Freedom of the Christian

For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm,(A) then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.(B) Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.(C) For we eagerly await(D) through the Spirit, by faith, the hope(E) of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith(F) working through love.(G)

You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?(H) This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.(I) A little leaven[a] leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.(J) 11 Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross(K) has been abolished. 12 I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated!

13 For you were called(L) to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity[b] for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled(M) in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.[c](N) 15 But if you bite and devour(O) one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

The Spirit versus the Flesh

16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit(P) and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires(Q) what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.(R) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious:[d] sexual immorality,(S) moral impurity,(T) promiscuity,(U) 20 idolatry,(V) sorcery,(W) hatreds,(X) strife,(Y) jealousy,(Z) outbursts of anger,(AA) selfish ambitions,(AB) dissensions,(AC) factions,(AD) 21 envy,[e](AE) drunkenness, carousing,(AF) and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.(AG)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit(AH) is love,(AI) joy,(AJ) peace, patience,(AK) kindness,(AL) goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,(AM) and self-control.(AN) The law is not against such things.[f] 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus(AO) have crucified the flesh(AP) with its passions and desires.(AQ) 25 If we live(AR) by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. 5:9 Or yeast
  2. 5:13 Lit a pretext; a military term for abuse of position
  3. 5:14 Lv 19:18
  4. 5:19 Other mss add adultery,
  5. 5:21 Other mss add murders,
  6. 5:23 Or Against such things there is no law

For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Ye are [a]severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith [b]working through love. Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion came not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away. 12 I would that they that unsettle you would even [c]go beyond circumcision.

13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: [d]Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16 But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, [e]parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I [f]forewarn you, even as I did [g]forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.

25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. 26 Let us not become vainglorious, [h]provoking one another, envying one another.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:4 Greek brought to nought. Compare Rom. 7:2, 6 (in the Greek).
  2. Galatians 5:6 Or, wrought
  3. Galatians 5:12 Greek mutilate themselves.
  4. Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18.
  5. Galatians 5:20 Greek heresies.
  6. Galatians 5:21 Or, tell you plainly
  7. Galatians 5:21 Or, tell you plainly
  8. Galatians 5:26 Or, challenging