Galatians 5-6

English Standard Version

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For ^(A)freedom Christ has ^(B)set us free; ^(C)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(D)a yoke of ^(E)slavery.

²Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(F)if you accept circumcision, ^(G)Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^(H)he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴You are ^(I)severed from Christ, ^(J)you who would be justified^[a] by the law; ^(K)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(L)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶For in Christ Jesus ^(M)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^(N)only faith working through love.

⁷^(O)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(P)the truth? ⁸This persuasion is not from ^(Q)him who calls you. ⁹^(R)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰^(S)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(T)take no other view, and ^(U)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹But if I, brothers,^[b] still preach^[c] circumcision, ^(V)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(W)the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹²I wish ^(X)those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^(Y)Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^(Z)serve one another. ¹⁴For ^(AA)the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^(AB)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵But if you ^(AC)bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶But I say, ^(AD)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(AE)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For ^(AF)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, ^(AG)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are ^(AH)led by the Spirit, ^(AI)you are not under the law. ¹⁹Now ^(AJ)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(AK)divisions, ²¹envy,^[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(AL)those who do^[e] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But ^(AM)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(AN)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(AO)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³^(AP)gentleness, ^(AQ)self-control; ^(AR)against such things there is no law. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(AS)have crucified the flesh with its ^(AT)passions and desires.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, ^(AU)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶^(AV)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another's Burdens

6 Brothers,^[f] ^(AW)if anyone is caught in any transgression, ^(AX)you who are spiritual should restore him in ^(AY)a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ²^(AZ)Bear one another's burdens, and ^(BA)so fulfill ^(BB)the law of Christ. ³For ^(BC)if anyone thinks he is something, ^(BD)when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴But let each one ^(BE)test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵For ^(BF)each will have to bear his own load.

⁶^(BG)Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷^(BH)Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^(BI)whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸For ^(BJ)the one who sows to his own flesh ^(BK)will from the flesh reap corruption, but ^(BL)the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹And ^(BM)let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^(BN)if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, ^(BO)as we have opportunity, let us ^(BP)do good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^(BQ)of the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

¹¹See with what large letters I am writing to you ^(BR)with my own hand. ¹²^(BS)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(BT)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(BU)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴But far be it from me to boast ^(BV)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[g] the world ^(BW)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For ^(BX)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^(BY)a new creation. ¹⁶And as for all who walk by this rule, ^(BZ)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^(CA)the Israel of God.