Galatians 4

1 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor,t is no different from a slave, though he is the ownert of everything.2 But he is under guardianst and managers until the date set by hist father.3 So also we, when we were minors,t were enslaved under the basic forcest of the world.4 But when the appropriate timet had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.t6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who callst “Abba!t Father!”

7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you aret a son, then you are also an heir through God.s

Heirs of Promise Are Not to Return to Law

8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.t9 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 worthlesst basic forces?t Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?t10 You are observing religioust days and months and seasons and years.11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain.

12 I beg you, brothers and sisters,t become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

Personal Appeal of Paul

13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you,14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me.t Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God,t as though I were Christ Jesus himself!t15 Where then is your sense of happinesst now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!

16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?t
17 They court you eagerly,t but for no good purpose;t they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.t18 However, it is goodt to be sought eagerlyt for a good purposet at all times, and not only when I am present with you.19 My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!ts

20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice,t because I am perplexed about you.

An Appeal from Allegory

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law?t22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by thet slave woman and the other by the free woman.23 But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent,t while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.24 These things may be treated as an allegory,t for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.26 But the Jerusalem above is free,s and she is our mother.

27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children;t
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,"ts
28 But you,s brothers and sisters,t are children of the promise like Isaac.29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descentt persecuted the one born according to the Spirit,t so it is now.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"s of the free woman.

31 Therefore, brothers and sisters,t we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

Galatians 5

Freedom of the Believer

1 For freedomt Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yokes of slavery.2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all!3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obeyt the whole law.4 You who are trying to be declared righteoust by the law have been alienatedt from Christ; you have fallen away from grace!5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love.t
7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeyingt the truth?8 This persuasiont does not come from the one who calls you!9 A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise!t10 I am confidentt in the Lord that you will accept no other view.t But the one who is confusingt you will pay the penalty,t whoever he may be.11 Now, brothers and sisters,t if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?s In that case the offense of the crosss has been removed.t

12 I wish those agitatorst would go so far as tot castrate themselves!t

Practice Love

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;t only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh,t but through love serve one another.t14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment,t namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”s15 However, if you continually bite and devour one another,t beware that you are not consumedt by one another.16 But I say, livet by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.t17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desirest that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition tot each other, so that you cannot do what you want.18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesht are obvious:t sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,20 idolatry, sorcery,t hostilities,t strife,t jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions,t factions,

21 envying,t murder,s drunkenness, carousing,t 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!
22 But the fruit of the Spiritt is love,s joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,t23 gentleness, andt self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Now those who belong to Christs have crucified the flesht with its passionst and desires.25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance witht the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited,t provokingt one another, being jealoust of one another.

Galatians 6

Support One Another

1 Brothers and sisters,t if a persont is discovered in some sin,t you who are spirituals restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness.t Pay close attentiont to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.4 Let each one examinet his own work. Then he can take pridet in himself and not compare himself witht someone else.

5 For each one will carryt his own load.
6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teachest it.7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool.t For a persont will reap what he sows,8 because the person who sows to his own flesht will reap corruptiont from the flesh,t but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.9 So we must not grow wearyt in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.t

10 So then,t whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.t

Final Instructions and Benediction

11 See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those who want to make a good showing in external matterst are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do sot only to avoid being persecuteds for the cross of Christ.13 For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.t14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whicht the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.15 Fors neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts fort anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!t

16 And all who will behavet in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.t

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.t

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bet with your spirit, brothers and sisters.t Amen.