Galatians 3–5

Chapter 3

O senseless Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth: before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth, crucified among you?

²This only would I learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?

³Are you so foolish that, whereas you began in the Spirit, you would now be made perfect by the flesh?

⁴Have you suffered so great things in vain? If it be yet in vain.

⁵He therefore who giveth to you the Spirit and worketh miracles among you: doth he do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of the faith?

⁶As it is written: Abraham believed God: and it was reputed to him unto justice.

⁷Know ye, therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

⁸And the scripture, foreseeing that God justifieth the Gentiles by faith, told unto Abraham before: In thee shall all nations be blessed.

⁹Therefore, they that are of faith shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.

¹⁰For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: Cursed is every one that abideth, not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

¹¹But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest: because the just man liveth by faith.

¹²But the law is not of faith: but he that doth those things shall live in them.

¹³Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree).

¹⁴That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

¹⁵Brethren (I speak after the manner of man), yet a man’s testament, if it be confirmed, no man despiseth nor addeth to it.

¹⁶To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not: And to his seeds as of many. But as of one: And to thy seed, which is Christ.

¹⁷Now this I say: that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.

¹⁸For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.

¹⁹Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

²⁰Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one.

²¹Was the law then against the promises of God: God forbid! For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law.

²²But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.

²³But before the faith came, we were kept under the law shut up, unto that faith which was to be revealed.

²⁴Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ: that we might be justified by faith.

²⁵But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.

²⁶For you are all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁷For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ.

²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

²⁹And if you be Christ’s, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

Chapter 4

As long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all,

²But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father.

³So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.

⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:

⁵That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.

⁶And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.

⁷Therefore, now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

⁸But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them who, by nature, are not gods.

⁹But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements which you desire to serve again?

¹⁰You observe days and months and times, and years.

¹¹I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.

¹²Be ye as I, because I also am as you brethren, I beseech you. You have not injured me at all.

¹³And you know how, through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh

¹⁴You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

¹⁵Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.

¹⁶Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.

¹⁸But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.

¹⁹My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.

²⁰And I would willingly be present with you now and change my voice: because I am ashamed for you.

²¹Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?

²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman.

²³But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise.

²⁴Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sina, engendering unto bondage, which is Agar.

²⁵For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children.

²⁶But that Jerusalem which is above is free: which is our mother.

²⁷For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.

²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

²⁹But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now.

³⁰But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

³¹So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.

Chapter 5

Stand fast and be not held again under the yoke of bondage.

²Behold, I Paul tell you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

³And I testify again to every man circumcising himself that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

⁴You are made void of Christ, you who are justified in the law: you are fallen from grace.

⁵For we in spirit, by faith, wait for the hope of justice.

⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision: but faith that worketh by Charity.

⁷You did run well. What hath hindered you, that you should not obey the truth?

⁸This persuasion is not from him that calleth you.

⁹A little leaven corrupteth the whole lump.

¹⁰I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will not be of another mind: but he that troubleth you shall bear the judgment, whosoever he be.

¹¹And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the scandal of the cross made void.

¹²I would they were even cut off, who trouble you.

¹³For you, brethren, have been called unto liberty. Only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh: but by charity of the spirit serve one another.

¹⁴For all the law is fulfilled in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another: take heed you be not consumed one of another.

¹⁶I say then: Walk in the spirit: and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh: For these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would.

¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest: which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury,

²⁰Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects,

²¹Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity,

²³Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law.

²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences.

²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

²⁶Let us not be made desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.