Galatians 2–5

Chapter 2

The Council at Jerusalem

1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I awent up again to Jerusalem with bBarnabas, taking cTitus along also.

2 1It was because of a arevelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the bgospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be crunning, or had run, in vain.

3 But not even aTitus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was bcompelled to be circumcised.

4 But it was because of the afalse brethren secretly brought in, who bhad sneaked in to spy out our cliberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to dbring us into bondage.

5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that athe truth of the gospel would remain with you.

6 But from those who 1were of high areputation (what they were makes no difference to me; bGod 2shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.

7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been aentrusted with the bgospel 1to the uncircumcised, just as cPeter had been 2to the circumcised

8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his aapostleship 1to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),

9 and recognizing athe grace that had been given to me, 1bJames and cCephas and John, who were dreputed to be epillars, gave to me and fBarnabas the gright 2hand of fellowship, so that we might hgo to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

10 They only asked us to remember the poor—athe very thing I also was eager to do.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

11 But when aCephas came to bAntioch, I opposed him to his face, because he 1stood condemned.

12 For prior to the coming of certain men from 1aJames, he used to beat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, cfearing 2the party of the circumcision.

13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even aBarnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that they awere not 1straightforward about bthe truth of the gospel, I said to cCephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, dlive like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? 2

15 “We are aJews by nature and not bsinners from among the Gentiles;

16 nevertheless knowing that aa man is not justified by the works of 1the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by bfaith in Christ and not by the works of 1the Law; since cby the works of 1the Law no 2flesh will be justified.

17 “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found asinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? bMay it never be!

18 “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I aprove myself to be a transgressor.

19 “For through 1the Law I adied to 1the Law, so that I might live to God.

20 “I have been acrucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but bChrist lives in me; and 1the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in cthe Son of God, who dloved me and egave Himself up for me.

21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for aif righteousness comes through 1the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Chapter 3

Faith Brings Righteousness

1 1You foolish aGalatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ bwas publicly portrayed as crucified?

2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of 1the Law, or by 2ahearing with faith?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun 1by the Spirit, are you now 2being perfected by the flesh?

4 Did you 1suffer so many things in vain—aif indeed it was in vain?

5 So then, does He who aprovides you with the Spirit and bworks 1miracles among you, do it by the works of 2the Law, or by 3chearing with faith?

6 1Even so aAbraham bbelieved God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

7 Therefore, 1be sure that ait is those who are of faith who are bsons of Abraham.

8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God 1would justify the 2Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “aAll the nations will be blessed in you.”

9 So then athose who are of faith are blessed with 1Abraham, the believer.

10 For as many as are of the works of 1the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “aCursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”

11 Now that ano one is justified 1by 2the Law before God is evident; for, “3bThe righteous man shall live by faith.”

12 1However, the Law is not 2of faith; on the contrary, “aHe who practices them shall live 3by them.”

13 Christ aredeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “bCursed is everyone who hangs on ca 1tree”—

14 in order that ain Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might 1come to the Gentiles, so that we bwould receive cthe promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

15 aBrethren, bI speak 1in terms of human relations: ceven though it is only a man’s 2covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds 3conditions to it.

16 Now the promises were spoken ato Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “bAnd to your seed,” that is, Christ.

17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came afour hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

18 For aif the inheritance is 1based on law, it is no longer 1based on a promise; but bGod has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19 aWhy the Law then? It was added 1because of transgressions, having been bordained through angels cby the 2agency of a mediator, until dthe seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

20 Now aa mediator is not 1for one party only; whereas God is only one.

21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? aMay it never be! For bif a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness 1would indeed have been 2based on law.

22 But the Scripture has ashut up 1everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, abeing shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

24 Therefore the Law has become our atutor to lead us to Christ, so that bwe may be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a 1atutor.

26 For you are all asons of God through faith in bChrist Jesus.

27 For all of you who were abaptized into Christ have bclothed yourselves with Christ.

28 aThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is 1neither male nor female; for byou are all one in cChrist Jesus.

29 And if ayou 1belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s 2descendants, heirs according to bpromise.

Chapter 4

Sonship in Christ

1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a 1child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is 2owner of everything,

2 but he is under guardians and 1managers until the date set by the father.

3 So also we, while we were children, were held ain bondage under the 1belemental things of the world.

4 But when athe fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, bborn of a woman, born cunder 1the Law,

5 so that He might redeem those who were under 1the Law, that we might receive the adoption as asons.

6 Because you are sons, aGod has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “bAbba! Father!”

7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and aif a son, then an heir 1through God.

8 However at that time, awhen you did not know God, you were bslaves to cthose which by nature are no gods.

9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be aknown by God, bhow is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless 1celemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

10 You aobserve days and months and seasons and years.

11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored 1over you in vain.

12 I beg of you, abrethren, bbecome as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;

13 but you know that it was because of a 1bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the 2first time;

14 and that which was a 1trial to you in my 2bodily condition you did not despise or 3loathe, but ayou received me as an angel of God, as bChrist Jesus Himself.

15 Where then is 1that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

16 So have I become your enemy aby 1telling you the truth?

17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.

18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable 1manner, and anot only when I am present with you.

19 aMy children, with whom bI am again in labor until cChrist is formed in you—

20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for aI am perplexed about you.

Bond and Free

21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not alisten to the law?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, aone by the bondwoman and bone by the free woman.

23 But athe son by the bondwoman 1was born according to the flesh, and bthe son by the free woman through the promise.

24 1aThis is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from bMount Sinai bearing children 2who are to be cslaves; 3she is Hagar.

25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

26 But athe Jerusalem above is free; 1she is our mother.

27 For it is written,

“aRejoice, barren woman who does not bear;

Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;

For more numerous are the children of the desolate

Than of the one who has a husband.”

28 And you brethren, alike Isaac, are bchildren of promise.

29 But as at that time ahe who was born according to the flesh bpersecuted him …