Introduction

Paul, (A)an apostle ((B)not sent from men nor through human agency, but (C)through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who (D)raised Him from the dead), and all (E)the brothers who are with me,

To (F)the churches of Galatia:

(G)Grace to you and peace from [a]God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who (H)gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from (I)this present evil [b]age, according to the will of (J)our God and Father, (K)to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Distortion of the Gospel

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting (L)Him who called you [c]by the grace of Christ, for a (M)different gospel, which is not just another account; but there are some who are (N)disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or (O)an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be [d](P)accursed! As we (Q)have said before, even now I say again: (R)if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be [e](S)accursed!

10 For am I now (T)seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a (U)bond-servant of Christ.

Paul Defends His Ministry

11 For (V)I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is (W)not [f]of human invention. 12 For (X)I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a (Y)revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of (Z)my former way of life in Judaism, how I (AA)used to persecute (AB)the church of God beyond measure and (AC)tried to destroy it; 14 and I (AD)was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my [g]countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my (AE)ancestral traditions. 15 But when [h]He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and (AF)called me through His grace was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might (AG)preach Him among the Gentiles, (AH)I did not immediately consult with [i](AI)flesh and blood, 17 (AJ)nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to (AK)Damascus.

18 Then (AL)three years later I went up (AM)to Jerusalem to [j]become acquainted with [k](AN)Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 But I did not see another one of the apostles except [l](AO)James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, [m]I assure you (AP)before God that I am not lying.) 21 Then (AQ)I went into the regions of (AR)Syria and (AS)Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by [n]sight to (AT)the churches of Judea which are (AU)in Christ; 23 but they only kept hearing, “The man who once persecuted us is now preaching (AV)the faith which he once (AW)tried to destroy.” 24 And they (AX)were glorifying God [o]because of me.

The Council at Jerusalem

Then after an interval of fourteen years I (AY)went up again to Jerusalem with (AZ)Barnabas, taking (BA)Titus along also. [p]It was because of a (BB)revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the (BC)gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that somehow I might be (BD)running, or had run, in vain. But not even (BE)Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was (BF)compelled to be circumcised. Yet it was a concern because of the (BG)false brothers secretly brought in, who (BH)had sneaked in to spy on our (BI)freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to (BJ)enslave us. But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that (BK)the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who [q]were of considerable (BL)repute (what they were makes no difference to me; (BM)God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been (BN)entrusted with the (BO)gospel [r]to the uncircumcised, just as (BP)Peter had been [s]to the circumcised (for He who was at work for Peter in his (BQ)apostleship [t]to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing (BR)the grace that had been given to me, [u](BS)James and [v](BT)Cephas and John, who were (BU)reputed to be (BV)pillars, gave to me and (BW)Barnabas the (BX)right [w]hand of fellowship, so that we might (BY)go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—(BZ)the very thing I also was eager to do.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

11 But when (CA)Cephas came to (CB)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he [x]stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of some men from [y](CC)James, he used to (CD)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, (CE)fearing those from the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even (CF)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they (CG)were not [z]straightforward about (CH)the truth of the gospel, I said to (CI)Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, (CJ)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?[aa]

15 “We are (CK)Jews by nature and not (CL)sinners from the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless, knowing that (CM)a person is not justified by works of [ab]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by (CN)faith in Christ and not by works of [ac]the Law; since (CO)by works of [ad]the Law no [ae]flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found (CP)sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? [af](CQ)Far from it! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I (CR)prove myself to be a wrongdoer. 19 For through [ag]the Law I (CS)died to [ah]the Law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been (CT)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but (CU)Christ lives in me; and [ai]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in (CV)the Son of God, who (CW)loved me and (CX)gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for (CY)if righteousness comes through [aj]the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Faith Brings Righteousness

[ak]You foolish (CZ)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ (DA)was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of [al]the Law, or by (DB)hearing [am]with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun [an]by the Spirit, are you now [ao]being perfected by the flesh? Did you [ap]suffer so many things in vain—(DC)if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who (DD)provides you with the Spirit and (DE)works [aq]miracles among you, do it by works of [ar]the Law, or by (DF)hearing [as]with faith?

Just as (DG)Abraham (DH)believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Therefore, recognize that (DI)it is those who are of faith who are (DJ)sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God [at]would justify the [au]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “(DK)All the nations will be blessed in you.” So then, (DL)those who are of faith are blessed with [av]Abraham, the believer.

10 For all who are of works of [aw]the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “(DM)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” 11 Now, that (DN)no one is justified [ax]by [ay]the Law before God is evident; for, “[az](DO)the righteous one will live by faith.” 12 [ba]However, the Law is not [bb]of faith; on the contrary, “(DP)The person who performs [bc]them will live by [bd]them.” 13 Christ (DQ)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “(DR)Cursed is everyone who hangs on (DS)a [be]tree”— 14 in order that (DT)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we (DU)would receive (DV)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

15 (DW)Brothers and sisters, (DX)I speak [bf]in terms of human relations: (DY)even though it is only a man’s [bg]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds [bh]conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken (DZ)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “(EA)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came (EB)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For (EC)if the inheritance is [bi]based on law, it is no longer [bj]based on a promise; but (ED)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19 (EE)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the [bk]violations, having been (EF)ordered through angels (EG)at the hand of a [bl]mediator, until (EH)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now (EI)a mediator is not [bm]for one party only; but God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? [bn](EJ)Far from it! For (EK)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness [bo]would indeed have been [bp]based on law. 22 But the Scripture has (EL)confined [bq]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, [br]we were kept in custody under the Law, (EM)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our [bs](EN)guardian to lead us to Christ, so that (EO)we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a [bt](EP)guardian. 26 For you are all (EQ)sons and daughters of God through faith in (ER)Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were (ES)baptized into Christ have (ET)clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 (EU)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is [bu]neither male nor female; for (EV)you are all one in (EW)Christ Jesus. 29 And if (EX)you [bv]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s [bw]descendants, heirs according to (EY)promise.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 1:3 One early ms God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ
  2. Galatians 1:4 Or world
  3. Galatians 1:6 Lit in
  4. Galatians 1:8 Gr anathema
  5. Galatians 1:9 Gr anathema
  6. Galatians 1:11 Lit according to man
  7. Galatians 1:14 Lit race
  8. Galatians 1:15 One early ms God who
  9. Galatians 1:16 I.e., people
  10. Galatians 1:18 Or visit
  11. Galatians 1:18 I.e., Peter
  12. Galatians 1:19 Or Jacob
  13. Galatians 1:20 Lit behold before God
  14. Galatians 1:22 Lit face
  15. Galatians 1:24 Lit in me
  16. Galatians 2:2 Lit according to revelation I went up
  17. Galatians 2:6 Lit reputed as being something
  18. Galatians 2:7 Lit of the uncircumcision; i.e., to Gentiles
  19. Galatians 2:7 Lit of the circumcision; i.e., to Jews
  20. Galatians 2:8 See note 2 v 7
  21. Galatians 2:9 Or Jacob
  22. Galatians 2:9 I.e., Peter
  23. Galatians 2:9 Lit hands
  24. Galatians 2:11 Or was to be condemned; lit was one who was condemned; or was self-condemned
  25. Galatians 2:12 Or Jacob
  26. Galatians 2:14 Or progressing toward; lit walking straightly
  27. Galatians 2:14 Some close the direct quotation here, others extend it through v 21
  28. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  29. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  30. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  31. Galatians 2:16 Or mortal man
  32. Galatians 2:17 Lit May it never happen!
  33. Galatians 2:19 Or law
  34. Galatians 2:19 Or law
  35. Galatians 2:20 Or insofar as I
  36. Galatians 2:21 Or law
  37. Galatians 3:1 Lit O
  38. Galatians 3:2 Or law
  39. Galatians 3:2 Lit of faith
  40. Galatians 3:3 Or with
  41. Galatians 3:3 Or ending with
  42. Galatians 3:4 Or experience
  43. Galatians 3:5 Or works of power
  44. Galatians 3:5 Or law
  45. Galatians 3:5 Lit of faith
  46. Galatians 3:8 Lit justifies
  47. Galatians 3:8 Lit nations
  48. Galatians 3:9 Lit the believing Abraham
  49. Galatians 3:10 Or law
  50. Galatians 3:11 Or in
  51. Galatians 3:11 Or law
  52. Galatians 3:11 Or the one who is righteous by faith will live
  53. Galatians 3:12 Or And
  54. Galatians 3:12 Or based on
  55. Galatians 3:12 I.e., the statutes of the Law
  56. Galatians 3:12 I.e., the statutes of the Law
  57. Galatians 3:13 Or cross; lit wood; see Deut 21:23
  58. Galatians 3:15 Lit according to man
  59. Galatians 3:15 Or will; or testament
  60. Galatians 3:15 Or a codicil
  61. Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
  62. Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
  63. Galatians 3:19 I.e., of God’s commands
  64. Galatians 3:19 I.e., Moses
  65. Galatians 3:20 Lit of one
  66. Galatians 3:21 Lit May it never happen!
  67. Galatians 3:21 Or would indeed be
  68. Galatians 3:21 Lit out of, from
  69. Galatians 3:22 Lit all things
  70. Galatians 3:23 I.e., the Jews
  71. Galatians 3:24 I.e., children’s escort and supervisor
  72. Galatians 3:25 See note v 24
  73. Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female
  74. Galatians 3:29 Lit are Christ’s
  75. Galatians 3:29 Lit seed

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