Paul Defends His Apostleship

11 I wish that you would ^(A)bear with me in a little ^(B)foolishness; but ^[a]indeed you are bearing with me. ² For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I ^(C)betrothed you to one husband, to ^(D)present you as a pure virgin to Christ. ³ But I am afraid that, as the ^(E)serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if ^[b]one comes and preaches ^(F)another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a ^(G)different spirit which you have not received, or a ^(H)different gospel which you have not accepted, this you ^(I)tolerate ^(J)very well! ⁵ For I consider myself ^(K)not in the least inferior to the ^[c]most eminent apostles. ⁶ But even if I am ^(L)unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in ^(M)knowledge; in fact, in every way we have ^(N)made this evident to you in all things.

⁷ Or ^(O)did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the ^(P)gospel of God to you ^(Q)without charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by ^(R)taking wages from them to serve you; ⁹ and when I was present with you and was in need, I was ^(S)not a burden to anyone; for when ^(T)the brothers came from ^(U)Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from ^(V)being a burden to you, ^[d]and will continue to do so. ^10 (W)As the truth of Christ is in me, ^(X)this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of ^(Y)Achaia. ¹¹ Why? ^(Z)Because I do not love you? ^(AA)God knows that I do!

¹² But what I am doing I will also continue to do, ^(AB)so that I may eliminate the opportunity from those who want an opportunity to be ^[e]regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. ¹³ For such men are ^(AC)false apostles, ^(AD)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ No wonder, for even ^(AE)Satan disguises himself as an ^(AF)angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, ^(AG)whose end will be according to their deeds.

^16 (AH)Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I am saying, I am not saying ^[f](AI)as the Lord would, but as ^(AJ)in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸ Since ^(AK)many boast ^(AL)according to the flesh, I will boast also. ¹⁹ For you, ^(AM)being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. ²⁰ For you tolerate it if anyone ^(AN)enslaves you, if anyone ^(AO)devours you, if anyone ^(AP)takes advantage of you, if anyone ^(AQ)exalts himself, if anyone ^(AR)hits you in the face. ²¹ To my ^(AS)shame I must say that we have been ^(AT)weak by comparison.

But in whatever respect anyone else ^(AU)is bold—I am ^(AV)speaking in foolishness—I too am bold. ²² Are they ^(AW)Hebrews? ^(AX)So am I. Are they ^(AY)Israelites? ^(AZ)So am I. Are they ^[g](BA)descendants of Abraham? ^(BB)So am I. ²³ Are they ^(BC)servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in ^(BD)far more labors, in ^(BE)far more imprisonments, ^[h](BF)beaten times without number, often in danger of ^(BG)death. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews ^(BH)thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(BI)beaten with rods, once I was ^(BJ)stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my ^(BK)countrymen, dangers from the ^(BL)Gentiles, dangers in the ^(BM)city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among ^(BN)false brothers; ²⁷ I have been in ^(BO)labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in ^(BP)hunger and thirst, often ^(BQ)without food, in cold and ^[i](BR)exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such ^[j]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for ^(BS)all the churches. ²⁹ Who is ^(BT)weak without my being weak? Who is ^[k]led into sin ^[l]without my intense concern?

³⁰ If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my ^(BU)weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, ^(BV)He who is blessed forever, ^(BW)knows that I am not lying. ³² In ^(BX)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was ^(BY)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, ³³ and I was let down in a basket ^(BZ)through a window ^[m]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

Paul’s Vision

12 ^(CA)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and ^(CB)revelations ^[n]of the Lord. ² I know a man ^(CC)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(CD)God knows—such a man was ^(CE)caught up to the ^(CF)third heaven. ³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(CG)God knows— ⁴ was ^(CH)caught up into ^(CI)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. ^5 (CJ)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ^(CK)weaknesses. ⁶ For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(CL)foolish, ^(CM)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 ^(CN)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ^(CO)thorn in the flesh, a ^(CP)messenger of Satan to ^[o]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(CQ)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(CR)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(CS)boast ^[p]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(CT)I delight in weaknesses, in ^[q]insults, in ^(CU)distresses, in ^(CV)persecutions, in ^(CW)difficulties, ^(CX)in behalf of Christ; for ^(CY)when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹¹ I have become ^(CZ)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was ^(DA)in no respect inferior to the ^[r]most eminent apostles, even though ^(DB)I am a nobody. ¹² The ^(DC)distinguishing marks ^[s]of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by ^[t]signs, wonders, and ^[u]miracles. ¹³ For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that ^(DD)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me ^(DE)this wrong!

¹⁴ Here ^(DF)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ^(DG)will not be a burden to you; for I ^(DH)do not seek what is yours, but ^(DI)you; for ^(DJ)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ^(DK)parents for their children. ¹⁵ I will ^(DL)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If ^(DM)I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ But be that as it may, I ^(DN)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I ^(DO)took you in by deceit. ^17 (DP)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? ¹⁸ I ^(DQ)urged ^(DR)Titus to go, and I sent ^(DS)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not ^[v]conduct ourselves ^[w]in the same ^(DT)spirit and walk ^(DU)in the same steps?

¹⁹ All this time ^[x]you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ^(DV)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ^(DW)all for building you up, ^(DX)beloved. ²⁰ For I am afraid that perhaps ^(DY)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 ^(DZ)strife, jealousy, ^(EA)angry tempers, ^(EB)selfishness, ^(EC)slanders, ^(ED)gossip, ^(EE)arrogance, ^(EF)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 ^(EG)sinned in the past and not repented of the ^(EH)impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.

Examine Yourselves

13 ^(EI)This is the third time that I am coming to you. ^(EJ)On the ^[y]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 ^(EK)sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that ^(EL)if I come again I will not ^(EM)spare anyone, ³ since you are ^(EN)seeking proof of the ^(EO)Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak toward you, but ^(EP)mighty in you. ⁴ For indeed He was ^(EQ)crucified because of weakness, yet He lives ^(ER)because of the power of God. For we too are ^(ES)weak ^[z]in Him, yet ^(ET)we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

^5 (EU)Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; ^(EV)examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you ^[aa](EW)fail the test? ⁶ But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves ^[ab]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 ^[ac]appear unapproved. ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ For we rejoice when we ourselves are ^(EX)weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, ^[ad]that you ^(EY)become mature. ¹⁰ For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present ^(EZ)I need not use ^(FA)severity, in accordance with the ^(FB)authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

^11 (FC)Finally, brothers and sisters, ^[ae]rejoice, ^(FD)mend your ways, be comforted, ^(FE)be like-minded, ^(FF)live in peace; and ^(FG)the God of love and peace will be with you. ^12 (FH)Greet one another with a holy kiss. ^13 (FI)All the ^[af]saints greet you.

^14 (FJ)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the ^(FK)love of God, and the ^(FL)fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Introduction

1 Paul, ^(FM)an apostle (^(FN)not sent from men nor through human agency, but ^(FO)through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who ^(FP)raised Him from the dead), ² and all ^(FQ)the brothers who are with me,

To ^(FR)the churches of Galatia:

^3 (FS)Grace to you and peace from ^[ag]God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who ^(FT)gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from ^(FU)this present evil ^[ah]age, according to the will of ^(FV)our God and Father, ^5 (FW)to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Distortion of the Gospel

⁶ I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting ^(FX)Him who called you ^[ai]by the grace of Christ, for a ^(FY)different gospel, ⁷ which is not just another account; but there are some who are ^(FZ)disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or ^(GA)an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be ^[aj](GB)accursed! ⁹ As we ^(GC)have said before, even now I say again: ^(GD)if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be ^[ak](GE)accursed!

¹⁰ For am I now ^(GF)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 ^(GG)bond-servant of Christ.

Paul Defends His Ministry

¹¹ For ^(GH)I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is ^(GI)not ^[al]of human invention. ¹² For ^(GJ)I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a ^(GK)revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard of ^(GL)my former way of life in Judaism, how I ^(GM)used to persecute ^(GN)the church of God beyond measure and ^(GO)tried to destroy it; ¹⁴ and I ^(GP)was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my ^[am]countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ^(GQ)ancestral traditions. ¹⁵ But when ^[an]He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and ^(GR)called me through His grace was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal His Son in me so that I might ^(GS)preach Him among the Gentiles, ^(GT)I did not immediately consult with ^[ao](GU)flesh and blood, ^17 (GV)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 ^(GW)Damascus.

¹⁸ Then ^(GX)three years later I went up ^(GY)to Jerusalem to ^[ap]become acquainted with ^[aq](GZ)Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I did not see another one of the apostles except ^[ar](HA)James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ (Now in what I am writing to you, ^[as]I assure you ^(HB)before God that I am not lying.) ²¹ Then ^(HC)I went into the regions of ^(HD)Syria and ^(HE)Cilicia. ²² I was still unknown by ^[at]sight to ^(HF)the churches of Judea which are ^(HG)in Christ; ²³ but they only kept hearing, “The man who once persecuted us is now preaching ^(HH)the faith which he once ^(HI)tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they ^(HJ)were glorifying God ^[au]because of me.

The Council at Jerusalem

2 Then after an interval of fourteen years I ^(HK)went up again to Jerusalem with ^(HL)Barnabas, taking ^(HM)Titus along also. ^2 [av]It was because of a ^(HN)revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the ^(HO)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 ^(HP)running, or had run, in vain. ³ But not even ^(HQ)Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was ^(HR)compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ Yet it was a concern because of the ^(HS)false brothers secretly brought in, who ^(HT)had sneaked in to spy on our ^(HU)freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to ^(HV)enslave us. ⁵ But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that ^(HW)the truth of the gospel would remain with you. ⁶ But from those who ^[aw]were of considerable ^(HX)repute (what they were makes no difference to me; ^(HY)God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. ⁷ But on the contrary, seeing that I had been ^(HZ)entrusted with the ^(IA)gospel ^[ax]to the uncircumcised, just as ^(IB)Peter had been ^[ay]to the circumcised ⁸ (for He who was at work for Peter in his ^(IC)apostleship ^[az]to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), ⁹ and recognizing ^(ID)the grace that had been given to me, ^[ba](IE)James and ^[bb](IF)Cephas and John, who were ^(IG)reputed to be ^(IH)pillars, gave to me and ^(II)Barnabas the ^(IJ)right ^[bc]hand of fellowship, so that we might ^(IK)go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ They only asked us to remember the poor—^(IL)the very thing I also was eager to do.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

¹¹ But when ^(IM)Cephas came to ^(IN)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he ^[bd]stood condemned. ¹² For prior to the coming of some men from ^[be](IO)James, he used to ^(IP)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, ^(IQ)fearing those from the circumcision. ¹³ The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even ^(IR)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they ^(IS)were not ^[bf]straightforward about ^(IT)the truth of the gospel, I said to ^(IU)Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, ^(IV)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?^[bg]

¹⁵ “We are ^(IW)Jews by nature and not ^(IX)sinners from the Gentiles; ¹⁶ nevertheless, knowing that ^(IY)a person is not justified by works of ^[bh]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by ^(IZ)faith in Christ and not by works of ^[bi]the Law; since ^(JA)by works of ^[bj]the Law no ^[bk]flesh will be justified. ¹⁷ But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found ^(JB)sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? ^[bl](JC)Far from it! ¹⁸ For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I ^(JD)prove myself to be a wrongdoer. ¹⁹ For through ^[bm]the Law I ^(JE)died to ^[bn]the Law, so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been ^(JF)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but ^(JG)Christ lives in me; and ^[bo]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in ^(JH)the Son of God, who ^(JI)loved me and ^(JJ)gave Himself up for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(JK)if righteousness comes through ^[bp]the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Faith Brings Righteousness

3 ^[bq]You foolish ^(JL)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ ^(JM)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 ^[br]the Law, or by ^(JN)hearing ^[bs]with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun ^[bt]by the Spirit, are you now ^[bu]being perfected by the flesh? ⁴ Did you ^[bv]suffer so many things in vain—^(JO)if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ So then, does He who ^(JP)provides you with the Spirit and ^(JQ)works ^[bw]miracles among you, do it by works of ^[bx]the Law, or by ^(JR)hearing ^[by]with faith?

⁶ Just as ^(JS)Abraham ^(JT)believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ⁷ Therefore, recognize that ^(JU)it is those who are of faith who are ^(JV)sons of Abraham. ⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God ^[bz]would justify the ^[ca]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “^(JW)All the nations will be blessed in you.” ⁹ So then, ^(JX)those who are of faith are blessed with ^[cb]Abraham, the believer.

¹⁰ For all who are of works of ^[cc]the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “^(JY)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” ¹¹ Now, that ^(JZ)no one is justified ^[cd]by ^[ce]the Law before God is evident; for, “^[cf](KA)the righteous one will live by faith.” ^12 [cg]However, the Law is not ^[ch]of faith; on the contrary, “^(KB)The person who performs ^[ci]them will live by ^[cj]them.” ¹³ Christ ^(KC)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “^(KD)Cursed is everyone who hangs on ^(KE)a ^[ck]tree”— ¹⁴ in order that ^(KF)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(KG)would receive ^(KH)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

^15 (KI)Brothers and sisters, ^(KJ)I speak ^[cl]in terms of human relations: ^(KK)even though it is only a man’s ^[cm]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^[cn]conditions to it. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken ^(KL)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, “^(KM)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(KN)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For ^(KO)if the inheritance is ^[co]based on law, it is no longer ^[cp]based on a promise; but ^(KP)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19 (KQ)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the ^[cq]violations, having been ^(KR)ordered through angels ^(KS)at the hand of a ^[cr]mediator, until ^(KT)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now ^(KU)a mediator is not ^[cs]for one party only; but God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^[ct](KV)Far from it! For ^(KW)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[cu]would indeed have been ^[cv]based on law. ²² But the Scripture has ^(KX)confined ^[cw]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ But before faith came, ^[cx]we were kept in custody under the Law, ^(KY)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our ^[cy](KZ)guardian to lead us to Christ, so that ^(LA)we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^[cz](LB)guardian. ²⁶ For you are all ^(LC)sons and daughters of God through faith in ^(LD)Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were ^(LE)baptized into Christ have ^(LF)clothed yourselves with Christ. ^28 (LG)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is ^[da]neither male nor female; for ^(LH)you are all one in ^(LI)Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ^(LJ)you ^[db]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ^[dc]descendants, heirs according to ^(LK)promise.

Sonship in Christ

4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a ^[dd]child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is ^[de]owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and ^[df]managers until the ^[dg]date set by the father. ³ So we too, when we were children, were held ^(LL)in bondage under the ^[dh](LM)elementary principles of the world. ⁴ But when ^(LN)the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, ^(LO)born of a woman, born ^(LP)under ^[di]the Law, ⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under ^[dj]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^(LQ)sons and daughters. ⁶ Because you are sons, ^(LR)God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “^(LS)Abba! ^[dk]Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^(LT)if a son, then an heir ^[dl]through God.

⁸ However at that time, ^(LU)when you did not know God, you were ^(LV)slaves to ^(LW)those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be ^(LX)known by God, ^(LY)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^[dm](LZ)elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You ^(MA)meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ^[dn]over you in vain.

¹² I beg of you, ^(MB)brothers and sisters, ^(MC)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 ^[do]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ^[dp]first time; ¹⁴ and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my ^[dq]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but ^(MD)you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ Where then is ^[dr]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 ^(ME)by ^[ds]telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They eagerly seek you, not ^[dt]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 ^[du]in a commendable way, and ^(MF)not only when I am present with you. ^19 (MG)My children, with whom ^(MH)I am again in labor until ^(MI)Christ is formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for ^(MJ)I am at a loss about you!

Slave and Free

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^(MK)listen to the Law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(ML)one by the slave woman and ^(MM)one by the free woman. ²³ But ^(MN)the son by the slave woman ^[dv]was born according to the flesh, and ^(MO)the son by the free woman through the promise. ^24 [dw](MP)This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from ^(MQ)Mount Sinai giving birth to children ^[dx]who are to be ^(MR)slaves; ^[dy]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 ^(MS)the Jerusalem above is free; ^[dz]she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ And you, brothers and sisters, ^(MU)like Isaac, are ^(MV)children of promise. ²⁹ But as at that time ^(MW)the son who was born according to the flesh ^(MX)persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, ^(MY)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 ^(NB)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^(NC)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^(ND)yoke of slavery.

² Look! I, ^(NE)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves ^(NF)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ And I ^(NG)testify again to every man who has himself ^(NH)circumcised, that he is obligated to ^(NI)keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who ^[ea]are seeking to be justified by the ^[eb]Law; you have ^(NJ)fallen from grace. ⁵ For we, ^[ec]through the Spirit, ^[ed]by faith, are ^(NK)waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in ^(NL)Christ Jesus ^(NM)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^(NN)faith working through love.

⁷ You were ^(NO)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from ^(NP)Him who calls you. ^9 (NQ)A little ^[ee]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. ^10 (NR)I have confidence ^[ef]in you in the Lord, that you ^(NS)will adopt no other view; but the one who is ^(NT)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 ^(NU)persecuted? Then ^(NV)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. ¹² I wish that ^(NW)those who are troubling you would even ^[eg](NX)emasculate themselves.

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

¹⁶ But I say, ^(OE)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^(OF)the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(OG)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^(OH)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(OI)led by the Spirit, ^(OJ)you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^(OK)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, ²⁰ idolatry, ^(OL)witchcraft, hostilities, ^(OM)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^(ON)selfish ambition, dissensions, ^(OO)factions, ²¹ envy, ^(OP)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 ^(OQ)inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(OR)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(OS)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, ^(OT)self-control; against such things ^(OU)there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who ^[eh]belong to ^(OV)Christ Jesus ^(OW)crucified the flesh with its passions and ^(OX)desires.

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

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 ^(PA)Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are ^(PB)spiritual are to ^(PC)restore such a person ^(PD)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. ^2 (PE)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill ^(PF)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(PG)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must ^(PH)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for ^(PI)boasting, but ^[ei]to himself alone, and not ^[ej]to another. ⁵ For ^(PJ)each one will bear his own load.

^6 (PK)The one who is taught ^(PL)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. ^7 (PM)Do not be deceived, ^(PN)God is not mocked; for ^(PO)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. ^8 (PP)For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap ^(PQ)destruction from the flesh, but ^(PR)the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ^9 (PS)Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we ^(PT)do not become weary. ¹⁰ So then, ^[ek](PU)while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the ^(PV)household of ^(PW)the faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you ^(PX)with my own hand! ¹² All who want ^(PY)to make a good showing in the flesh try to ^(PZ)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they ^(QA)will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who ^[el]are circumcised do not even ^(QB)keep ^[em]the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may ^(QC)boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But ^(QD)[en]far be it from me to boast, ^(QE)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(QF)through ^[eo]which the world has been crucified to me, and ^(QG)I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(QH)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a ^(QI)new ^[ep]creation. ¹⁶ And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the ^(QJ)Israel of God.

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

^18 (QL)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(QM)with your spirit, ^(QN)brothers and sisters. Amen.