¹⁸ It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.^{(A) 19} My dear children,^(B) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,^{(C) 20} how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law,^(D) are you not aware of what the law says? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman^(E) and the other by the free woman.^{(F) 23} His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,^(G) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.^(H)

²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above^(I) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(K) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(L) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(M) It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”^{[b](N) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(O) but of the free woman.^(P)

Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.^(Q) Stand firm,^(R) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.^(S)

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,^(T) Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.^{(U) 4} You who are trying to be justified by the law^(V) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^{(W) 5} For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.^{(X) 6} For in Christ Jesus^(Y) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^(Z) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^(AA)

⁷ You were running a good race.^(AB) Who cut in on you^(AC) to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.^{(AD) 9} “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”^{(AE) 10} I am confident^(AF) in the Lord that you will take no other view.^(AG) The one who is throwing you into confusion,^(AH) whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?^(AI) In that case the offense^(AJ) of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators,^(AK) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.^(AL) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[c];^(AM) rather, serve one another^(AN) humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[d](AO) 15} If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit,^(AP) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^{(AQ) 17} For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.^(AR) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[e] you want.^{(AS) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit,^(AT) you are not under the law.^(AU)

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^(AV) impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.^(AW) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(AX)

²² But the fruit^(AY) of the Spirit is love,^(AZ) joy, peace,^(BA) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.^(BB) Against such things there is no law.^{(BC) 24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(BD) with its passions and desires.^(BE)