Gal 4-6 | ESV | STEP | I mean that the heir , as long as he is a child , is no different from a slave , though he is the owner of everything ,

1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, ^{▼▼Greek bondservant; also verse 7} though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, ^bwere enslaved to the elementary principles ^{▼▼Or elemental spirits; also verse 9} of the world. 4 But ^dwhen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^eborn ^fof woman, born ^gunder the law, 5 ^hto redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ⁱadoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent ^jthe 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 ^kan heir through God.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8 Formerly, when you ^ldid not know God, you ^mwere enslaved to those that by nature ⁿare not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^oto be known by God, ^phow can you turn back again to ^qthe weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 ^rYou observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid ^sI may have labored over you in vain.

12 Brothers, ^{▼▼Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31} ^uI entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ^vYou did me no wrong. 13 You know it was ^wbecause of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^xat first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^yas an angel of God, ^zas Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by ^aatelling you the truth? ^{▼▼Or by dealing truthfully with you} 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and ^acnot only when I am present with you, 19 ^admy little children, ^aefor whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^afis formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^agone by a slave woman and ^ahone by a free woman. 23 But ^aithe son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^ajthe son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^akcovenants. ^alOne is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; ^{▼▼Some manuscripts For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia} she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But ^anthe Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,

^ao“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts we} brothers, ^aqlike Isaac, ^arare children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^aspersecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^atso also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? ^au“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, brothers, we are not children of the slave but ^avof the free woman.

Galatians 5

Christ Has Set Us Free

1 For ^awfreedom Christ has ^axset us free; ^aystand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^aza yoke of ^baslavery.

2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^bbif you accept circumcision, ^bcChrist will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^bdhe is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are ^besevered from Christ, ^bfyou who would be justified ^{▼▼Or counted righteous} by the law; ^bhyou have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^biwait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus ^bjneither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^bkonly faith working through love.

7 ^blYou were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^bmthe truth? 8 This persuasion is not from ^bnhim who calls you. 9 ^boA little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 ^bpI have confidence in the Lord that you will ^bqtake no other view, and ^brthe one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13} still preach ^{▼▼Greek proclaim} circumcision, ^buwhy am I still being persecuted? In that case ^bvthe offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish ^bwthose who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^bxOnly do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^byserve one another. 14 For ^bzthe whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^ca“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you ^cbbite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

16 But I say, ^ccwalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^cdthe desires of the flesh. 17 For ^cethe 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, ^cfto keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are ^cgled by the Spirit, ^chyou are not under the law. 19 Now ^cithe works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^cjdivisions, 21 envy, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts add murder} drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^clthose who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But ^cmthe fruit of the Spirit is ^cnlove, joy, peace, patience, ^cokindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 ^cpgentleness, ^cqself-control; ^cragainst such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^cshave crucified the flesh with its ^ctpassions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, ^culet us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 ^cvLet us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6

Bear One Another’s Burdens

1 Brothers, ^{▼▼Or Brothers and sisters; also verse 18} ^cxif anyone is caught in any transgression, ^cyyou who are spiritual should restore him in ^cza spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 ^daBear one another’s burdens, and ^dbso fulfill ^dcthe law of Christ. 3 For ^ddif anyone thinks he is something, ^dewhen he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one ^dftest his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For ^dgeach will have to bear his own load.

6 ^dhLet the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 ^diDo not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^djwhatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For ^dkthe one who sows to his own flesh ^dlwill from the flesh reap corruption, but ^dmthe one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And ^dnlet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^doif we do not give up. 10 So then, ^dpas we have opportunity, let us ^dqdo good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^drof the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you ^dswith my own hand. 12 ^dtIt is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^duwho would force you to be circumcised, and only ^dvin order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For 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. 14 But far be it from me to boast ^dwexcept in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which ^{▼▼Or through whom} the world ^dyhas been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For ^dzneither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^eaa new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, ^ebpeace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^ecthe Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 ^edThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^eewith your spirit, brothers. Amen.