Rom 11:13, Gal | ESV | STEP | Now I am speaking to you Gentiles . Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles , I magnify my ministry

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was addressed to a group of churches in Galatia, a region of present-day Turkey. Paul had preached the gospel in these churches. He wrote to counter those who taught that Christians must be circumcised in order to be accepted by God. Paul began with a defense of his apostolic authority (chs. 1–2), then made it clear that all believers, Jew and Gentile alike, enjoy complete salvation in Christ (chs. 3–4). In chapters 5–6 Paul showed how the gospel of grace leads to true freedom and godly living. Perhaps the central message of Galatians is “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (2:16). Paul wrote this letter sometime between a.d. 48 and 55.

Galatians 1

Greeting

1 Paul, an ^bapostle— ^cnot from men nor through man, but ^dthrough Jesus Christ and God the Father, ^ewho raised him from the dead— 2 and all ^fthe brothers ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church; also verse 11} who are with me,

To ^hthe churches of Galatia:

3 ⁱGrace to you and peace ^jfrom God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 ^kwho gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present ^levil age, according to the will of ^mour God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are ⁿso quickly deserting ^ohim who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to ^pa different gospel— 7 ^qnot that there is another one, but ^rthere are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or ^san angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, ^tlet him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, ^ulet him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying ^vto please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a ^wservant ^{▼▼Or slave; Greek bondservant} of Christ.

Paul Called by God

11 For ^yI would have you know, brothers, that ^zthe gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. ^{▼▼Greek not according to man} 12 ^abFor I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it ^acthrough a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of ^admy former life in Judaism, how ^aeI persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely ^afzealous was I for ^agthe traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he ^ahwho had set me apart ^aibefore I was born, ^{▼▼Greek set me apart from my mother’s womb} and who ^akcalled me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to ^{▼▼Greek in} me, in order ^amthat I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; ^{▼▼Greek with flesh and blood} 17 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.

18 Then ^aoafter three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James ^apthe Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, ^aqbefore God, I do not lie!) 21 ^arThen I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to ^asthe churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Galatians 2

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those ^atwho seemed influential) the gospel that ^auI proclaim among the Gentiles, ^avin order to make sure I was not running or had not ^awrun in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, ^axwas not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 ^ayYet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who ^azslipped in to spy out ^baour freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, ^bbso that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that ^bcthe truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those ^bdwho seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; ^beGod shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential ^bfadded nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been ^bgentrusted with ^bhthe gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, ^biwho seemed to be ^bjpillars, perceived the ^bkgrace that was given to me, they ^blgave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, ^bmthe very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter

11 But ^bnwhen Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him ^boto his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, ^bphe was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing ^bqthe circumcision party. ^{▼▼Or fearing those of the circumcision} 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their ^bsconduct was not in step with ^btthe truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas ^bubefore them all, “If you, though a Jew, ^bvlive like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Justified by Faith

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not ^bwGentile sinners; 16 yet we know that ^bxa person is not justified ^{▼▼Or counted righteous (three times in verse 16); also verse 17} by works of the law ^bzbut through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, ^cabecause by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found ^cbto be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I ^ccdied to the law, so that I might ^cdlive to God. 20 I have been ^cecrucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives ^cfin me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, ^cgwho loved me and ^chgave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^ciif righteousness ^{▼▼Or justification} were through the law, ^ckthen Christ died for no purpose.

Galatians 3

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? ^clIt was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly ^cmportrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: ^cnDid you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by ^cohearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? ^cpHaving begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by ^{▼▼Or now ending with} the flesh? 4 ^crDid you suffer ^{▼▼Or experience} so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and ^ctworks miracles among you do so ^cuby works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as ^cvAbraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

7 Know then that it is ^cwthose of faith who are ^cxthe sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that ^cyGod would justify ^{▼▼Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24} the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ^da“In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

10 For all who rely on works of the law are ^dbunder a curse; for it is written, ^dc“Cursed be everyone who does not ^ddabide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that ^deno one is justified before God by the law, for ^df“The righteous shall live by faith.” ^{▼▼Or The one who by faith is righteous will live} 12 But the law is not of faith, rather ^dh“The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ ^diredeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ^dj“Cursed is everyone who is hanged ^dkon a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^dlcome to the Gentiles, so that ^dmwe might receive ^dnthe promised Spirit ^{▼▼Greek receive the promise of the Spirit} through faith.

The Law and the Promise

15 ^dpTo give a human example, brothers: ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} ^dreven with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now ^dsthe promises were made ^dtto Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, ^du“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came ^dv430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as ^dwto make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but ^dxGod gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19 Why then the law? ^dyIt was added because of transgressions, ^dzuntil the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ^eaput in place through angels ^ebby an intermediary. 20 Now ^ecan intermediary implies more than one, but ^edGod is one.

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For ^eeif a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture ^efimprisoned everything under sin, so that ^egthe promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given ^ehto those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, ^eiimprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, ^ejthe law was our ^ekguardian until Christ came, ^elin order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus ^emyou are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as ^enwere baptized ^eointo Christ have ^epput on Christ. 28 ^eqThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave ^{▼▼Greek bondservant} nor free, ^esthere is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And ^etif you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, ^euheirs according to promise.

Galatians 4

Sons and Heirs

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, ^ewwere enslaved to the elementary principles ^{▼▼Or elemental spirits; also verse 9} of the world. 4 But ^eywhen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^ezborn ^faof woman, born ^fbunder the law, 5 ^fcto redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ^fdadoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent ^fethe 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 ^ffan heir through God.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8 Formerly, when you ^fgdid not know God, you ^fhwere enslaved to those that by nature ^fiare not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^fjto be known by God, ^fkhow can you turn back again to ^flthe weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 ^fmYou observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid ^fnI may have labored over you in vain.

12 Brothers, ^{▼▼Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31} ^fpI entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ^fqYou did me no wrong. 13 You know it was ^frbecause of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^fsat first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^ftas an angel of God, ^fuas 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 ^fvtelling 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 ^fxnot only when I am present with you, 19 ^fymy little children, ^fzfor whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^gais 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, ^gbone by a slave woman and ^gcone by a free woman. 23 But ^gdthe son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^gethe son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^gfcovenants. ^ggOne 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 ^githe Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,

^gj“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, ^gllike Isaac, ^gmare children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^gnpersecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^goso also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? ^gp“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 ^gqof the free woman.

Galatians 5

Christ Has Set Us Free

1 For ^grfreedom Christ has ^gsset us free; ^gtstand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^gua yoke of ^gvslavery.

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

7 ^hgYou were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^hhthe truth? 8 This persuasion is not from ^hihim who calls you. 9 ^hjA little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 ^hkI have confidence in the Lord that you will ^hltake no other view, and ^hmthe 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, ^hpwhy am I still being persecuted? In that case ^hqthe offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish ^hrthose who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

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

Keep in Step with the Spirit

16 But I say, ^hxwalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^hythe desires of the flesh. 17 For ^hzthe 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, ^iato keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are ^ibled by the Spirit, ^icyou are not under the law. 19 Now ^idthe works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^iedivisions, 21 envy, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts add murder} drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^igthose who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But ^ihthe fruit of the Spirit is ⁱⁱlove, joy, peace, patience, ^ijkindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 ^ikgentleness, ^ilself-control; ^imagainst such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus ⁱⁿhave crucified the flesh with its ^iopassions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, ^iplet us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 ^iqLet 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} ^isif anyone is caught in any transgression, ^ityou who are spiritual should restore him in ^iua spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 ^ivBear one another’s burdens, and ^iwso fulfill ^ixthe law of Christ. 3 For ^iyif anyone thinks he is something, ^izwhen he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one ^jatest his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For ^jbeach will have to bear his own load.

6 ^jcLet the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 ^jdDo not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^jewhatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For ^jfthe one who sows to his own flesh ^jgwill from the flesh reap corruption, but ^jhthe one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And ^jilet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^jjif we do not give up. 10 So then, ^jkas we have opportunity, let us ^jldo good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^jmof the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you ^jnwith my own hand. 12 ^joIt is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^jpwho would force you to be circumcised, and only ^jqin 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 ^jrexcept in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which ^{▼▼Or through whom} the world ^jthas been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For ^juneither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^jva new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, ^jwpeace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^jxthe Israel of God.

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

18 ^jyThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^jzwith your spirit, brothers. Amen.