Galatians 5–6

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.