²⁴ So then, ^(A)the law was our ^(B)guardian until Christ came, ^(C)in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus ^(D)you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as ^(E)were baptized ^(F)into Christ have ^(G)put on Christ. ^28 (H)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[a] nor free, ^(I)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(J)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, ^(K)heirs according to promise.

Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,^[b] though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, ^(L)were enslaved to the elementary principles^[c] of the world. ⁴ But ^(M)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^(N)born ^(O)of woman, born ^(P)under the law, ^5 (Q)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ^(R)adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent ^(S)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then ^(T)an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

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

¹² Brothers,^{[d] (AC)}I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ^(AD)You did me no wrong. ¹³ You know it was ^(AE)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^(AF)at first, ¹⁴ and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^(AG)as an angel of God, ^(AH)as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I then become your enemy by ^(AI)telling you the truth?^{[e] 17} They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. ¹⁸ It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and ^(AJ)not only when I am present with you, ^19 (AK)my little children, ^(AL)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^(AM)is formed in you! ²⁰ I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

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

²⁸ Now you,^[g] brothers, ^(AV)like Isaac, ^(AW)are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^(AX)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AY)so also it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? ^(AZ)“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.” ³¹ So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but ^(BA)of the free woman.

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For ^(BB)freedom Christ has ^(BC)set us free; ^(BD)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(BE)a yoke of ^(BF)slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(BG)if you accept circumcision, ^(BH)Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^(BI)he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are ^(BJ)severed from Christ, ^(BK)you who would be justified^[h] by the law; ^(BL)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(BM)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus ^(BN)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^(BO)only faith working through love.

^7 (BP)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(BQ)the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from ^(BR)him who calls you. ^9 (BS)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ^10 (BT)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(BU)take no other view, and ^(BV)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers,^[i] still preach^[j] circumcision, ^(BW)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(BX)the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish ^(BY)those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

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

Keep in Step with the Spirit

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

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, ^(CV)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ^26 (CW)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another's Burdens

6 Brothers,^{[m] (CX)}if anyone is caught in any transgression, ^(CY)you who are spiritual should restore him in ^(CZ)a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ^2 (DA)Bear one another's burdens, and ^(DB)so fulfill ^(DC)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(DD)if anyone thinks he is something, ^(DE)when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one ^(DF)test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For ^(DG)each will have to bear his own load.

^6 (DH)Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ^7 (DI)Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^(DJ)whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For ^(DK)the one who sows to his own flesh ^(DL)will from the flesh reap corruption, but ^(DM)the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And ^(DN)let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^(DO)if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, ^(DP)as we have opportunity, let us ^(DQ)do good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^(DR)of the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

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

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

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

The Jerusalem Council

15 ^(A)But some men came down from Judea and were teaching ^(B)the brothers, “Unless you are ^(C)circumcised ^(D)according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and ^(E)debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and ^(F)some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to ^(G)the apostles and the elders about this question. ³ So, ^(H)being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, ^(I)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and ^(J)brought great joy to all ^(K)the brothers.^{[a] 4 (L)}When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and ^(M)the apostles and the elders, and ^(N)they declared all that God had done with them. ⁵ But some believers who belonged to ^(O)the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ^(P)“It is necessary ^(Q)to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

^6 (R)The ^(S)apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. ⁷ And after there had been much ^(T)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, ^(U)that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear ^(V)the word of ^(W)the gospel and believe. ⁸ And God, ^(X)who knows the heart, ^(Y)bore witness to them, ^(Z)by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹ and ^(AA)he made no distinction between us and them, ^(AB)having cleansed their hearts ^(AC)by faith. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, why ^(AD)are you putting God to the test ^(AE)by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples ^(AF)that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we ^(AG)believe that we will be ^(AH)saved through ^(AI)the grace of the Lord Jesus, ^(AJ)just as they will.”

¹² And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul ^(AK)as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ After they finished speaking, ^(AL)James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. ^14 (AM)Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them ^(AN)a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

¹⁹ Therefore ^(AS)my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who ^(AT)turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them ^(AU)to abstain from ^(AV)the things polluted by idols, and from ^(AW)sexual immorality, and from ^(AX)what has been strangled, and from ^(AY)blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, ^(AZ)for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”