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" v7So you are no longer a slave,
but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

1 Let me put it like this. As long as the heir is a child, he is

no different from a slave - even if, in fact, he is master of
everything! 2He is kept under guardians and stewards until the
time set by his father.
3Well, it's like that with us. When we were children, we were
kept in 'slavery' under the 'elements of the world'. 4But when
the time of fulfilment arrived, God sent out his son, born of a
woman, born under the law, 5so that he might redeem those
under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 And, because you are sons, God sent out the spirit of his
son into our hearts, calling out 'Abba, father!' 7So you are no
longer a slave, but a son! And, if you're a son, you are an heir,
through God.

Galatians Faith Life: From Ignorance To Truth; From Slavery To Sonship

v8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to
those that by nature are not gods. v9But now that you have come
to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn
back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the
world, whose slaves you want to be once more? v10You observe
days and months and seasons and years! v11I am afraid I may
have labored over you in vain.

8However, at that stage you didn't know God, and so you were
enslaved to beings that, in their proper nature, are not gods.
9But now that you've come to know God - or, better, to be
known by God - how can you turn back again to that weak
and poverty-stricken line-up that you want to serve all over
again? 10You are observing days, and months, and seasons, and
years! 1 1 I am afraid for you; perhaps my hard work with you is
all going to be wasted.

Pauls Fatherly Pleading To His Children

v12Brothers,c I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have
become as you are. You did me no wrong. v13You know it was
because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at
first, v14and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not
scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as
Christ Jesus. v15What then has become of the blessing you felt?
For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out
your eyes and given them to me. v16Have I then become your
enemy by telling you the truth?d v17They make much of you, but
for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may
make much of them. v18It is always good to be made much of for
a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, v19my
little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth
until Christ is formed in you! v20I wish I could be present with
you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

12Become like me! - because I became like you, my dear family.

This is my plea to you. You didn't wrong me: 13no, you
know that it was through bodily weakness that I announced
the gospel to you in the first place. 14You didn't despise or
ridicule me, even though my condition was quite a test for
you, but you welcomed me as if I were God's angel, as if I
were the Messiah, Jesus! 15What's happened to the blessing
you had then? Yes, I can testify that you would have torn out
your eyes, if you'd been able to, and given them to me. 16So have
I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17The other lot are eager for you, but it's not in a good
cause. They want to shut you out, so that you will then be
eager for them. 18Well, it's always good to be eager in a
good cause, and not only when I'm there with you. 19My children
- I seem to be in labour with you all over again, until the Messiah
is fully formed in you! 201 wish I were there with you right now,
and could change my tone of voice. I really am at a loss about
you.

You Are Sons of the Free Woman Not of the Slave Woman
v21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen
to the law? v22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one
by a slave woman and one by a free woman. v23But the son of
the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the
free woman was born through promise. v24Now this may be
interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is
from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.
v25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;e she corresponds to the
present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. v26But
the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. v27For it is
written,f "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband."
v28Now you,g brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
v29But just as at that time he who was born according to the
flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so
also it is now. v30But what does the Scripture say?h "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." v31So,
brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

21So, you want to live under the law, do you? All right, tell me
this: are you prepared to hear what the law says? 22For the
Bible says that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl and
one by the free woman. 23Now the child of the slave-girl was
born according to the flesh, while the child of the free woman
was born according to promise.
24Treat this as picture-language. These two women stand
for two covenants: one comes from Mount Sinai, and is born
into slavery; that is Hagar. 25(Sinai, you see, is a mountain
in Arabia, and it corresponds, in the picture, to the present
Jerusalem, since she is in slavery with her children.) 26But the
Jerusalem which is above is free - and she is our mother.
27For the Bible says, Celebrate, childless one, who never gave
birth! Go wild and shout, girl that never had pains!
The barren woman has many more children! Than the one who
has a husband!
28Now you, my family, are children of promise, in the line
of Isaac. 29But things now are like they were then: the one
who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one
born according to the spirit. 30But what does the Bible say?
'Throw out the slave-girl and her son! For the son of the slavegirl will not inherit with the son of the free.' 31So, my family, we
are not children of the slave-girl, but of the free.

For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free

v1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do
not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
v2Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ
will be of no advantage to you. v3I testify again to every man
who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole
law. v4You are severed from Christ, you who would be justifieda
by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

1The Messiah set us free so that we could enjoy freedom!

So stand firm, and don't get yourselves tied down by the chains of
slavery.
2Look here: I, Paul, am telling you that if you get circumcised, the Messiah will be of no use to you. 31 testify once
more, against every person who gets circumcised, that they are
thereby under obligation to perform the entire law. 4You
are split off from the Messiah, you people who want to be
justified by the law! You have dropped out of grace.

Freedom Through The Spirit By Faith

v5For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for
the hope of righteousness. v6For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only
faith working through love.
v7You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the
truth? v8This persuasion is not from him who calls you. v9A
little leaven leavens the whole lump. v10I have confidence in the
Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who
is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. v11But if I,
brothers,b still preachc circumcision, why am I still being
persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been
removed. v12I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate
themselves!

5For we are waiting eagerly, by the spirit and by faith, for the
hope of righteousness. 6For in the Messiah, Jesus, neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power. What matters is
faith, working through love. 7You were running well. Who got in
your way and stopped you being persuaded by the truth?
8This persuasion didn't come from the one who called you! 9 A
little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10I am persuaded in the
Lord that you won't differ from me on this. But the one who
is troubling you will bear the blame, whoever he may be. 1 1
As for me, my dear family, if I am still announcing circumcision,
why am I still being persecuted?
If I were, the scandal of the cross would have been neutralized.
12If only those who are making trouble for you would cut the
whole lot offi

Freedom Not As An Opportunity For the Flesh

v13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use
your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love
serve one another. v14For the whole law is fulfilled in one
word:d "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." v15But if you
bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed
by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not
gratify the desires of the flesh. v17For 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, to keep you from doing
the things you want to do. v18But if you are led by the Spirit, you
are not under the law. v19Now the works of the flesh are evident:
sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, v20idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,
divisions, v21envy,e drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I
warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God.

13When God called you, my dear family, he called you to make

you free. But you mustn't use that freedom as an opportunity
for the flesh. Rather, you must become each other's servants,
through love. 14For the whole law is summed up in one word,
namely this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' 15But if you bite
each other and gobble each other up, watch out! You may end
up being destroyed by each other.
16Let me say this to you: live by the spirit, and you won't do
what the flesh wants you to. 17For the flesh wants to go against
the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. They are opposed to
each other, so that you can't do what you want. 18But if you are
led by the spirit, you are not under the law.
19Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are such
things as fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, 20idolatry,
sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, bursts of rage, selfish ambition, factiousness, divisions, 21moods of envy, drunkenness,
wild partying, and similar things. I told you before, and I tell
you again: people who do such things will not inherit God's
kingdom.

Freedom That Is Bearing Fruit of & Walking By the Spirit

v22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, v23gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law. v24And those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
v25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. v26Let
us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.

22But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, great-heartedness,

kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control.
There is no law that opposes things like that! 24 And those who
belong to the Messiah, Jesus, crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the spirit, let's line up with the
spirit. 26We shouldn't be conceited, vying with one another
and jealous of each other.

Chapter 6
For Those Who Are Spiritual Ones
v1Brothers,a if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who
are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep
watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. v2Bear one another's
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. v3For if anyone thinks
he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. v4But
let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will
be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. v5For each will have
to bear his own load.

1 My dear family, if someone is found out in some trespass,

then you - the 'spiritual' ones! - should set such a person
right, in a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves: you
too may be tested. 2Carry each other's burdens; that's the way
to fulfil the Messiah's law. 3lf one of you thinks you are something when you are not, you deceive yourself. 4Every one of
you should test your own work, and then you will have reason
to boast of yourself, not of someone else. 5Each of you, you
see, will have to carry your own load.

v6One who is taught the word must share all good things with the
one who teaches. v7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for
whatever one sows, that will he also reap. v8For the one who
sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the
one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
v9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we
will reap, if we do not give up. v10So then, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those
who are of the household of faith.

6If someone is being taught the word, they should share with
the teacher all the good things they have. 7Don't be misled;
God won't have people turning their noses up at him. What
you sow is what you'll reap. 8Yes: if you sow in the field of your
flesh you will harvest decay from your flesh, but if you sow in
the field of the spirit you will harvest eternal life from the
spirit. 9Don't lose your enthusiasm for behaving properly.
You'll bring in the harvest at the proper time, if you don't
become weary. 10So, then, while we have the chance, let's do
good to everyone, and particularly to the household of the
faith.

Spiritual Boasting: In The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ !

v11See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own
hand. v12It is those who want to make a good showing in the
flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order
that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. v13For
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. v14But far be it from me to boast except in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whichb the world has been crucified
to me, and I to the world. v15For neither circumcision counts for
anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. v16And as for
all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and
upon the Israel of God.
v17From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my
body the marks of Jesus.
v18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,
brothers. Amen.

11 Look at the large-size letters I'm writing to you in my own

hand. 12It's the people who want to make a fine showing in the
flesh who are trying to force you into getting circumcised - for
this purpose only, that they may avoid persecution for the
Messiah's cross. 13You see, even the circumcised ones don't
keep the law; rather, they want you to be circumcised, so that
they may boast about your flesh.
14 As for me, God forbid that I should boast - except in the
cross of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, through whom the world
has been crucified to me and I to the world. 15Circumcision,
you see, is nothing; neither is uncircumcision! What matters is
new creation. 16Peace and mercy on everyone who lines up by
that standard - yes, on God's Israel.
17For the rest, let nobody make trouble for me. You see, I
carry the marks of Jesus on my body.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus the Messiah be with your
spirit, my dear family. Amen.
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