Add parallel Print Page Options

11 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. 12 I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.[b]

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 5:11 Greek Brothers; similarly in 5:13.
  2. 5:12 Or castrate themselves, or cut themselves off from you; Greek reads cut themselves off.

11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?(A) In that case the offense(B) of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators,(C) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Life by the Spirit

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(D) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(E) rather, serve one another(F) humbly in love.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.