The Spirit, Not the Letter

⁴ And we have such trust through Christ toward God. ^5 (A)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but ^(B)our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who also made us sufficient as ^(C)ministers of ^(D)the new covenant, not ^(E)of the letter but of the ^[a]Spirit; for ^(F)the letter kills, ^(G)but the Spirit gives life.

Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ But if ^(H)the ministry of death, ^(I)written and engraved on stones, was glorious, ^(J)so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, ⁸ how will ^(K)the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? ⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry ^(L)of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. ¹⁰ For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. ¹¹ For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

¹² Therefore, since we have such hope, ^(M)we use great boldness of speech— ¹³ unlike Moses, ^(N)who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at ^(O)the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But ^(P)their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless ^(Q)when one turns to the Lord, ^(R)the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now ^(S)the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is ^(T)liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding ^(U)as in a mirror ^(V)the glory of the Lord, ^(W)are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as ^[b]by the Spirit of the Lord.

Christian Liberty

5 ^(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. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that ^(C)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised ^(D)that he is ^[b]a debtor to keep the whole law. ^4 (E)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; ^(F)you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit eagerly ^(G)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For ^(H)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ^(I)faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁷ You ^(J)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. ^9 (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!