Paul’s Vision

12 ^(A)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and ^(B)revelations ^[a]of the Lord. ² I know a man ^(C)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(D)God knows—such a man was ^(E)caught up to the ^(F)third heaven. ³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(G)God knows— ⁴ was ^(H)caught up into ^(I)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. ^5 (J)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ^(K)weaknesses. ⁶ For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(L)foolish, ^(M)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ Because of the extraordinary greatness of the ^(N)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ^(O)thorn in the flesh, a ^(P)messenger of Satan to ^[b]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(Q)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(R)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(S)boast ^[c]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(T)I delight in weaknesses, in ^[d]insults, in ^(U)distresses, in ^(V)persecutions, in ^(W)difficulties, ^(X)in behalf of Christ; for ^(Y)when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹¹ I have become ^(Z)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was ^(AA)in no respect inferior to the ^[e]most eminent apostles, even though ^(AB)I am a nobody. ¹² The ^(AC)distinguishing marks ^[f]of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by ^[g]signs, wonders, and ^[h]miracles. ¹³ For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that ^(AD)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me ^(AE)this wrong!

¹⁴ Here ^(AF)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ^(AG)will not be a burden to you; for I ^(AH)do not seek what is yours, but ^(AI)you; for ^(AJ)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ^(AK)parents for their children. ¹⁵ I will ^(AL)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If ^(AM)I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ But be that as it may, I ^(AN)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I ^(AO)took you in by deceit. ^17 (AP)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? ¹⁸ I ^(AQ)urged ^(AR)Titus to go, and I sent ^(AS)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not ^[i]conduct ourselves ^[j]in the same ^(AT)spirit and walk ^(AU)in the same steps?

¹⁹ All this time ^[k]you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ^(AV)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ^(AW)all for building you up, ^(AX)beloved. ²⁰ For I am afraid that perhaps ^(AY)when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be ^(AZ)strife, jealousy, ^(BA)angry tempers, ^(BB)selfishness, ^(BC)slanders, ^(BD)gossip, ^(BE)arrogance, ^(BF)disturbances; ²¹ I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have ^(BG)sinned in the past and not repented of the ^(BH)impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.

Examine Yourselves

13 ^(BI)This is the third time that I am coming to you. ^(BJ)On the ^[l]testimony of two or three witnesses every matter shall be confirmed. ² I have previously said when I was present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have ^(BK)sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that ^(BL)if I come again I will not ^(BM)spare anyone, ³ since you are ^(BN)seeking proof of the ^(BO)Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak toward you, but ^(BP)mighty in you. ⁴ For indeed He was ^(BQ)crucified because of weakness, yet He lives ^(BR)because of the power of God. For we too are ^(BS)weak ^[m]in Him, yet ^(BT)we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

^5 (BU)Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; ^(BV)examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you ^[n](BW)fail the test? ⁶ But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves ^[o]do not fail the test. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may ^[p]appear unapproved. ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ For we rejoice when we ourselves are ^(BX)weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, ^[q]that you ^(BY)become mature. ¹⁰ For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present ^(BZ)I need not use ^(CA)severity, in accordance with the ^(CB)authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

^11 (CC)Finally, brothers and sisters, ^[r]rejoice, ^(CD)mend your ways, be comforted, ^(CE)be like-minded, ^(CF)live in peace; and ^(CG)the God of love and peace will be with you. ^12 (CH)Greet one another with a holy kiss. ^13 (CI)All the ^[s]saints greet you.

^14 (CJ)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the ^(CK)love of God, and the ^(CL)fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

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.

The Blessings of Redemption

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^[a](C)by the will of God,

To the ^[b](D)saints who are ^[c]at ^(E)Ephesus and ^(F)are faithful in ^(G)Christ Jesus: ^2 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in ^(J)the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(K)He chose us in Him before ^(L)the foundation of the world, that we would be ^(M)holy and blameless before ^[d]Him. ^(N)In love ^5 [e]He ^(O)predestined us to ^(P)adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(Q)according to the good pleasure of His will, ^6 (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in ^(S)the Beloved. ^7 (T)In ^[f]Him we have ^(U)redemption ^(V)through His blood, the ^(W)forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to ^(X)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He ^[g]lavished on ^[h]us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He ^[i](Y)made known to us the mystery of His will, ^(Z)according to His good pleasure which He ^(AA)set forth in Him, ¹⁰ regarding His plan of ^(AB)the fullness of the times, ^(AC)to bring all things together in Christ, things ^[j]in the heavens and things on the earth. ^11 [k]In Him we also ^(AD)have obtained an inheritance, having been ^(AE)predestined ^(AF)according to the purpose of Him who works all things ^(AG)in accordance with the plan of His will, ¹² to the end that ^[l]we who were the first to hope in the ^[m]Christ would be ^(AH)to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In ^[n]Him, ^[o]you also, after listening to ^(AI)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[p]believed, you were ^(AJ)sealed in ^[q]Him with ^(AK)the Holy Spirit of the promise, ¹⁴ who is a ^(AL)first installment of ^(AM)our inheritance, in regard to the ^(AN)redemption of ^(AO)God’s own possession, ^(AP)to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, ^(AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and ^[r]your love for ^(AR)all the ^[s]saints, ^16 (AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, ^(AT)while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the ^(AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AV)the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of ^(AW)wisdom and of ^(AX)revelation in the ^[t]knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that ^(AY)the eyes of your heart ^[u]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the ^(AZ)hope of His ^(BA)calling, what are ^(BB)the riches of the glory of ^(BC)His inheritance in ^(BD)the ^[v]saints, ¹⁹ and what is the ^[w]boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. ^(BE)These are in accordance with the working of the ^(BF)strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He ^(BG)raised Him from the dead and ^(BH)seated Him at His right hand in ^(BI)the heavenly places, ²¹ far above ^(BJ)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every ^(BK)name that is named, not only in ^(BL)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He ^(BM)put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him ^(BN)head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His ^(BO)body, the ^(BP)fullness of Him who ^(BQ)fills ^(BR)all in all.

Made Alive in Christ

2 And ^[x]you ^[y]were ^(BS)dead ^[z]in your offenses and sins, ² in which you ^(BT)previously walked according to the ^[aa]course of ^(BU)this world, according to ^(BV)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in ^(BW)the ^[ab]sons of disobedience. ³ Among them ^[ac]we too all ^(BX)previously lived in ^(BY)the lusts of our flesh, ^[ad]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[ae]mind, and were ^(BZ)by nature ^(CA)children of wrath, ^(CB)just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(CC)rich in mercy, because of ^(CD)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(CE)dead ^[af]in our wrongdoings, made us alive together ^[ag]with Christ (^(CF)by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and ^(CG)raised us up with Him, and ^(CH)seated us with Him in ^(CI)the heavenly places in ^(CJ)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the ^[ah]boundless ^(CK)riches of His grace in ^(CL)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(CM)by grace you have been saved ^(CN)through faith; and ^[ai]this is not of yourselves, it is ^(CO)the gift of God; ^9 (CP)not a result of works, so that ^(CQ)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(CR)created in ^(CS)Christ Jesus for ^(CT)good works, which God ^(CU)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(CV)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(CW)previously ^(CX)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(CY)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(CZ)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[aj](DA)excluded from ^[ak]the people of Israel, and strangers to ^(DB)the covenants of the promise, having ^(DC)no hope and ^(DD)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(DE)Christ Jesus you who ^(DF)previously were ^(DG)far away ^[al]have ^(DH)been brought near ^[am](DI)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(DJ)our peace, ^(DK)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[an]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [ao]by ^(DL)abolishing ^[ap]in His flesh the hostility, which is ^(DM)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[aq](DN)make the two ^(DO)one new person, in this way establishing ^(DP)peace; ¹⁶ and that He might ^(DQ)reconcile them both in ^(DR)one body to God through the cross, ^[ar]by it having ^(DS)put to death the hostility. ¹⁷ And ^(DT)He came and preached ^(DU)peace to you who were ^(DV)far away, and peace to those who were ^(DW)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(DX)our access in ^(DY)one Spirit to ^(DZ)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(EA)strangers and foreigners, but you are ^(EB)fellow citizens with the ^[as]saints, and are of ^(EC)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(ED)built on ^(EE)the foundation of ^(EF)the apostles and prophets, ^(EG)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(EH)cornerstone, ^21 (EI)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(EJ)a holy ^[at]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(EK)built together into a ^(EL)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Paul’s Stewardship

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(EM)the prisoner of ^(EN)Christ Jesus ^(EO)for the sake of you ^(EP)Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^(EQ)administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (ER)that ^(ES)by revelation there was ^(ET)made known to me ^(EU)the mystery, ^(EV)as I wrote before briefly. ^4 [au]By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(EW)my insight ^[av]into the ^(EX)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to ^[aw]mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(EY)apostles and prophets ^[ax]in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(EZ)fellow heirs and ^(FA)fellow members of the body, and ^(FB)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(FC)Christ Jesus through the gospel, ^7 (FD)of which I was made a ^(FE)minister, according to the gift of ^(FF)God’s grace which was given to me ^(FG)according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, ^(FH)the very least of all ^[ay]saints, this grace was given, to ^(FI)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable ^(FJ)riches of Christ, ⁹ and to ^[az]enlighten all people as to what the plan of the ^(FK)mystery is which for ages has been ^(FL)hidden in God, ^(FM)who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the multifaceted ^(FN)wisdom of God might now be ^(FO)made known through the church to the ^(FP)rulers and the authorities in ^(FQ)the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in ^(FR)accordance with the ^[ba]eternal purpose which He ^[bb]carried out in ^(FS)Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and ^[bc](FT)confident ^(FU)access through faith ^[bd]in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask ^[be]you not ^(FV)to become discouraged about my tribulations ^(FW)in your behalf, ^[bf]since they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I ^(FX)bend my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[bg]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to ^(FY)the riches of His glory, to be ^(FZ)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(GA)the inner ^[bh]self, ¹⁷ so that ^(GB)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being ^(GC)rooted and ^(GD)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with ^(GE)all the ^[bi]saints what is ^(GF)the width and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know ^(GG)the love of Christ which ^(GH)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(GI)filled to all the ^(GJ)fullness of God.

^20 (GK)Now to Him who is ^(GL)able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, ^(GM)according to the power that works within us, ^21 (GN)to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^[bj]forever and ever. Amen.

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, ^(GO)the prisoner of the Lord, ^(GP)urge you to ^(GQ)walk in a manner worthy of the ^(GR)calling with which you have been ^(GS)called, ² with all ^(GT)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another ^(GU)in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ^(GV)bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(GW)one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one ^(GX)hope of your calling; ^5 (GY)one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all ^(GZ)who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But ^(HA)to each one of us ^(HB)grace was given ^(HC)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore ^[bk]it says,

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ^(HF)ascended,” what ^[bl]does it mean except that He also ^[bm]had descended into ^(HG)the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(HH)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(HI)fill all things.) ¹¹ And He ^(HJ)gave ^(HK)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as ^(HL)evangelists, some as ^[bn]pastors and ^(HM)teachers, ^12 (HN)for the equipping of the ^[bo]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ^(HO)the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to ^(HP)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[bp](HQ)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(HR)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[bq]which belongs to the ^(HS)fullness of Christ. ^14 [br]As a result, we are ^(HT)no longer to be children, ^(HU)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by ^(HV)craftiness ^[bs]in ^(HW)deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but ^[bt]speaking the truth ^(HX)in love, ^[bu]we are to ^(HY)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(HZ)head, that is, Christ, ¹⁶ from whom ^(IA)the whole body, being fitted and held together ^[bv]by what every joint supplies, according to the ^[bw]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(IB)in love.

The Christian’s Walk

^17 (IC)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, ^(ID)that you are to no longer walk just as the ^[bx]Gentiles also walk, in the ^(IE)futility of their minds, ¹⁸ being ^(IF)darkened in their understanding, ^[by](IG)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(IH)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(II)hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having ^(IJ)become callous, ^(IK)have given themselves up to ^(IL)indecent behavior ^[bz]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(IM)learn Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you ^(IN)have heard Him and have ^(IO)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to ^(IP)rid yourselves of the ^(IQ)old ^[ca]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(IR)lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you are to be ^(IS)renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to ^(IT)put on the ^(IU)new ^[cb]self, which ^[cc](IV)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(IW)ridding yourselves of falsehood, ^(IX)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are ^(IY)parts of one another. ^26 (IZ)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(JA)give the devil ^[cd]an opportunity. ²⁸ The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather ^(JB)he must labor, ^(JC)producing with his own hands what is good, ^(JD)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[ce](JE)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ^(JF)edification ^[cf]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (JG)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[cg]by whom you were ^(JH)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (JI)All bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[ch]clamor, and slander must be ^(JJ)removed from you, along with all ^(JK)malice. ^32 (JL)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, ^(JM)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^[ci]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(JN)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and ^(JO)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(JP)loved ^[cj]you and ^(JQ)gave Himself up for us, an ^(JR)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[ck]as a ^(JS)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(JT)sexual immorality ^[cl]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^[cm]saints; ⁴ and there must be no ^(JU)filthiness ^[cn]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(JV)are not fitting, but rather ^(JW)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(JX)no sexually immoral or ^[co]impure or greedy person, which ^[cp]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(JY)of Christ and God.

^6 (JZ)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(KA)the wrath of God comes upon ^(KB)the ^[cq]sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not become ^(KC)partners with them; ⁸ for ^(KD)you were once ^(KE)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(KF)children of light ⁹ (for ^(KG)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(KH)goodness, righteousness, and truth), ^10 [cr](KI)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (KJ)Do not participate in the useless ^(KK)deeds of ^(KL)darkness, but instead even ^(KM)expose them; ¹² for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things become visible ^(KN)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason ^[cs]it says,

¹⁵ So then, ^[ct]be careful how you ^(KR)walk, not ^(KS)as unwise people but as wise, ^16 [cu](KT)making the most of your time, because ^(KU)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but ^(KV)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(KW)do not get drunk with wine, ^[cv]in which there is ^(KX)debauchery, but be ^(KY)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (KZ)speaking to ^[cw]one another in ^(LA)psalms and ^(LB)hymns and spiritual ^(LC)songs, ^(LD)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; ^20 (LE)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(LF)God and Father; ^21 [cx](LG)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^[cy](LH)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

^22 (LI)Wives, ^(LJ)subject yourselves to your own husbands, ^(LK)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(LL)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(LM)head of the church, He Himself ^(LN)being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

^25 (LO)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(LP)gave Himself up for her, ^26 (LQ)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(LR)cleansed her by the ^(LS)washing of water with ^(LT)the word, ²⁷ that He might ^(LU)present to Himself the church ^[cz]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(LV)holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands also ought to ^(LW)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are ^(LX)parts of His ^(LY)body. ^31 (LZ)For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ³² This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to ^(MA)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(MB)respects her husband.