5 ¹ Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again.

Arguments against being circumcised

² Look, I, Paul, am telling you that if you have yourselves circumcised, having Christ won’t help you. ³ Again I swear to every man who has himself circumcised that he is required to do the whole Law. ⁴ You people who are trying to be made righteous by the Law have been estranged from Christ. You have fallen away from grace! ⁵ We eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness through the Spirit by faith. ⁶ Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t matter in Christ Jesus, but faith working through love does matter.

⁷ You were running well—who stopped you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This line of reasoning doesn’t come from the one who calls you. ⁹ A little yeast works through the whole lump of dough. ¹⁰ I’m convinced about you in the Lord that you won’t think any other way. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever that may be. ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I’m still preaching circumcision, why am I still being harassed? In that case, the offense of the cross would be canceled. ¹² I wish that the ones who are upsetting you would castrate themselves!