Galatians 4:8-5:15

Evangelical Heritage Version

Paul’s Concern for the Gentiles

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, why are you turning back again to the basic principles that are weak and miserable? Do you want to be enslaved by them all over again? ¹⁰ You carefully observe days, months, seasons, and years. ¹¹ I am fearful about you, that somehow my labor for you was wasted.

¹² I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I also became like you. You did me no harm. ¹³ You know that, because of a weakness of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you the first time. ¹⁴ And you did not despise or disdain the test my flesh gave you. Instead, you welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ So where is this blessed attitude of yours now? Yes, I can say for a fact that, if it were possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? ¹⁷ Those people are eager to win you over, but not in a good way. Rather, they want to alienate you, so that you will be eager for them. ¹⁸ But it is always a good thing to have someone eager in a good way—not just when I am present with you.

¹⁹ My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until Christ is formed in you. ²⁰ I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

An Illustration: Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you really listening to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the free woman. ²³ However, the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through a promise. ²⁴ These things can be used as an illustration; namely, the women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children into slavery. This is Hagar. ²⁵ You see,^[a] this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and she corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because Jerusalem is in slavery along with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above is free. She is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you,^[c] brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise. ²⁹ But just as back then the one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so this is also the case now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, because the son of the slave woman will certainly not receive the inheritance with the son of the free woman.”^{[d] 31} For this same reason, brothers, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.

Christ Set Us Free

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again. ² Look, I, Paul, tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ I testify again to every man who allows himself to be circumcised that he is obligated to do the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law are completely separated from Christ. You have fallen from grace.

⁵ Indeed, through the Spirit, we by faith are eagerly waiting for the sure hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. Rather, it is faith working through love that matters. ⁷ You were running well! Who cut in on you, so that you are no longer persuaded by the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from the one who calls you. ⁹ A little yeast works through the whole batch. ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will have no other opinion than this. But the one who is trying to disturb you will pay the penalty, whoever he is.

¹¹ Brothers,^[e] if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Then the offense of the cross has been abolished. ¹² If only those who are upsetting you would also cut themselves off!^[f]

¹³ After all, brothers, you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as a starting point for your sinful flesh. Rather, serve one another through love. ¹⁴ In fact, the whole law is summed up in this one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[g] 15} But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.