Galatians 4-6

Amplified Bible

Sonship in Christ

4 Now what I mean [when I talk about children and their guardians] is this: as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave even though he is the [future owner and] master of all [the estate]; ² but he is under [the authority of] guardians and household administrators or managers until the date set by his father [when he is of legal age]. ³ So also we [whether Jews or Gentiles], when we were children (spiritually immature), were kept like slaves under the elementary [man-made religious or philosophical] teachings of the world. ⁴ But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law, ⁵ so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family].^{(A) 6} And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ^[a]“Abba! Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].

⁸ But at that time, when you did not know [the true] God and were unacquainted with Him, you [Gentiles] were slaves to those [pagan] things which by [their very] nature were not and could not be gods at all. ⁹ Now, however, since you have come to know [the true] God [through personal experience], or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elemental principles [of religions and philosophies], to which you want to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ [For example,] you observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [to the point of exhaustion] over you in vain.

¹² Believers, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [when I first came to you; do not do it now]. ¹³ On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time; ¹⁴ and even though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ What then has become of that sense of blessing and the joy that you once had [from your salvation and your relationship with Christ]? For I testify of you that, if possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me [^[b]to replace mine]. ¹⁶ So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? ¹⁷ These men [the Judaizers] eagerly seek you [to entrap you with honeyed words and attention, to win you over to their philosophy], not honorably [for their purpose is not honorable or worthy of consideration]. They want to isolate you [from us who oppose them] so that you will seek them. ¹⁸ Now it is always pleasant to be eagerly sought after [provided that it is] for a good purpose, and not just when I am with you [seeking you myself—but beware of the others doing it]. ¹⁹ My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely and permanently] formed within you— ²⁰ how I wish that I were with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed in regard to you.

Bond and Free

²¹ Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, do you not listen to [what] the Law [really says]? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman [Hagar] and one by the free woman [Sarah].^{(B) 23} But the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, while the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise. ²⁴ Now these facts are about to be used [by me] as an allegory [that is, I will illustrate by using them]: for these women can represent two covenants: one [covenant originated] from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] that bears children [destined] for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem above [that is, the way of faith, represented by Sarah] is free; she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written [in the Scriptures],

²⁸ And we, [believing] brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children [not merely of physical descent, like Ishmael, but are children born] of promise [born miraculously]. ²⁹ But as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh persecuted the son who was born according to [the promise and working of] the Spirit, so it is now also.^{(D) 30} But what does the Scripture say?

³¹ So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural].

Walk by the Spirit

5 It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

² Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], Christ will be of no benefit to you [for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation]. ³ Once more I solemnly affirm to every man who receives circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], that he is under obligation and required to keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be ^[c]justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing]. ⁵ For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. ⁶ For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

⁷ You were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This [deceptive] persuasion is not from Him who called you [to freedom in Christ]. ⁹ A little ^[d]leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers] leavens the whole batch [it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church]. ¹⁰ I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view [contrary to mine on the matter]; but the one who is disturbing you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty. ¹¹ But as for me, ^[e]brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as ^[f]some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished. ¹² I wish that those who are troubling you [by teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation] would even [go all the way and] castrate themselves!

¹³ For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the ^[g]sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through ^[h]love serve and seek the best for one another. ¹⁴ For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”^{(F) 15} But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the ^[i]sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. ¹⁷ For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the ^[j]sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. ¹⁹ Now the practices of the ^[k]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), ^20 [l]idolatry, ^[m]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], ²¹ envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the ^[n]sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

²⁵ If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. ²⁶ We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. ² Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].^{(G) 3} For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable ^[o]without comparing himself to another. ⁵ For every person will have to bear [with patience] his own burden [of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible].

⁶ The one who is taught the word [of God] is to share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his spiritual and material support]. ⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. ¹⁰ So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

¹¹ See with what ^[p]large letters I ^[q]am writing to you with my own hand. ¹² Those who want to make a good impression in public [before the Jews] try to compel you to be circumcised, just so they will escape being persecuted for [faithfulness to] the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh [that is, in the fact that they convinced you to be circumcised]. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus]. ¹⁶ Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and conduct their lives by this principle], and upon the [true] Israel of God (Jewish believers).^(H)

¹⁷ From now on let no one trouble me [by making it necessary for me to justify my authority as an apostle, and the absolute truth of the gospel], for I bear on my body the ^[r]branding-marks of Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me].

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my ^[s]brothers and sisters. Amen.