Chapter One
Paul, an apostle, not from men nor by means of men but by means of Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from the dead, and all the brethren with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, so that he might deliver us out of the present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory for ever and ever in truth.
I am amazed that you are so quickly being switched over from him who called you in Christ’s grace, to a different gospel, which isn’t another but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the joyful news of Christ. But even if we or an angel out of heaven announce joyful news to you contrary to what we have announced to you let him be accursed. As we’ve said before and I’m saying again now: if anyone announces joyful news to you contrary to what you have received, let him be accursed. For am I now persuading men or God, or am I looking to please men? For if I were still pleasing men I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
But I’m making known to you brethren that the joyful news which was announced by me isn’t according to man. For I neither received from man nor was I taught it but rather by means of a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you heard of my behaviour at one time in Judaism, how that I was persecuting God’s assembly very much and was laying it waste, and I was going on in Judaism above many contemporaries in my own nation, being extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me so that I should preach him as the joyful news to the Gentiles, at once I conferred not with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to make Peter’s acquaintance, and I stayed with him fifteen days, but I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James the brother of the Lord. And look, the things I’m writing to you, before God I’m not lying. Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia, but I was unknown personally to the assemblies of Judaea which are in Christ; they had only heard that he who persecuted at one time is now preaching the joyful news - the faith which he had once laid waste - and they glorified God in me.
Chapter Two
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus with me too, but I went up according to a revelation and laid before them the joyful news which I am preaching among the Gentiles, but privately to those of repute lest somehow I should have run or be running in vain. But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was forced to be circumcised. Whereby false brethren were brought in secretly who came in surreptitiously to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into servitude; to whom not even for an hour did we give place in submission so that the truth of the joyful news might continue with you.
But from those reputed to be something (what they were makes no difference to me - God doesn’t accept a man’s appearance) for to me those of repute added nothing to me, but on the contrary, having seen that I have been with the joyful news for the uncircumcision, even as Peter for the circumcision, (for he who worked in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcision worked in me even towards the Gentiles), and having known the grace which was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship so that we were for the Gentiles and they for the circumcision, only so that we should remember the poor which thing I was very careful to do.
But when Peter came to Antioch I withstood him to his face because he was to be blamed: because before some came from James he was eating with the Gentiles, but when they came he drew back and separated himself, being afraid of those of the circumcision; and the rest of the Jews joined him in the dissembling too so that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.
But when I saw that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the joyful news, I said to Peter in front of everybody, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not as a Jew, why do you force the Gentiles to behave like Jews?” We, Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, know that a man isn’t justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by works of the law. But if seeking to be justified in Christ we’re also found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it not be so! For if I build again these things I’d destroyed I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law have died to the law, so that I may live to God. I’ve been crucified with Christ yet I live, but it’s no longer me but Christ living in me, and what I now live in the flesh I live in the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me. I don’t set aside the grace of God: for if righteousness is by means of the law then Christ has died for nothing.
Chapter Three
Oh you silly Galatians! Who has bewitched you so that you don’t obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ crucified was plainly set out among you? I only want to learn this from you: do you receive the Spirit by works of law or by the hearing of faith? Are you so silly? Having begun in the Spirit are you now being fulfilled in the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain? If indeed it’s in vain. So he who supplies the Spirit to you and performs powerful works among you, is it by works of the law or by the hearing of faith? - Even as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness, know then that they that are of faith these are Abraham’s sons! And the scripture foreseeing that God justifies the Gentiles by faith, announced previously the joyful news to Abraham: “In you all the nations will be blessed”. So that those of faith are being blessed with believing Abraham.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it has been written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things written in the book of the law to do them.” But that no one is just with God by virtue of the law is evident because “The just will live by faith”, and the law is not by faith but the man who did these things will live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us - for it has been written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a piece of wood” - so that to the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham might come in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit by means of faith.
Brethren - I’m speaking as a man - even of man no one sets aside or adds to a confirmed agreement. Now to Abraham the promises were spoken and to his seed: it doesn’t say “and to seeds” - as of many - but as of one. “And to your seed” - which is Christ. Now I’m saying this: the covenant which was confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doesn’t disannul so as to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is from the law it’s no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. What then was the law for? It was added because of transgressions until the seed should have come to whom the promise had been made, having been ordained through angels at the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not of one, but God is one.
So is the law against the promises of God? Let it not be so! For if a law had been given which was able to make alive, righteousness would indeed have been by the law, but the scripture has shut up everything under sin so that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up from the faith about to be revealed. So that the law has been our tutor up until Christ, so that we might be justified by faith.
But faith having come we are no longer under a tutor, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptised into Christ, you have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, servant nor free, neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus - and if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
Chapter Four
Now I’m saying that as long as the heir is an infant, he differs nothing from a servant despite being lord of all, but he is under guardians and stewards until the time previously appointed by the father. So also we, when we were infants were held in bondage under the elements of the world, but when the fullness of the time had come God sent out his Son, come out of a woman, come under the law, so that he might redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons.
But because you’re sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying, “Abba, Father!” So you’re no longer a servant but a son, and if a son an heir too of God, by means of Christ. But then indeed, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods, but now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how are you turning again to the weak and beggarly elements to which you want to be in bondage again? You observe days and months and times and years. I’m afraid for you in case perhaps I’ve laboured in vain to you.
I implore you brethren, be as I am, for I too was like you: you’ve wronged me in nothing. And you know that in weakness of flesh I announced the joyful news to you at first, and you didn’t despise nor reject with contempt my temptation in my flesh, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus! In what then was your blessedness? For I testify to you that if possible, having plucked your eyes out, you would have given them to me. So have I become your enemy for telling you the truth?
They’re jealous over you, not rightly, but they want to exclude us so that you may be jealous over them. And it’s right to be jealous of the right, always and not only when I’m present with you. My little children with whom I’m in labour again until Christ will have been formed in you, I want to be present with you now and to change my tone for I’m perplexed about you!
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? For it’s been written that Abraham had two sons: one from the maid-servant and one from the free-woman, but he from the maid-servant had been born according to the flesh, and he of the free-woman by means of the promise. Which things are made an allegory: for these are the two covenants - one from Mount Sinai producing bondage which is Agar. For Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, and she is in bondage with her children - but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of all of us.
For it’s been written, “Rejoice barren one that doesn’t bear, break out and cry you who are not in labour, because the children of the desolate are many more than of her who has the husband!” And we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as then he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him born according to the Spirit, so too now. But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the maid-servant and her son: for the maid-servant’s son will definitely not inherit with the son of the free-woman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of the maid-servant but of the free-woman!
Chapter Five
So stand fast in the freedom with which Christ has made us free and don’t be held again in a yoke of bondage. Look, I, Paul, am saying to you that if you’re circumcised Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man being circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Whoever is being justified by the law is deprived of all effect from Christ: you have fallen from grace! For we, by the Spirit, are waiting for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any force but rather faith working through love. You were running well, who hindered you that you should not obey the truth? The persuasion is not from him who is calling you. A little yeast leavens the whole lump! I’m persuaded as to you in the Lord that you will have no other mind, and the one troubling you will undergo judgement whoever he may be.
But brethren if I am proclaiming circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Then the offence of the cross will have been removed. I would that those who throw you into confusion would cut themselves off! For you brethren were called to freedom, only not freedom as an excuse for the flesh, but serve one another by means of love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one saying, “Love your neighbour like yourself.” But if you bite and eat each other watch out that you’re not consumed by each other!
But I’m saying: walk in the Spirit and you won’t fulfil the desire of the flesh at all! For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are opposed to each other so that you don’t do the things that you want to. But if you’re led by the Spirit you’re not under law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious - that is: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, arguments, divisions, sects, envy, murder, drunkenness, revels and things like these, about which I’m warning you even as I’ve said before that the ones doing such things won’t inherit God’s kingdom! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self control - against such things there is no law! But the ones of Christ have crucified the flesh together with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit we should also walk by the Spirit. We shouldn’t become conceited provoking one another, envying one another.
Chapter Six
Brethren, if a person is caught in some offence, you, the spiritual ones, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness considering yourself lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he’s something, being nothing, he’s deceiving himself. But let each one prove his own work and then he’ll have the boasting to himself and not in another. For each one will bear his own burden.
Let him who is taught in the word share with him who teaches, in all good things. Don’t be misled, God isn’t mocked: for whatever a man sows, that too he’ll reap! For he who sows to his own flesh, from the flesh he’ll reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not lose heart in well doing for in due time we’ll reap if we don’t faint. So then as we have opportunity let us do good to everyone, especially to those of the household of faith.
You see in what large letters I’ve written to you in my hand. As many as want to have a fair show in the flesh, these are urging you to be circumcised, only so that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For neither do they who are circumcised themselves keep the law, but want you to be circumcised so that they might boast in your flesh. But may it not be for me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom to me the world has been crucified, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is of any force, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation! And as many as will walk by this rule, peace on them and mercy, and on the Israel of God!
For the rest let no one give me trouble, for I bear the stigmata of the Lord Jesus in my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with your spirit, brethren, in truth.
To the Galatians, written from Rome.
This translation,
from the Greek Text used for the ‘Authorized’ or ‘King James’ Version
Copyright © David Lawrie 1998
