Galatians 4–6

4Now I say that as long as the heir^r is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner^s of everything. ²Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements^C of the world.^{t 4}When the time came to completion, God sent his Son,^u born of a woman,^v born under the law, ⁵to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.^{w 6}And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^x into our^D hearts, crying, “Abba,^E Father!”^{y 7}So you are no longer a slave^z but a son,^aa and if a son, then God has made you an heir.^ab

PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE GALATIANS

⁸But in the past, since you didn’t know God,^ac you were enslaved to things^F that by nature are not gods. ⁹But now, since you know God,^ad or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless^ae elements?^af Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? ¹⁰You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.^{ag 11}I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

¹²I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have not wronged me; ¹³you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh. ¹⁴You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you.^A On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.

¹⁵Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?^{ah 17}They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. ¹⁸But it is always good to be pursued^B in a good manner—and not just when I am with you. ¹⁹My children,^ai I am again suffering labor pains^aj for you until Christ is formed in you. ²⁰I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.

SARAH AND HAGAR: TWO COVENANTS

²¹Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? ²²For it is written that Abraham^ak had two sons, one by a slave^al and the other by a free woman. ²³But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai^am and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.^{an 25}Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia^ao and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,^ap for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶But the Jerusalem above^aq is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷For it is written,^ar

Rejoice, childless woman,^as

unable to give birth.

Burst into song and shout,

you who are not in labor,

for the children of the desolate woman will be many,

more numerous than those

of the woman who has a husband.^Ca

²⁸Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac,^b are children of promise.^{c 29}But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit,^d so also now.^{e 30}But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.”^{Df 31}Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.^g

FREEDOM OF THE CHRISTIAN

5For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm^h, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.^{i 2}Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. ³Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. ⁴You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.^{j 5}For we eagerly await^k through the Spirit, by faith, the hope^l of righteousness. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith^m working through love.ⁿ

⁷You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?^{o 8}This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.^{p 9}A little leaven^A leavens the whole batch of dough. ¹⁰I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.^{q 11}Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross^r has been abolished. ¹²I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated!

¹³For you were called^s to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity^B for the flesh, but serve one another through love. ¹⁴For the whole law is fulfilled^t in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.^{Cu 15}But if you bite and devour^v one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

THE SPIRIT VERSUS THE FLESH

¹⁶I say, then, walk by the Spirit^w and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires^x what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.^{y 18}But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious:^D sexual immorality,^z moral impurity,^aa promiscuity,^{ab 20}idolatry,^ac sorcery,^ad hatreds,^ae strife,^af jealousy,^ag outbursts of anger,^ah selfish ambitions,^ai dissensions,^aj factions,^{ak 21}envy,^Eal drunkenness, carousing,^am and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.^an

²²But the fruit of the Spirit^ao is love,^ap joy,^aq peace, patience,^ar kindness,^as goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness,^at and self-control.^au The law is not against such things.^{F 24}Now those who belong to Christ Jesus^av have crucified the flesh^aw with its passions and desires.^{ax 25}If we live^ay by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.^az

CARRY ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS

6Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle^ba spirit,^Gbb watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.^{bc 2}Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^{bd 3}For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing,^be he deceives himself. ⁴Let each person examine his own work,^bf and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. ⁵For each person will have to carry his own load.

⁶Let the one who is taught the word share^bg all his good things with the teacher. ⁷Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, ⁸because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit^a will reap eternal life^b from the Spirit. ⁹Let us not get tired^c of doing good,^d for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work^e for the good^f of all, especially for those who belong to the household^g of faith.^h

CONCLUDING EXHORTATION

¹¹Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. ¹²Those who want to make a good impression in the fleshⁱ are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised^j—but only to avoid being persecuted^k for the cross^l of Christ. ¹³For even the circumcised don’t keep^m the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. ¹⁴But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. ¹⁵For^A both circumcision and uncircumcisionⁿ mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.^{o 16}May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel^p of God!^B

¹⁷From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.^{q 18}Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^r Amen.