Follow the Spirit

(A)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore (B)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a (C)yoke of slavery.

Look! I, (D)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves (E)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I (F)testify again to every man who has himself (G)circumcised, that he is obligated to (H)keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who [a]are seeking to be justified by the [b]Law; you have (I)fallen from grace. For we, [c]through the Spirit, [d]by faith, are (J)waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in (K)Christ Jesus (L)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but (M)faith working through love.

You were (N)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from (O)Him who calls you. (P)A little [e]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 (Q)I have confidence [f]in you in the Lord, that you (R)will adopt no other view; but the one who is (S)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 (T)persecuted? Then (U)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. 12 I wish that (V)those who are troubling you would even [g](W)emasculate themselves.

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

16 But I say, (AD)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out (AE)the desire of the flesh. 17 For (AF)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, (AG)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are (AH)led by the Spirit, (AI)you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: (AJ)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, (AK)witchcraft, hostilities, (AL)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, (AM)selfish ambition, dissensions, (AN)factions, 21 envy, (AO)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 (AP)inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But (AQ)the fruit of the Spirit is (AR)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, (AS)self-control; against such things (AT)there is no law. 24 Now those who [h]belong to (AU)Christ Jesus (AV)crucified the flesh with its passions and (AW)desires.

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

Bear One Another’s Burdens

(AZ)Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are (BA)spiritual are to (BB)restore such a person (BC)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. (BD)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill (BE)the law of Christ. For (BF)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must (BG)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for (BH)boasting, but [i]to himself alone, and not [j]to another. For (BI)each one will bear his own load.

(BJ)The one who is taught (BK)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. (BL)Do not be deceived, (BM)God is not mocked; for (BN)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. (BO)For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap (BP)destruction from the flesh, but (BQ)the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. (BR)Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we (BS)do not become weary. 10 So then, [k](BT)while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the (BU)household of (BV)the faith.

11 See with what large letters I have written to you (BW)with my own hand! 12 All who want (BX)to make a good showing in the flesh try to (BY)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they (BZ)will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who [l]are circumcised do not even (CA)keep [m]the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may (CB)boast in your flesh. 14 But (CC)[n]far be it from me to boast, (CD)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, (CE)through [o]which the world has been crucified to me, and (CF)I to the world. 15 For (CG)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a (CH)new [p]creation. 16 And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the (CI)Israel of God.

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

18 (CK)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be (CL)with your spirit, (CM)brothers and sisters. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:4 Or would be
  2. Galatians 5:4 Or law
  3. Galatians 5:5 Lit by
  4. Galatians 5:5 Lit out of
  5. Galatians 5:9 I.e., fermented dough
  6. Galatians 5:10 Lit toward
  7. Galatians 5:12 Or cut themselves off
  8. Galatians 5:24 Lit are of Christ Jesus
  9. Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
  10. Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
  11. Galatians 6:10 Or as
  12. Galatians 6:13 Two early mss have been
  13. Galatians 6:13 Or law
  14. Galatians 6:14 Lit may it never be for
  15. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
  16. Galatians 6:15 Or creature
  17. Galatians 6:17 I.e., scars and other evidence of persecution

Christian Liberty

(A)Stand[a] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a (B)yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that (C)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised (D)that he is [b]a debtor to keep the whole law. (E)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; (F)you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly (G)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For (H)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but (I)faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

You (J)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. (K)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, (L)why do I still suffer persecution? Then (M)the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 (N)I could wish that those (O)who trouble you would even [c]cut themselves off!

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only (P)do not use liberty as an (Q)opportunity for the flesh, but (R)through love serve one another. 14 For (S)all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: (T)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Walking in the Spirit

16 I say then: (U)Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For (V)the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, (W)so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But (X)if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now (Y)the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [d]adultery, [e]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [f]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that (Z)those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But (AA)the fruit of the Spirit is (AB)love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, (AC)goodness, (AD)faithfulness, 23 [g]gentleness, self-control. (AE)Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s (AF)have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 (AG)If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 (AH)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear and Share Burdens

Brethren, if a man is [h]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of (AI)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (AJ)Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill (AK)the law of Christ. For (AL)if anyone thinks himself to be something, when (AM)he is nothing, he deceives himself. But (AN)let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and (AO)not in another. For (AP)each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

(AQ)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for (AR)whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap (AS)everlasting life. And (AT)let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap (AU)if we do not lose heart. 10 (AV)Therefore, as we have opportunity, (AW)let us do good to all, (AX)especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, (AY)only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the (AZ)cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by [i]whom the world has been crucified to me, and (BA)I to the world. 15 For (BB)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

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

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:1 NU For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore, and
  2. Galatians 5:3 obligated
  3. Galatians 5:12 mutilate themselves
  4. Galatians 5:19 NU omits adultery
  5. Galatians 5:19 sexual immorality
  6. Galatians 5:21 NU omits murders
  7. Galatians 5:23 meekness
  8. Galatians 6:1 caught
  9. Galatians 6:14 Or which, the cross