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For ho freedom eleutheria Christ Christos has set us hēmeis free eleutheroō. Stand firm stēkō, therefore oun, and kai do enechō not be subject enechō again palin to a yoke zygos of slavery douleia.

Listen ide! I egō, Paul Paulos, tell legō you hymeis that hoti if ean you agree to circumcision peritemnō, Christ Christos will be of ōpheleō no oudeis benefit to ōpheleō you hymeis. And de furthermore palin I declare martyromai to every pas man anthrōpos who agrees to circumcision peritemnō that hoti he is eimi obligated opheiletēs to obey poieō the ho entire holos law nomos. You have cut yourself katargeō off from apo Christ Christos, you dikaioō who hostis are trying to be justified dikaioō by en the law nomos; you have fallen away ekpiptō from ho grace charis. For gar we hēmeis by the Spirit pneuma, through ek faith pistis, eagerly await apekdechomai the righteousness dikaiosynē for which we hope elpis. For gar in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous neither oute circumcision peritomē nor oute uncircumcision akrobystia counts for ischuō anything tis, but alla only faith pistis expressing itself energeō through dia love agapē.

You were running trechō well kalōs; who tis hindered enkoptō you hymeis from obeying peithō the ho truth alētheia? Such ho persuasion peismonē does not ou come from ek the ho one who calls kaleō you hymeis. A little mikros leaven zymē leavens zymoō the ho whole holos lump of dough phyrama! 10 I egō am confident peithō about eis you hymeis in en the Lord kyrios that hoti you will phroneō not oudeis think phroneō otherwise allos. But de the ho one who is trying to confuse tarassō you hymeis will pay bastazō the ho penalty krima, whoever hostis ean he may be eimi. 11 But de I egō, brothers adelphos, if ei I am kēryssō still eti preaching kēryssō circumcision peritomē, why tis am I still eti being persecuted diōkō? In that case ara the ho offense skandalon of the ho cross stauros has been removed katargeō. 12 I wish ophelon · kai those ho who are disturbing anastatoō you hymeis would mutilate apokoptō themselves !

13 For gar you hymeis, brothers adelphos, were called kaleō to epi freedom eleutheria. Only monon do not use your ho freedom eleutheria as eis an opportunity aphormē for the ho flesh sarx, but alla through dia · ho love agapē serve douleuō one another allēlōn. 14 For gar the ho entire pas law nomos is summed up plēroō in en a single heis command logos: “ You shall love agapaō · ho your sy neighbor plēsion as hōs yourself seautou.” 15 But de if ei you keep on biting daknō and kai devouring katesthiō one another allēlōn, watch out blepō that you are analoō not consumed analoō by hypo one another allēlōn.

16 So de I say legō, live peripateō by the Spirit pneuma and kai you will teleō not ou gratify teleō the desires epithumia of the flesh sarx. 17 For gar the ho desires epithumeō of the flesh sarx are against kata the ho Spirit pneuma, and de the desires of the ho Spirit pneuma are against kata the ho flesh sarx; for gar these houtos are opposed antikeimai to one allēlōn another , to hina keep you poieō from doing poieō the things houtos you want thelō to do. 18 But de if ei you are led agō by the Spirit pneuma, you are eimi not ou under hypo the law nomos.

19 Now de the ho works ergon of the ho flesh sarx are eimi obvious phaneros: sexual immorality porneia, impurity akatharsia, debauchery aselgeia, 20 idolatry eidōlolatria, sorcery pharmakeia, quarrels echthra, strife eris, jealousy zēlos, fits of rage thumos, selfish rivalries eritheia, dissensions dichostasia, divisions hairesis, 21 envyings phthonos, drunkenness methē, orgies kōmos, and kai things ho like homoios these houtos. I warn prolegō you hymeis, as kathōs I warned you before: those ho who practice prassō · ho such things toioutos will klēronomeō not ou inherit klēronomeō the kingdom basileia of God theos!

22 By contrast de, the ho fruit karpos of the ho Spirit pneuma is eimi love agapē, joy chara, peace eirēnē, patience makrothumia, kindness chrēstotēs, generosity agathōsynē, faithfulness pistis, 23 gentleness prautēs, self-control enkrateia; against kata · ho such things toioutos there is eimi no ou law nomos. 24 And de those ho who stauroō belong ho to Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous have crucified stauroō the ho flesh sarx with syn its ho passions pathēma and kai · ho desires epithumia. 25 Since ei we live zaō by the Spirit pneuma, let us stoicheō also kai be guided stoicheō by the Spirit pneuma. 26 Let us not become ginomai conceited kenodoxos, provoking prokaleō one another allēlōn, being jealous of phthoneō one another allēlōn.

Walk by the Spirit

It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], Christ will be of no benefit to you [for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation]. Once more I solemnly affirm to every man who receives circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], that he is under obligation and required to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be [a]justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing]. For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

You were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth? This [deceptive] persuasion is not from Him who called you [to freedom in Christ]. A little [b]leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers] leavens the whole batch [it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church]. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view [contrary to mine on the matter]; but the one who is disturbing you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty. 11 But as for me, [c]brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as [d]some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you [by teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation] would even [go all the way and] castrate themselves!

13 For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the [e]sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through [f]love serve and seek the best for one another. 14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”(A) 15 But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the [g]sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. 17 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the [h]sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. 18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. 19 Now the practices of the [i]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 [j]idolatry, [k]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the [l]sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. 26 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:4 See note 2:16.
  2. Galatians 5:9 Leaven (yeasty dough) represents the man-made tradition and false teachings that obscure the truth regarding salvation through personal belief and faith in Christ.
  3. Galatians 5:11 Lit brethren.
  4. Galatians 5:11 Paul’s opponents in Galatia were trying to support their own arguments for circumcision by claiming that Paul was actually in favor of it. They probably knew that he had circumcised Timothy (Acts 16:3) and were taking advantage of that fact.
  5. Galatians 5:13 Lit flesh.
  6. Galatians 5:13 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
  7. Galatians 5:16 Lit flesh.
  8. Galatians 5:17 Lit flesh.
  9. Galatians 5:19 Lit flesh.
  10. Galatians 5:20 Including prostitution, which was often part of pagan ritual.
  11. Galatians 5:20 Including such things as occult practices, witchcraft, worship of evil powers, drug-induced trances.
  12. Galatians 5:24 Lit flesh.