Galatians 4-6 (English Standard Version)

Galatians 4

Sons and Heirs

 ¹I 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, ²but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³In the same way we also, when we were children,^(A) were enslaved to the elementary principles^[b] of the world. ⁴But^(B) when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son,^(C) born^(D) of woman, born^(E) under the law, ^5(F) to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive^(G) adoption as sons. ⁶And because you are sons, God has sent^(H) the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then^(I) an heir through God.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

 ⁸Formerly, when you^(J) did not know God, you^(K) were enslaved to those that by nature^(L) are not gods. ⁹But now that you have come to know God, or rather^(M) to be known by God,^(N) how can you turn back again to^(O) the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ^10(P) You observe days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹I am afraid^(Q) I may have labored over you in vain.

 ¹²Brothers,^[c](R) I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are.^(S) You did me no wrong. ¹³You know it was^(T) because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you^(U) at first, ¹⁴and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me^(V) as an angel of God,^(W) as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵What 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. ¹⁶Have I then become your enemy by^(X) telling you the truth?^{[d] 17}They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. ¹⁸It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and^(Y) not only when I am present with you, ^19(Z) my little children,^(AA) for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ^(AB) is formed in you! ²⁰I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

 ²¹Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons,^(AC) one by a slave woman and^(AD) one by a free woman. ²³But^(AE) the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while^(AF) the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two^(AG) covenants.^(AH) One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;^[e] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶But^(AI) the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷For it is written,

   ^(AJ) "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."

 ²⁸Now you,^[f] brothers,^(AK) like Isaac,^(AL) are children of promise. ²⁹But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh^(AM) persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit,^(AN) so also it is now. ³⁰But what does the Scripture say?^(AO) "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." ³¹So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but^(AP) of the free woman.

Galatians 5

Christ Has Set Us Free

 ¹For^(AQ) freedom Christ has^(AR) set us free;^(AS) stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to^(AT) a yoke of^(AU) slavery.

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

 ^7(BE) You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying^(BF) the truth? ⁸This persuasion is not from^(BG) him who calls you. ^9(BH) A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ^10(BI) I have confidence in the Lord that you will^(BJ) take no other view than mine, and^(BK) the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹But if I, brothers,^[h] still preach^[i] circumcision,^(BL) why am I still being persecuted? In that case^(BM) the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹²I wish^(BN) those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

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

Walk by the Spirit

 ¹⁶But I say,^(BT) walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify^(BU) the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For^(BV) 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,^(BW) to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are^(BX) led by the Spirit,^(BY) you are not under the law. ¹⁹Now^(BZ) the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,^(CA) divisions, ²¹envy,^[j] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that^(CB) those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But^(CC) the fruit of the Spirit is^(CD) love, joy, peace, patience,^(CE) kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23(CF) gentleness,^(CG) self-control;^(CH) against such things there is no law. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus^(CI) have crucified the flesh with its^(CJ) passions and desires.

 ²⁵If we live by the Spirit,^(CK) let us also walk by the Spirit. ^26(CL) Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6

Bear One Another’s Burdens

 ¹Brothers,^[k](CM) if anyone is caught in any transgression,^(CN) you who are spiritual should restore him in^(CO) a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ^2(CP) Bear one another’s burdens, and^(CQ) so fulfill^(CR) the law of Christ. ³For^(CS) if anyone thinks he is something,^(CT) when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴But let each one^(CU) test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵For^(CV) each will have to bear his own load.

 ^6(CW) One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. ^7(CX) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for^(CY) whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸For^(CZ) the one who sows to his own flesh^(DA) will from the flesh reap corruption, but^(DB) the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹And^(DC) let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap,^(DD) if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then,^(DE) as we have opportunity, let us^(DF) do good to everyone, and especially to those who are^(DG) of the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

 ¹¹See with what large letters I am writing to you^(DH) with my own hand. ^12(DI) It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh^(DJ) who would force you to be circumcised, and only^(DK) in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³For 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. ¹⁴But far be it from me to boast^(DL) except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[l] the world^(DM) has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For^(DN) neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but^(DO) a new creation. ¹⁶And as for all who walk by this rule,^(DP) peace and mercy be upon them, and upon^(DQ) the Israel of God.

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

 ^18(DR) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be^(DS) with your spirit, brothers. Amen.