³ Are you so foolish? ^(A)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by^[a] the flesh?

⁴ You are ^(A)severed from Christ, ^(B)you who would be justified^[a] by the law; ^(C)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(D)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus ^(E)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^(F)only faith working through love.

^7 (G)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(H)the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from ^(I)him who calls you.

⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then ^(A)an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you ^(B)did not know God, you ^(C)were enslaved to those that by nature ^(D)are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^(E)to be known by God, ^(F)how can you turn back again to ^(G)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ^10 (H)You observe days and months and seasons and years!

⁹ (which is symbolic for the present age).^[a] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(A)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰ but deal only with ^(B)food and drink and ^(C)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

¹⁶ who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is witnessed of him,

¹⁸ For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside ^(B)because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for ^(C)the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, ^(D)a better hope is introduced, through which ^(E)we draw near to God.

^12 (A)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(B)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(C)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 ^(D)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[a] the world ^(E)has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

² For ^(A)a tent^[a] was prepared, the first section, in which were ^(B)the lampstand and ^(C)the table and ^(D)the bread of the Presence.^[b] It is called the Holy Place.