Galatians
By: Tom Adcox
6I marvel that so quickly you are changing from the one having called you by the grace of Christ to other [ἕτερος – other of a different kind] “good news,” 7which is not another [ἄλλος – other of the same kind], but some are the ones troubling you and wanting to pervert the good news of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from Heaven should preach to you “good news” contrary to what we preached to you, let him be anathema. 9As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you “good news” contrary to what you received, let him be anathema.
10For am I now seeking approval from men or from God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I would not be a slave of Christ.
11For I make known to you, brothers, the good news having been preached by me, that it is not according to man, 12for I neither received it from man nor was I taught, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, that according to hyperbole I was persecuting the church of God and ravaging it, 14and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my race, being more abundantly zealous of my ancestral traditions. 15But when he was pleased, the one having separated me from my mother’s womb and having called me through his grace, 16to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles before me, but I went to Arabia, and I returned again to Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I did not see other of the apostles except Jacob the brother of the Lord. 20But the things I am writing to you, look, before God I am not lying. 21Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22But I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, the ones in Christ, 23but only they were hearing, “The one once persecuting us is now preaching the faith which he once was ravaging,” 24and they were glorifying God in me.
2. Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem again, with Barnabas, having also taken Titus with me, 2but I went up according to a revelation, and I set before them the good news which I preach among the Gentiles, but in private to those being of repute, so that I should not be running or have run in vain. 3But not even Titus, who was with me, being Greek, was compelled to be circumcised, 4but because of the secretly brought in false brothers who sneaked in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might enslave us, 5to whom not even for an hour did we yield in subjection, that the truth of the good news might remain with you. 6But from those seeming to be something – whatever they once were makes no difference to me; God does not receive a face of man – for to me those seeming added nothing, 7but on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted with the good news of the uncircumcision, as Peter of the circumcision, 8for the one having worked in Peter for an apostleship of the circumcision worked also in me for the Gentiles, 9and having known the grace given to me, Jacob and Cephas and John, those seeming to be pillars, gave right hands of fellowship to me and Barnabas, that we should go to the Gentiles, but they to the circumcision, 10only that we should remember the poor, which I was also eager to do, this very thing.
11But when Cephas came to Antioch I stood up to him to the face, for he was condemned. 12For before some from Jacob came he was eating with the Gentiles, but when they came he was drawing back and separating himself, fearing those from the circumcision, 13and the rest of the Jews also acted hypocritically with him so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they were not walking straightly to the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas before all, “If you being a Jew live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, why do you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”
15We Jews by nature and not sinners from the Gentiles, 16knowing that a man is not justified by works of law, but through faith of Jesus Christ – we also had faith in Christ Jesus that we might be justified from faith of Christ and not from works of law, for no flesh will be justified by works of law. 17But if, seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? No. Let it not be. 18For if I build again these things that I tore down, I prove myself a transgressor. 19For through law I died to law that I might live to God, for I have been crucified with Christ. 20But I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, but the life which I am now living in flesh I live by faith which is of the Son of God, the one having loved me and having given himself up for me. 21I am not setting aside the grace of God, for if righteousness is through law then Christ died to no purpose.
3. O foolish Galatians, who put you under a spell, to whose eyes Jesus Christ was portrayed as having been crucified? 2This alone I want to learn from you: By works of law did you receive the Spirit or by hearing of faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun in Spirit are you now being matured in flesh? 4Did you suffer so many things in vain, if indeed they be in vain? 5The one then supplying you with the Spirit and doing works of power among you, is it from works of law or from hearing of faith? 6As Abraham ”had faith in God and it was accounted to him as righteousness” [Gen. 15.6].
7Therefore know that those of faith, these are sons of Abraham. 8The Scripture having seen then that God justifies the Gentiles by faith preached the good news beforehand to Abraham that “all the Gentiles will be blessed in you” [Gen. 12.3]. 9So then those of faith are blessed with the faith of Abraham. 10For as many as are from works of law are under a curse, for it has been written that “cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things having been written in the book of the law to do them” [Dt. 27.26]. 11Now that no one is justified by law before God is evident, for “the righteous one will live by faith” [Hab. 2.4]. 12But the law is not of faith, but “the one having done these things will live by them” [Lev. 18.5]. 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it has been written, “Cursed is everyone, the one having hung on a tree” [Dt. 21.23], 14that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15Brothers, I am speaking according to man. Though it be a man’s covenant, having been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds to it. 16Now to Abraham and his seed the promises were spoken. He does not say, “and the seeds,” as to many, but as to one, “and to your Seed,” which is Christ. 17But I am saying this: a covenant having been ratified beforehand by God, a law having come after 430 years does not annul it, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through a promise. 19What then is the law? It was added because of the transgressions until the Seed be come to whom the promise has been made, having been ordained by angels through the hand of a mediator. 20But the mediator is not of one, but God is one.
21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Let it not be. For if a law was given being able to give life, righteousness was indeed from law. 22But the Scripture shut all things up under sin that the promise from faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those having faith. 23Now before faith came we were kept in custody under law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed, 24so that the law has become our child leader to Christ, that we might be justified from faith, 25but faith having come we are no longer under a child leader.
26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. 28There is not Jew or Greek; there is not slave or free; there is not male and female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus. 29But if you are of Christ, then you are of Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.
4. But I say, for as long a time as the heir is a child he does not differ from a slave though being lord of all, 2but he is under guardians and stewards until the appointed time of the father. 3So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elementary rules of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time came God sent forth his Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under law, 5that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive the son-placing. 6Because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying “Abba, Father.” 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, an heir through God.
8But you, at the time not knowing God, were enslaved to those by nature not being gods, 9but now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how are you turning again to the weak and poverty-stricken elementary rules to which you want to be enslaved again? 10You observe days and months and times [kairos] and years. 11I am afraid for you that somehow I have labored in vain for you.
12Become as I am, for I also am as you, brothers, I implore you. You wronged me in nothing. 13But you know that through a weakness of the flesh I preached the good news to you at the first, 14and your trial at my flesh you did not treat with contempt or loathe [lit. spit out], but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15Where then is your blessing? For I bear witness to you that if able, having dug out your eyes, you would have given them to me. 16So speaking truth to you I have become your enemy? 17They are zealous after you, not rightly, but to shut you out. They desire that you may be zealous after them. 18But it is good to be zealously sought after in a good thing always and not only in my being present with you, 19my little children, for whom I am in travail again until Christ be formed in you, 20but I was wanting to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for I am perplexed at you.
21Tell me, those wanting to be under law, do you not listen to the law? 22For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one from the slave girl and one from the free woman. 23But indeed the one of the slave girl has been born of the flesh, but the one of the free woman, through promise, 24which things are allegorized, for these are two covenants, one indeed from Mt. Sinai, bearing children into slavery, which is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is Mt. Sinai in Arabia, but she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, who is our mother. 27For it has been written, “Rejoice, barren one, the one not bearing. Break forth and shout, the one not travailing. For more are the children of the desolate than of the one having the husband” [Is. 54.1]. 28But you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29But just as then the one having been born according to flesh was persecuting the one according to Spirit, so also now. 30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave girl and her son, for the son of the slave girl will not inherit with the son” of the free woman. 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave girl, but of the free woman.
5. For freedom Christ set us free. Stand therefore and do not be held again by a yoke of slavery. 2Look, I Paul say to you that if you are circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3Now I testify again to every man being circumcised that he is a debtor to do all the law. 4You who are being justified by law are separated from Christ. You have fallen from grace. 5For we, by the Spirit, from faith, are eagerly awaiting the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power, but faith working through love.
7You were running well. Who hindered you so as not to obey the truth? 8The persuasion is not from the one calling you. 9A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10I have confidence in you that you will think nothing else. But the one troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the scandal of the cross has been made of no effect. 12I would even that those troubling you would emasculate themselves.
13For you were called to freedom, brothers, only do not use the freedom for a pretext for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole law has been fulfilled in one word, in this, ”You will love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, see so that you might not be consumed by one another.
16But I say, walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the desire of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are opposed to one another so that you might not do those things you might wish to. 18For if you are led by the Spirit you are not under law. 19But the works of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of rage, rivalries, dissensions, factions, 21envyings, drunkenesses, carousings, and things like these. I forewarn you as to these things, as I warned before, that those doing such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24But those of Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with the passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit we should walk in step in the Spirit. 26We should not become boastful [Gk. vainglorious], challenging one another, envying one another.
6. Brothers, even if a man be overtaken by any falling by the way, you, the spiritual ones, mend such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself that you not also be tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one test his own work, and then to himself alone he will have the ground of boasting and not to another. 5For each one will bear his own load. 6But let the one being taught [orally] the word share with the one teaching in all good things. 7Do not be led astray. God is not mocked. For what a man might sow, this he will also reap. 8For the one sowing to his flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one sowing to the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9But let us not be weary in doing the good, for in due time we will reap if not giving up. 10So then as we have opportunity, we should work the good to all, but especially to those of the household of the faith.
11See with how large letters I have written to you in my own hand. 12As many as want to make a fair show in flesh, these compel you to be circumcised only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13For not even those being circumcised themselves keep the law, but they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14But let it not be for me to boast if not in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. 15For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16For as many as will walk in step by this rule, peace to them, and mercy, and to the Israel of God.
17For the rest, let no one give me troubles, for I bear the marks of Jesus in my body.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Copyright © 2022 by Tom Adcox.