Galatians 4–6

No Longer Slaves But Sons and Heirs

4Now I say, for as long a time as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he^* is master of everything, ²but he is under guardians and managers until the time set by his father. ³So also we, when we were children, we were enslaved under the elemental spirits of the world. ⁴But when the fullness of time came, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵in order that he might redeem those under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption. ⁶And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba!^a (Father!),” ⁷so that you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God.

Do Not Be Enslaved Again

⁸But at that time when you^* did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods. ⁹But now, because you have come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to be enslaved to them^b all over again? ¹⁰You carefully observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I have labored for you in vain! ¹²I ask you, brothers, become like me, because I also have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

Paul’s Personal Appeal

¹³But you know that because of an illness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time. ¹⁴And you did not despise or disdain what was a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus. ¹⁵So where 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 by^* being truthful to you? ¹⁷They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they want to exclude you, in order that you may seek them zealously. ¹⁸But it is good to be sought zealously in good at all times, and not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹My children, for whom I am having birth pains again, until Christ is formed in you! ²⁰But I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone because I am perplexed about you.

Hagar and Sarah Represent Two Covenants

²¹Tell me, you who are wanting to be under the law, do you not understand^c the law? ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the female slave and one by the free woman. ²³But the one by the female slave was born according to human descent, and the one by the free woman through the promise, ²⁴which things are spoken allegorically, for these women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, who is Hagar. ²⁵Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children. ²⁶But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother. ²⁷For it is written,

“Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to children;

burst out and shout, you who do not have birth pains,

because many are the children of the desolate woman,

even more than those of the one who has a husband.”^d

²⁸But you, brothers, are children of the promise, just as Isaac. ²⁹But just as at that time the child born according to human descent persecuted the child born according to the Spirit, so also now. ³⁰But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son”^e of the free woman. ³¹Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female slave but of the free woman.

Live in Freedom and Love One Another

5For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. ²Look! I, Paul, tell you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing! ³And again I testify to every man who becomes circumcised, that he is under obligation to keep the whole law. ⁴You are estranged from Christ, you who are attempting to be justified^* by the law; you have fallen from grace. ⁵For through the Spirit by faith we eagerly await the hope of righteousness. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

⁷You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸This persuasion is not from the one who calls you! ⁹A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough. ¹⁰I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will think nothing different, but the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty^a, whoever he may be. ¹¹Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. ¹²I wish that the ones who are disturbing you would also castrate themselves^b!

¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”^{c 15}But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Live by the Spirit and Reject the Deeds of the Flesh

¹⁶But I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are in opposition to one another, so that whatever you want, you may not do these things. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, things which I am telling you in advance, just as I said before, that the ones who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Now those who belong to Christ^de have crucified the flesh together with its feelings and its desires.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. ²⁶We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Carry One Another’s Burdens

6Brothers, even if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of humility, looking out for yourself, lest you also be tempted. ²Carry the burdens of one another, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³For if anyone thinks he is something although he^* is nothing, he is deceiving himself. ⁴But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in someone else. ⁵For each one will carry his own burden.

Do Good to All People

⁶Now the one who is taught the word must share in all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked, for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap, ⁸because the one who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹And let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we^* do not give up. ¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith.

A Final Warning

¹¹See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. ¹²As many as are wanting to make a good showing in the flesh, these are attempting to compel^* you to be circumcised, only so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³For not even those who are circumcised observe the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised in order that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴But as for me, may it never be that I boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ¹⁶And all those who follow this rule, peace and mercy be on them and on the Israel of God.

Conclusion and Benediction

¹⁷Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I carry on my body the marks of Jesus. ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.