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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,

[k]Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not;
Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not:
For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.

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.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:3 Or, elements. 2 Pet. 3:10, 12
  2. Galatians 4:9 Or, elements. See verse 3.
  3. Galatians 4:13 See marginal note on 1:8.
  4. Galatians 4:13 Greek former.
  5. Galatians 4:14 Greek spat out.
  6. Galatians 4:15 Or, of yours
  7. Galatians 4:16 Or, by dealing truly with you
  8. Galatians 4:22 Gen. 16:15.
  9. Galatians 4:23 Gen. 21:2.
  10. Galatians 4:25 Many ancient authorities read For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia.
  11. Galatians 4:27 Isa. 54:1.
  12. Galatians 4:28 Many ancient authorities read ye.
  13. Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10, 12.
  14. Galatians 5:4 Greek brought to nought. Compare Rom. 7:2, 6 (in the Greek).
  15. Galatians 5:6 Or, wrought
  16. Galatians 5:12 Greek mutilate themselves.
  17. Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18.
  18. Galatians 5:20 Greek heresies.
  19. Galatians 5:21 Or, tell you plainly
  20. Galatians 5:21 Or, tell you plainly
  21. Galatians 5:26 Or, challenging
  22. Galatians 6:1 Or, by
  23. Galatians 6:4 Greek the other. See Rom. 13:8.
  24. Galatians 6:5 Or, load
  25. Galatians 6:10 Or, while
  26. Galatians 6:11 Or, have written
  27. Galatians 6:12 Or, by reason of
  28. Galatians 6:13 Some ancient authorities read have been circumcised.
  29. Galatians 6:14 Or, whom
  30. Galatians 6:15 Or, creation
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Galatians 4-6
New International Version

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(A) under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world.(B) 4 But when the set time had fully come,(C) God sent his Son,(D) born of a woman,(E) born under the law,(F) 5 to redeem(G) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(H) to sonship.[b](I) 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(J) into our hearts,(K) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.”(L) 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(M)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8 Formerly, when you did not know God,(N) you were slaves(O) to those who by nature are not gods.(P) 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(Q)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved(R) by them all over again?(S) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(T) 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.(U)

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters,(V) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness(W) that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.(X) 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(Y)

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.(Z) 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.(AA) 19 My dear children,(AB) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,(AC) 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law,(AD) are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman(AE) and the other by the free woman.(AF) 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,(AG) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.(AH)

24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above(AI) is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:

“Be glad, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband.”[e](AJ)

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.(AK) 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh(AL) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.(AM) It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”[f](AN) 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,(AO) but of the free woman.(AP)

Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.(AQ) Stand firm,(AR) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.(AS)

2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,(AT) Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.(AU) 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law(AV) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.(AW) 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.(AX) 6 For in Christ Jesus(AY) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.(AZ) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.(BA)

7 You were running a good race.(BB) Who cut in on you(BC) to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.(BD) 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”(BE) 10 I am confident(BF) in the Lord that you will take no other view.(BG) The one who is throwing you into confusion,(BH) whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?(BI) In that case the offense(BJ) of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators,(BK) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Life by the Spirit

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(BL) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[g];(BM) rather, serve one another(BN) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[h](BO) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(BP) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(BQ) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(BR) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[i] you want.(BS) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(BT) you are not under the law.(BU)

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(BV) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(BW) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(BX)

22 But the fruit(BY) of the Spirit is love,(BZ) joy, peace,(CA) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(CB) Against such things there is no law.(CC) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(CD) with its passions and desires.(CE) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(CF) let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,(CG) provoking and envying each other.

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit(CH) should restore(CI) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(CJ) 3 If anyone thinks they are something(CK) when they are not, they deceive themselves.(CL) 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,(CM) without comparing themselves to someone else,(CN) 5 for each one should carry their own load.(CO) 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.(CP)

7 Do not be deceived:(CQ) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.(CR) 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh,(CS) from the flesh will reap destruction;(CT) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.(CU) 9 Let us not become weary in doing good,(CV) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.(CW) 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good(CX) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family(CY) of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!(CZ)

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh(DA) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.(DB) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted(DC) for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,(DD) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.(DE) 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,(DF) through which[j] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.(DG) 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;(DH) what counts is the new creation.(DI) 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[k] the Israel of God.

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks(DJ) of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ(DK) be with your spirit,(DL) brothers and sisters. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles
  2. Galatians 4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  3. Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father
  4. Galatians 4:9 Or principles
  5. Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1
  6. Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10
  7. Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
  8. Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
  9. Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what
  10. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
  11. Galatians 6:16 Or rule and to
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