¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners^(A) to the covenants of the promise,^(B) without hope^(C) and without God in the world.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God,^(A) you were slaves^(B) to those who by nature are not gods.^(C)

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!^(A) In his great mercy^(B) he has given us new birth^(C) into a living hope^(D) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,^(E)

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(A) in your minds^(B) because of^[a] your evil behavior.

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(A) about those who sleep in death,^(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^(C)

²⁶ I will make a covenant of peace^(A) with them; it will be an everlasting covenant.^(B) I will establish them and increase their numbers,^(C) and I will put my sanctuary among them^(D) forever.^(E)

⁵ not in passionate lust^(A) like the pagans,^(B) who do not know God;^(C)

¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding^(A) and separated from the life of God^(B) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.^(C)