2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem ¹  again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too. 2:2 I went there ²  because of ³  a revelation and presented ⁴  to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so ⁵  only in a private meeting with the influential people, ⁶  to make sure that I was not running – or had not run ⁷  – in vain. 2:3 Yet ⁸  not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. 2:4 Now this matter arose ⁹  because of the false brothers with false pretenses ¹⁰  who slipped in unnoticed to spy on ¹¹  our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves. ¹²  2:5 But ¹³  we did not surrender to them ¹⁴  even for a moment, ¹⁵  in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. ¹⁶ 

2:6 But from those who were influential ¹⁷  (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people ¹⁸ ) – those influential leaders ¹⁹  added ²⁰  nothing to my message. ²¹  2:7 On the contrary, when they saw ²²  that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised ²³  just as Peter was to the circumcised ²⁴  2:8 (for he who empowered ²⁵  Peter for his apostleship ²⁶  to the circumcised ²⁷  also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles) ²⁸  2:9 and when James, Cephas, ²⁹  and John, who had a reputation as ³⁰  pillars, ³¹  recognized ³²  the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me ³³  the right hand of fellowship, agreeing ³⁴  that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ³⁵  2:10 They requested ³⁶  only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.

2:11 But when Cephas ³⁷  came to Antioch, ³⁸  I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong. ³⁹  2:12 Until ⁴⁰  certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this ⁴¹  and separated himself ⁴²  because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision. ⁴³  2:13 And the rest of the Jews also joined with him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray with them ⁴⁴  by their hypocrisy. 2:14 But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas ⁴⁵  in front of them all, “If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force ⁴⁶  the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

2:15 We are Jews by birth ⁴⁷  and not Gentile sinners, ⁴⁸  2:16 yet we know ⁴⁹  that no one ⁵⁰  is justified by the works of the law ⁵¹  but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. ⁵²  And ⁵³  we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ ⁵⁴  and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one ⁵⁵  will be justified. 2:17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages ⁵⁶  sin? Absolutely not! 2:18 But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, ⁵⁷  I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law. ⁵⁸  2:19 For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, ⁵⁹  and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So ⁶⁰  the life I now live in the body, ⁶¹  I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, ⁶²  who loved me and gave himself for me. 2:21 I do not set aside ⁶³  God’s grace, because if righteousness ⁶⁴  could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing! ⁶⁵ 

3:1 You ⁶⁶  foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell ⁶⁷  on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed ⁶⁸  as crucified! 3:2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law ⁶⁹  or by believing what you heard? ⁷⁰  3:3 Are you so foolish? Although you began ⁷¹  with ⁷²  the Spirit, are you now trying to finish ⁷³  by human effort? ⁷⁴  3:4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing. 3:5 Does God then give ⁷⁵  you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law ⁷⁶  or by your believing what you heard? ⁷⁷ 

3:6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, ⁷⁸  3:7 so then, understand ⁷⁹  that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. ⁸⁰  3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, ⁸¹  saying, “All the nations ⁸²  will be blessed in you.” ⁸³  3:9 So then those who believe ⁸⁴  are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 3:10 For all who ⁸⁵  rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” ⁸⁶  3:11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. ⁸⁷  3:12 But the law is not based on faith, ⁸⁸  but the one who does the works of the law ⁸⁹  will live by them. ⁹⁰  3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming ⁹¹  a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) ⁹²  3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, ⁹³  so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

3:15 Brothers and sisters, ⁹⁴  I offer an example from everyday life: ⁹⁵  When a covenant ⁹⁶  has been ratified, ⁹⁷  even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. ⁹⁸  Scripture ⁹⁹  does not say, “and to the descendants,” ¹⁰⁰  referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” ¹⁰¹  referring to one, who is Christ. 3:17 What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, ¹⁰²  so as to invalidate the promise. 3:18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave ¹⁰³  it to Abraham through the promise.

3:19 Why then was the law given? ¹⁰⁴  It was added ¹⁰⁵  because of transgressions, ¹⁰⁶  until the arrival of the descendant ¹⁰⁷  to whom the promise had been made. It was administered ¹⁰⁸  through angels by an intermediary. ¹⁰⁹  3:20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one. ¹¹⁰  3:21 Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? ¹¹¹  Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. ¹¹²  3:22 But the scripture imprisoned ¹¹³  everything and everyone ¹¹⁴  under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness ¹¹⁵  of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.

3:23 Now before faith ¹¹⁶  came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners ¹¹⁷  until the coming faith would be revealed. 3:24 Thus the law had become our guardian ¹¹⁸  until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous ¹¹⁹  by faith. 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. ¹²⁰  3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. ¹²¹  3:27 For all of you who ¹²²  were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave ¹²³  nor free, there is neither male nor female ¹²⁴  – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, ¹²⁵  heirs according to the promise.

4:1 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, ¹²⁶  is no different from a slave, though he is the owner ¹²⁷  of everything. 4:2 But he is under guardians ¹²⁸  and managers until the date set by his ¹²⁹  father. 4:3 So also we, when we were minors, ¹³⁰  were enslaved under the basic forces ¹³¹  of the world. 4:4 But when the appropriate time ¹³²  had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. ¹³³  4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls ¹³⁴  “Abba! ¹³⁵  Father!” 4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are ¹³⁶  a son, then you are also an heir through God. ¹³⁷ 

4:8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. ¹³⁸  4:9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless ¹³⁹  basic forces? ¹⁴⁰  Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? ¹⁴¹  4:10 You are observing religious ¹⁴²  days and months and seasons and years. 4:11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. 4:12 I beg you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁴³  become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

4:13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you, 4:14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. ¹⁴⁴  Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, ¹⁴⁵  as though I were Christ Jesus himself! ¹⁴⁶  4:15 Where then is your sense of happiness ¹⁴⁷  now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me! 4:16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? ¹⁴⁸ 

4:17 They court you eagerly, ¹⁴⁹  but for no good purpose; ¹⁵⁰  they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. ¹⁵¹  4:18 However, it is good ¹⁵²  to be sought eagerly ¹⁵³  for a good purpose ¹⁵⁴  at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 4:19 My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! ¹⁵⁵  4:20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, ¹⁵⁶  because I am perplexed about you.

4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law? ¹⁵⁷  4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the ¹⁵⁸  slave woman and the other by the free woman. 4:23 But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, ¹⁵⁹  while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise. 4:24 These things may be treated as an allegory, ¹⁶⁰  for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. 4:25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, ¹⁶¹  and she is our mother. 4:27 For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; ¹⁶² 

break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains,

because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous

than those of the woman who has a husband.” ¹⁶³ 

4:28 But you, ¹⁶⁴  brothers and sisters, ¹⁶⁵  are children of the promise like Isaac. 4:29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descent ¹⁶⁶  persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, ¹⁶⁷  so it is now. 4:30 But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son” ¹⁶⁸  of the free woman. 4:31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, ¹⁶⁹  we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

5:1 For freedom ¹⁷⁰  Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke ¹⁷¹  of slavery. 5:2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 5:3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey ¹⁷²  the whole law. 5:4 You who are trying to be declared righteous ¹⁷³  by the law have been alienated ¹⁷⁴  from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love. ¹⁷⁵ 

5:7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying ¹⁷⁶  the truth? 5:8 This persuasion ¹⁷⁷  does not come from the one who calls you! 5:9 A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise! ¹⁷⁸  5:10 I am confident ¹⁷⁹  in the Lord that you will accept no other view. ¹⁸⁰  But the one who is confusing ¹⁸¹  you will pay the penalty, ¹⁸²  whoever he may be. 5:11 Now, brothers and sisters, ¹⁸³  if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? ¹⁸⁴  In that case the offense of the cross ¹⁸⁵  has been removed. ¹⁸⁶  5:12 I wish those agitators ¹⁸⁷  would go so far as to ¹⁸⁸  castrate themselves! ¹⁸⁹ 

5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; ¹⁹⁰  only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, ¹⁹¹  but through love serve one another. ¹⁹²  5:14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, ¹⁹³  namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁹⁴  5:15 However, if you continually bite and devour one another, ¹⁹⁵  beware that you are not consumed ¹⁹⁶  by one another. 5:16 But I say, live ¹⁹⁷  by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. ¹⁹⁸  5:17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires ¹⁹⁹  that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to ²⁰⁰  each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 5:19 Now the works of the flesh ²⁰¹  are obvious: ²⁰²  sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, ²⁰³  hostilities, ²⁰⁴  strife, ²⁰⁵  jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, ²⁰⁶  factions, 5:21 envying, ²⁰⁷  murder, ²⁰⁸  drunkenness, carousing, ²⁰⁹  and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit ²¹⁰  is love, ²¹¹  joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²¹²  5:23 gentleness, and ²¹³  self-control. Against such things there is no law. 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ ²¹⁴  have crucified the flesh ²¹⁵  with its passions ²¹⁶  and desires. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with ²¹⁷  the Spirit. 5:26 Let us not become conceited, ²¹⁸  provoking ²¹⁹  one another, being jealous ²²⁰  of one another.