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 being persuaded regarding the truth?[a](H) This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.(I) A little leaven[b] 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!

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Footnotes

  1. 5:7 Or obeying the truth
  2. 5:9 Or yeast

Live in the Freedom that the Messiah Provides

The Messiah[a] has set us free so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom.[b] So keep on standing firm in it, and stop putting yourselves under the yoke of slavery again. Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, the Messiah[c] will be of no benefit to you. Again, I insist[d] that everyone who allows himself to be circumcised is obligated to obey the entire Law. Those of you who are trying to be justified by the Law have been cut off from the Messiah.[e] You have fallen away from grace.

Through the Spirit by faith we confidently await the fulfillment of our righteous hope, for in union with the Messiah[f] Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. What matters is faith[g] expressed through love.

You were running the race beautifully. Who cut in on you and stopped you from obeying the truth? Such influence does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident[h] in the Lord that you will take no other view of this. However, the one who is troubling you will suffer God’s[i] judgment, whoever he is. 11 As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching the necessity of[j] circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish that those who are upsetting you would castrate themselves!

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:1 Or Christ
  2. Galatians 5:1 Lit. has set us free for freedom
  3. Galatians 5:2 Or Christ
  4. Galatians 5:3 Or testify
  5. Galatians 5:4 Or Christ
  6. Galatians 5:6 Or Christ
  7. Galatians 5:6 Lit. But faith
  8. Galatians 5:10 Lit. confident about you
  9. Galatians 5:10 The Gk. lacks God’s
  10. Galatians 5:11 The Gk lacks the necessity of