Chronological
God Sent His Son To Redeem Us So We All Could Be Adopted As Sons And Heirs
4 Now I say— for as much time as the heir is a child[a], he is no different from a slave. Being the [future] owner of all, 2 nevertheless[b] he is under guardians and stewards[c] until the pre-appointed day of the father. 3 In this manner also we, when we were children, were[d] enslaved under the elemental[e] things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent-forth His Son— having come[f] from a woman, having come under the Law 5 in order that He might redeem the ones under the Law, in order that we [all] might receive the adoption. 6 And because[g] you are sons, God sent-forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying-out, “Abba! Father!” 7 So then you are no longer a slave, but a son— and if a son, also an heir through God!
Why Turn Back To Being Slaves Again? I Fear For You
8 But at that time not knowing God, you were-slaves to the ones by nature not being gods. 9 But now having known God, yet rather having been known by God, how is it you are turning-back again to the weak and poor elemental things to which again you are wanting to be-slaves anew? 10 You are observing days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am fearing for you, that I somehow have labored in-vain for you.
I Beg You, Become As I Am. Have I Become Your Enemy By Speaking The Truth To You?
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I, because I also became as you. You did me no wrong. 13 And you know that I first[h] announced-the-good-news to you because of a weakness[i] of the flesh. 14 And you did not treat-with-contempt nor loathe your trial in-connection-with my flesh, but you welcomed me as an angel[j] of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 Where then is your blessedness[k]? For I testify concerning you that, if possible, you would have given your eyes to me, having torn them out! 16 So then, have I become your enemy while speaking-the-truth to you? 17 They are zealously-seeking you— not commendably, but they want to shut you out[l] in-order-that you might be zealously-seeking them.
I Am Again Suffering Birth Pains For You Until Christ Is Formed In You
18 Now it is good to be zealously-sought in[m] a commendable thing at-all-times, and not only during my being present with you— 19 my[n] children, as to whom again I am suffering-birth-pains until which time Christ is formed in you. 20 But I was [just now] wishing[o] to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed with you.
Listen To The Law. We Are Children of The Free Promise, Not of The Slave Covenant
21 Tell me, the ones wanting to be under the Law, do you not hear the Law? 22 For it has been written that Abraham had two sons— one by the slave-woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the one by the slave-woman has been born according to the flesh, and the one by the free woman through the promise— 24 which things are being allegorized[p], for these women are two covenants. One[q] is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, which is Hagar 25 (now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia). And she[r] corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she[s] is a slave[t] with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free— which is our mother[u]. 27 For it has been written, “Celebrate, barren one, the one not giving-birth. Break-forth and shout, the one not suffering-birth-pains. Because many more are the children of the desolate[v] than of the one having the husband!”[Isa 54:1] 28 And you, brothers, are children of the promise in accordance with Isaac. 29 But just as at-that-time the one having been born according to the flesh was persecuting the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Send-out the slave-woman and her son. For the son of the slave-woman shall by no means inherit with the son of the free woman” [Gen 21:10]. 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave-woman, but of the free woman.
Christ Set Us Free, So Stand Firm In Faith. If You Pursue The Law, Christ Will Not Profit You
5 Christ set us free for freedom. Therefore be standing-firm, and do not again be held-in[w] a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold— I, Paul, say to you that if you receive-circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man receiving-circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole Law. 4 You who are [trying to be] declared-righteous by the Law were alienated[x] from Christ. You fell-from grace[y]. 5 For by [z] the Spirit, by faith, we are eagerly-awaiting the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision can-do[aa] anything, but faith working[ab] through love.
Who Hindered You From Believing The Truth? He Will Bear His Judgment
7 You were running well. Who hindered[ac] you that you should not be persuaded[ad] by the truth? 8 The persuasion is not from the One calling you! 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I am persuaded[ae] with reference to you in the Lord that you will think no other thing. But the one disturbing you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11 But I, brothers, if I am still proclaiming circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Then the offense of [af] the cross has been abolished. 12 O-that[ag] the ones upsetting you would indeed cut-themselves-off [ah]!
Use Your Freedom To Serve One Another In Love, Not As an Opportunity For The Flesh
13 For you were called for freedom, brothers, only do not use the freedom for an opportunity for the flesh, but be serving one another through love. 14 For the whole Law has been fulfilled in one saying— in the “You shall love your neighbor as yourself ” [Lev 19:18]. 15 But if you are biting and devouring one another, watch out that you may not be consumed by one another!
Walk By The Spirit And You Will Not Fulfill The Flesh’s Desires Or Be Under The Law
16 And I say— be walking by the Spirit and you will never[ai] fulfill[aj] the desire of [ak] the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are contrary[al] to one another in-order-that you might not be doing these[am] things which you may be wanting. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Those Who Practice The Works of The Flesh Will Not Inherit God’s Kingdom
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are sexual-immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, rages[an], selfish-interests, dissentions, factions, 21 envy[ao], drunkenness, revelries, and the things like these— as to which things I tell you beforehand, just as I said-before, that the ones practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Those In Christ Crucified The Flesh And Bear The Fruit of Living By The Spirit
22 But the fruit of [ap] the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And the ones of [aq] Christ Jesus crucified the flesh, with its passions and desires. 25 If we are living by the Spirit, let us also be walking-in-line[ar] with the Spirit.
Don’t Be Conceited. Humbly Care For One Another And You Will Fulfill Christ’s Law
26 Let us not become conceited[as] ones, challenging[at] one another, envying one another. 6 1 Brothers, even[au] if a person is overtaken[av] in some trespass, you spiritual ones be restoring[aw] such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking-out-for yourself that you also not be tempted. 2 Be carrying one another’s burdens[ax], and in this manner you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks that he is something while being nothing, he is deceiving himself.
Each Person Has a Boast Only With Reference To His Own Proven Work
4 But let each one prove[ay] his own work— and then he will have the boast with reference to himself alone, and not with reference to the other person. 5 For each one will carry his own load[az].
We Will Reap What We Sow. Plant Good Works To Reap a Good Harvest
6 And let the one being instructed-in the word share with the one instructing in all good things. 7 Do not be deceived— God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. 8 Because the one sowing to his own flesh will reap decay from the flesh. But the one sowing to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 And let us not grow-weary while doing good. For in His own time we not losing-heart[ba] will reap. 10 So then, while we have[bb] opportunity[bc], let us be working good to everyone, but especially to the family-members of the faith.
Those Wanting Your Circumcision Are Seeking To Boast In Your Flesh, Not To Keep The Law
11 See with what large letters I wrote to you with my own hand! 12 All who want to make-a-good-showing[bd] in the flesh— these ones are compelling you to receive-circumcision only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even the ones receiving-circumcision themselves are keeping the Law. But they want you to receive-circumcision in order that they might boast in your flesh.
I Will Boast Only In The Cross of Christ. Peace Be Upon All Who Do The Same
14 But for me, may it never be that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[be] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation. 16 And all who will walk-in-line with this standard[bf]— peace and mercy be upon them, and[bg] upon the Israel of God. 17 Henceforth[bh] let no one be causing troubles for me. For I bear the brand-marks[bi] of Jesus on my body.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing