Galatians 4:8-5:6

New International Version

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) 9} But now that you know God—or rather are known by God^(D)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved^(E) by them all over again?^{(F) 10} You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!^{(G) 11} I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.^(H)

¹² I plead with you, brothers and sisters,^(I) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. ¹³ As you know, it was because of an illness^(J) that I first preached the gospel to you, ¹⁴ and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.^{(K) 15} Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?^(L)

¹⁷ Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.^{(M) 18} It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.^{(N) 19} My dear children,^(O) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,^{(P) 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,^(Q) are you not aware of what the law says? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman^(R) and the other by the free woman.^{(S) 23} His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,^(T) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.^(U)

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^(V) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(X) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(Y) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(Z) 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.”^{[c](AA) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(AB) but of the free woman.^(AC)

Freedom in Christ

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

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,^(AG) 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.^{(AH) 4} You who are trying to be justified by the law^(AI) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^{(AJ) 5} For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.^{(AK) 6} For in Christ Jesus^(AL) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^(AM) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^(AN)