Galatians 4-6

American Standard Version

4 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; ² but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. ³ So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the ^[a]rudiments of the world: ⁴ but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

⁸ Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: ⁹ but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly ^[b]rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? ¹⁰ Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. ¹¹ I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.

¹² I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong: ¹³ but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I ^[c]preached the gospel unto you the ^[d]first time: ¹⁴ and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor ^[e]rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Where then is that gratulation ^[f]of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So then am I become your enemy, ^[g]by telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them. ¹⁸ But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹ My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.

²¹ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? ²² For it is written, ^[h]that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. ^23 [i]Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise. ²⁴ Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar. ^25 [j]Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ Now ^[l]we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁹ But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now. ³⁰ Howbeit what saith the scripture? ^[m]Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. ³¹ Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.

5 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

² Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. ⁴ Ye are ^[n]severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith ^[o]working through love. ⁷ Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth? ⁸ This persuasion came not of him that calleth you. ⁹ A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. ¹¹ But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away. ¹² I would that they that unsettle you would even ^[p]go beyond circumcision.

¹³ For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ^[q]Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. ¹⁵ But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

¹⁶ But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, ^[r]parties, ²¹ envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I ^[s]forewarn you, even as I did ^[t]forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. ²⁶ Let us not become vainglorious, ^[u]provoking one another, envying one another.

6 Brethren, even if a man be overtaken ^[v]in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ² Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ³ For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. ⁴ But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of ^[w]his neighbor. ⁵ For each man shall bear his own ^[x]burden.

⁶ But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto 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 So then, ^[y]as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.

¹¹ See with how large letters I ^[z]write unto you with mine own hand. ¹² As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted ^[aa]for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For not even they who ^[ab]receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through ^[ac]which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world. ¹⁵ For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new ^[ad]creature. ¹⁶ And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.