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Galatians 5-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Galatians 5-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 1
The Nature of Christian Freedom
2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that, if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. 4 You who want to be reckoned as righteous[a] by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.(B) 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.(C) 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working[b] through love.(D)
7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?(E) 8 Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.(F) 11 But my brothers and sisters, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,[c] but through love become enslaved to one another.(G) 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”(H) 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
The Works of the Flesh
16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.(I) 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.(J) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.(K) 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery,(L) 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy,[d] drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.(M)
The Fruit of the Spirit
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,(N) 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ[e] have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.(O) 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
Bear One Another’s Burdens
6 My brothers and sisters, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill[f] the law of Christ.(P) 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.(Q) 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride.(R) 5 For all must carry their own loads.
6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.(S)
7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.(T) 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.(U) 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.(V) 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.(W)
Final Admonitions and Benediction
11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.(X) 13 Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[g] the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.(Y) 15 For[h] neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation is everything!(Z) 16 As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one make trouble for me, for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.(AA)
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Galatians 5-6
New International Version
Galatians 5-6
New International Version
Freedom in Christ
5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.(A) Stand firm,(B) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.(C)
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,(D) 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.(E) 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law(F) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.(G) 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.(H) 6 For in Christ Jesus(I) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.(J) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.(K)
7 You were running a good race.(L) Who cut in on you(M) to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.(N) 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”(O) 10 I am confident(P) in the Lord that you will take no other view.(Q) The one who is throwing you into confusion,(R) whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?(S) In that case the offense(T) of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators,(U) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(V) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(W) rather, serve one another(X) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](Y) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(Z) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(AA) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(AB) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.(AC) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(AD) you are not under the law.(AE)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(AF) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(AG) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(AH)
22 But the fruit(AI) of the Spirit is love,(AJ) joy, peace,(AK) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(AL) Against such things there is no law.(AM) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(AN) with its passions and desires.(AO) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(AP) let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,(AQ) provoking and envying each other.
Doing Good to All
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit(AR) should restore(AS) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(AT) 3 If anyone thinks they are something(AU) when they are not, they deceive themselves.(AV) 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,(AW) without comparing themselves to someone else,(AX) 5 for each one should carry their own load.(AY) 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.(AZ)
7 Do not be deceived:(BA) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.(BB) 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh,(BC) from the flesh will reap destruction;(BD) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.(BE) 9 Let us not become weary in doing good,(BF) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.(BG) 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good(BH) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family(BI) of believers.
Not Circumcision but the New Creation
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!(BJ)
12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh(BK) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.(BL) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted(BM) for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,(BN) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.(BO) 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,(BP) through which[d] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.(BQ) 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;(BR) what counts is the new creation.(BS) 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[e] the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks(BT) of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ(BU) be with your spirit,(BV) brothers and sisters. Amen.
Footnotes
- Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
- Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
- Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what
- Galatians 6:14 Or whom
- Galatians 6:16 Or rule and to
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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