Beginning
4 ¶ Now I say That the heir, as long as he is a child differs in nothing from a slave, though he be lord of all,
2 but is under the hand of tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world,
4 but when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father;
7 therefore, thou art no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 ¶ However then, when ye did not know God, ye did service unto those who by nature are not gods.
9 But now, having known God, or rather being known of God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, in which ye desire again to be in slavery?
10 Ye observe days and months and times and years.
11 I am afraid for you, lest I have bestowed labour upon you in vain.
12 ¶ Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are; ye have not injured me at all.
13 Ye know how through weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my affliction which was in my flesh ye did not despise, nor reject but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spoke of? for I bear you record that if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me.
16 Am I, therefore, become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 ¶ They are zealous after you, but not for good; they would exclude you from us, that ye might be zealous after them.
18 It is good to be always zealous to do good, and not only when I am present with you.
19 ¶ My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now and to change my voice, for I stand in doubt of you.
21 ¶ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, have ye not heard the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, but he of the freewoman was born through the promise.
24 Which things are an allegory; for these women are the two covenants: the one from the Mount Sinai, which begat unto slavery, which is Hagar.
25 For this Hagar or Sinai is a mount in Arabia, which corresponds to the one that is now Jerusalem, which together with her children is in slavery.
26 But the Jerusalem of above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth into praise and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.
28 So that we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what does the scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
5 ¶ Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with the yoke of slavery.
2 Behold, I, Paul, say unto you that if ye become circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Ye are empty of the Christ, whosoever of you that justify yourselves by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by charity.
7 Ye did run well; who hindered you that ye should not trust in the truth?
8 This persuasion does not come of him that called you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord that ye will not be otherwise minded, but he that troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross {Gr. stauros – stake} ceased.
12 I even desire that those who trouble you would cut themselves off.
13 ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only do not use liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by charity serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye are not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye are led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; which I denounce, as I have also told you in time past that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is this: Charity, joy, peace, tolerance, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 For those that are of the Christ have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
6 ¶ Brethren, if anyone is overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of the Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let everyone prove his own work, and then he shall have glory regarding only himself, and not in another.
5 For everyone shall bear his own burden.
6 Let the one that is taught in the word communicate unto the one that teaches in all good things.
7 Do not deceive yourselves; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows that shall he also reap.
8 For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that sows in the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.
10 Therefore as long as we have the opportunity, let us do good unto everyone, especially unto those who are of the household of faith.
11 ¶ Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand.
12 As many as desire to please in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross {Gr. stauros – stake} of the Christ.
13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.
14 But in no wise should I glory, except in the cross {Gr. stauros – stake} of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Copyright © 2013, 2020 by Ransom Press International