Galatians Chapter 1
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead),
2 and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
There is no other gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in 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 them be under God’s curse!
9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul's ministry
11 But I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.
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 former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
14 and in Judaism I was ahead of many of my contemporaries in my nation, being much more zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb 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 immediately consult with any human being,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went into Arabia and returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
19 I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
20 I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is true and proper.
21 After this, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 I was not known by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ;
23 they only heard that he who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.
24 And they glorified God in me.
Galatians Chapter 2
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.
2 I went up in response to a revelation, and so that I would not be running or have run in vain, I privately presented to those who were influential the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.
3 Yet even Titus, who was with me, though a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised.
4 This was because of some false brothers who had secretly infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us.
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 were influential (what they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality), those who were influential added nothing new to me.
7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised—
8 for he who worked in Peter for his apostleship to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles—
9 James, Cephas, and John, who were considered pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me and gave Barnabas and me their right hands as fellow workers, so that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
10 They asked only that we remember the poor, which I was eager to do.
Paul rebukes Peter in Antioch
11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they came, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.
13 And the other Jews also joined in their hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
15 We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners,
16 knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? Certainly not!
18 For if I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh 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.
Galatians Chapter 3
The Spirit is received by faith
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified, to keep you from obeying the truth?
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing?
5 So then, does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
God's covenant with Abraham
6 So Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
7 Therefore, be sure that those who are of faith are children of Abraham.
8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All nations will be blessed through you.”
9 So those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as 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, it says, “The one 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 pole”—
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life: A human covenant, once ratified, cannot be annulled or added to.
16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. Scripture does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but, “And to your offspring,” referring to one, who is Christ.
17 What I mean is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant God established with Christ, so as to nullify the promise.
18 For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by means of a promise.
The purpose of the law
19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not for one party only, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would indeed come by the law.
22 But Scripture has locked up everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Before this faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the faith that was to be revealed came.
24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and 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.
Gálatas Capítulo 4
1 But I say that as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all;
2 but he is under guardians and trustees until the time appointed by his father.
3 So also we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Exhortation against returning to slavery
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those who by nature are not gods.
9 But now that you have come to know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back again to those weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be all over again?
10 You observe special days and months and seasons and years!
11 I am afraid for you, that I may have labored over you in vain.
12 I urge you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
14 Yet you did not treat me with contempt or scorn, but welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.
15 Where, then, is your former pride? For I testify that, if you could have, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They are zealous for you, but not for your good. On the contrary, they want to alienate you from us so that you will be zealous for them.
18 It is good to be zealous for a good cause always, and not only 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 I wish I could be with you right now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
Allegory of Sarah and Hagar
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, have you not heard the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
23 The son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, while the son by the free woman was born through the promise.
24 This is an allegory: these women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery; this is Hagar.
25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present 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: “Rejoice, O barren one, you who do not bear; break forth into joyful shouting, you who are not in labor; for more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
28 So then, brothers and sisters, we, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
29 But just as then the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now.
30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.
Galatians Chapter 5
Stand firm in freedom
1 Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 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 the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith 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 to keep you from obeying the truth?
8 Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.
10 I am confident in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But the one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.
11 And I, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case, the offense of the cross has been removed.
12 I wish that those who are troubling you would mutilate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another.
The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit
16Digo, pues: Andad en el Espíritu, y no satisfagáis los deseos de la carne.
17Porque el deseo de la carne es contra el Espíritu, y el del Espíritu es contra la carne; y éstos se oponen entre sí, para que no hagáis lo que quisiereis.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, so that you are not to do the things you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians Chapter 6
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, 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 they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,
5 for each one will carry their own load.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with their teacher.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for 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.
Paul glories in the cross of Christ
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
12 All who want to make a good impression by the flesh are trying to force you to be circumcised, and the only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13 Even those who are circumcised do not keep the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.
14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is a new creation.
16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.
17 From now on, 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 and sisters. Amen.