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Galatians
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Paul,
an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God
the Father, who raised him from the dead-- {2} and all the
brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: {3} Grace and peace
to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, {4} who
gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father, {5} to whom be glory
for ever and ever. Amen. {6} I am astonished that you are so
quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are
turning to a different gospel-- {7} which is really no gospel at
all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are
trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. {8} But even if we or an
angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached
to you, let him be eternally condemned! {9} As we have already
said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other
than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! {10} Am I
now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to
please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a
servant of Christ. {11} I want you to know, brothers, that the
gospel I preached is not something that man made up. {12} I did
not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it
by revelation from Jesus Christ. {13} For you have heard of my
previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church
of God and tried to destroy it. {14} I was advancing in Judaism
beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the
traditions of my fathers. {15} But when God, who set me apart
from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased {16} to reveal
his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not
consult any man, {17} nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those
who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and
later returned to Damascus. {18} Then after three years, I went
up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen
days. {19} I saw none of the other apostles--only James, the
Lord's brother. {20} I assure you before God that what I am
writing you is no lie. {21} Later I went to Syria and Cilicia.
{22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in
Christ. {23} They only heard the report: "The man who formerly
persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
{24} And they praised God because of me. |
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Galatians
2 |
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Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with
Barnabas. I took Titus along also. {2} I went in response to a
revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the
Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders,
for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. {3} Yet
not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even
though he was a Greek. {4} This matter arose because some false
brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in
Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. {5} We did not give in to
them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with
you. {6} As for those who seemed to be important--whatever they
were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external
appearance--those men added nothing to my message. {7} On the
contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching
the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. {8}
For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to
the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.
{9} James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and
Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognised the grace
given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to
the Jews. {10} All they asked was that we should continue to
remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. {11} When
Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly
in the wrong. {12} Before certain men came from James, he used to
eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and
separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who
belonged to the circumcision group. {13} The other Jews joined
him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led
astray. {14} When I saw that they were not acting in line with
the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are
a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then,
that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? {15} "We who
are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' {16} know that a man
is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So
we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by
faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the
law no one will be justified. {17} "If, while we seek to be
justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners,
does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! {18} If
I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. {19}
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
{20} I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. {21} I do not
set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through
the law, Christ died for nothing!" |
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Galatians 3 |
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You
foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus
Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. {2} I would like to
learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing
the law, or by believing what you heard? {3} Are you so foolish?
After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal
by human effort? {4} Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it
really was for nothing? {5} Does God give you his Spirit and work
miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe
what you heard? {6} Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it
was credited to him as righteousness." {7} Understand, then, that
those who believe are children of Abraham. {8} The Scripture
foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the
gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."
{9} So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man
of faith. {10} All who rely on observing the law are under a
curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to
do everything written in the Book of the Law." {11} Clearly no
one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will
live by faith." {12} The law is not based on faith; on the
contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." {13}
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." {14}
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might
come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might
receive the promise of the Spirit. {15} Brothers, let me take an
example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a
human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.
{16} The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The
Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to
your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. {17} What I mean
is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the
covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the
promise. {18} For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it
no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham
through a promise. {19} What, then, was the purpose of the law?
It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the
promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by
a mediator. {20} A mediator, however, does not represent just one
party; but God is one. {21} Is the law, therefore, opposed to the
promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could
impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
{22} But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner
of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus
Christ, might be given to those who believe. {23} Before this
faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith
should be revealed. {24} So the law was put in charge to lead us
to Christ that we might be justified by faith. {25} Now that
faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
{26} You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, {27}
for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves
with Christ. {28} There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free,
male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. {29} If you
belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to
the promise. |
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Galatians 4 |
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What I
am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different
from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. {2} He is
subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
{3} So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the
basic principles of the world. {4} But when the time had fully
come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, {5} to
redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
{6} Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our
hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." {7} So
you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has
made you also an heir. {8} Formerly, when you did not know God,
you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. {9} But now
that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are
turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be
enslaved by them all over again? {10} You are observing special
days and months and seasons and years! {11} I fear for you, that
somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. {12} I plead with you,
brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no
wrong. {13} As you know, it was because of an illness that I
first preached the gospel to you. {14} Even though my illness was
a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead,
you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus
himself. {15} What has happened to all your joy? I can testify
that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and
given them to me. {16} Have I now become your enemy by telling
you the truth? {17} Those people are zealous to win you over, but
for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that
you may be zealous for them. {18} It is fine to be zealous,
provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am
with you. {19} My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains
of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, {20} how I wish I
could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about
you! {21} Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not
aware of what the law says? {22} For it is written that Abraham
had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
{23} His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but
his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. {24}
These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two
covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are
to be slaves: This is Hagar. {25} Now Hagar stands for Mount
Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem,
because she is in slavery with her children. {26} But the
Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. {27} For
it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break
forth and cry aloud, you who have no labour pains; because more are the
children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." {28}
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. {29}
At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by
the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. {30} But what does
the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the
slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free
woman's son." {31} Therefore, brothers, we are not children of
the slave woman, but of the free woman. |
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Galatians 5 |
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It is
for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not
let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. {2} Mark
my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,
Christ will be of no value to you at all. {3} Again I declare to
every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey
the whole law. {4} You who are trying to be justified by law have
been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. {5}
But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for
which we hope. {6} For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith
expressing itself through love. {7} You were running a good race.
Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? {8} That
kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. {9}
"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." {10} I
am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who
is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
{11} Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still
being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been
abolished. {12} As for those agitators, I wish they would go the
whole way and emasculate themselves! {13} You, my brothers, were
called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful
nature ; rather, serve one another in love. {14} The entire law
is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
{15} If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or
you will be destroyed by each other. {16} So I say, live by the
Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
{17} For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit,
and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in
conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. {18}
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. {19}
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity
and debauchery; {20} idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions {21}
and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did
before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of
God. {22} But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness and
self-control. Against such things there is no law. {24} Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its
passions and desires. {25} Since we live by the Spirit, let us
keep in step with the Spirit. {26} Let us not become conceited,
provoking and envying each other. |
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Galatians 6 |
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Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should
restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
{2} Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the
law of Christ. {3} If anyone thinks he is something when he is
nothing, he deceives himself. {4} Each one should test his own
actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to
somebody else, {5} for each one should carry his own load. {6}
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good
things with his instructor. {7} Do not be deceived: God cannot be
mocked. A man reaps what he sows. {8} The one who sows to please
his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who
sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
{9} Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up. {10} Therefore, as we
have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who
belong to the family of believers. {11} See what large letters I
use as I write to you with my own hand! {12} Those who want to
make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be
circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted
for the cross of Christ. {13} Not even those who are circumcised
obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast
about your flesh. {14} May I never boast except in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world. {15} Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
means anything; what counts is a new creation. {16} Peace and
mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. {17}
Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the
marks of Jesus. {18} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit, brothers. Amen. |
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