Galatians

Shaliah New Testament Translation

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Commentary | Interlinear | English

Galatians 1

(1) Paul, an apostle — not from men nor through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — (2) and all the brothers with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: (3) grace and peace to you from God our Father and the lord Jesus Christ, (4) who gave himself for our sins, so that he might rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (5) to whom be the glory into the ages of the ages. Amen.

(6) I marvel that you are so quickly being removed from the one who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel — (7) which is not another; except that there are some who are disturbing you and wishing to pervert the gospel of the Christ. (8) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim a gospel to you contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed. (9) As we have said before, so now again I say: if anyone proclaims a gospel to you contrary to what you received, let him be accursed. (10) For am I now persuading men, or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I would not be a slave of Christ.

(11) For I make known to you, brothers, that the gospel which was proclaimed by me is not according to man; (12) for neither did I receive it from a man, nor was I taught it, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (13) For you heard of my manner of life formerly in Judaism, that I was persecuting the assembly of God beyond measure and was destroying it; (14) and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my race, being more exceedingly a zealot for the traditions of my fathers. (15) But when God — the one who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me through His grace — was pleased (16) to reveal His son in me, so that I might proclaim him among the nations, immediately I did not consult 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 again I returned to Damascus. (18) Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and I remained with him fifteen days. (19) But I saw none of the other apostles, except James, the brother of the lord. (20) And the things I write to you — behold, before God — I do not lie. (21) Then I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. (22) But I was unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea that are in Christ; (23) only they were hearing: "The one who formerly persecuted us now proclaims the faith which he formerly destroyed." (24) And they were glorifying God in me.

Galatians 2

(1) Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, having also taken Titus along. (2) But I went up according to a revelation, and I set before them the gospel that I proclaim among the nations — but privately before those reputed to be something — lest somehow I was running or had run in vain. (3) But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. (4) But it was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom, which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us — (5) to whom we did not yield in submission, not even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. (6) But from those reputed to be something — what sort they once were makes no difference to me; God does not receive the face of a man — for to me, the reputed ones added nothing. (7) But on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, just as Peter with the circumcision — (8) for the one who worked in Peter for apostleship to the circumcision also worked in me for the nations — (9) and having known the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, the ones reputed to be pillars, gave right hands of fellowship to me and to Barnabas, so that we should go to the nations, and they to the circumcision; (10) only that we should remember the poor — the very thing I also was eager to do.

(11) But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. (12) For before certain ones came from James, he was eating with the nations; but when they came, he was drawing back and separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision. (13) And the rest of the Judeans also joined in hypocrisy with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. (14) But when I saw that they were not walking straight according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, being a Judean, live in a Gentile manner and not in a Jewish manner, how do you compel the nations to judaize?"

(15) We, by nature Judeans, and not sinners from the nations, (16) knowing that a man is not justified from works of law, except through faith of Jesus Christ — even we believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified from faith of Christ and not from works of law, because from works of law no flesh will be justified. (17) But if, seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? May it not become so! (18) For if I build again the things I destroyed, I show myself to be a transgressor. (19) For I, through law, died to law, so that I might live to God. I have been co-crucified with Christ; (20) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in flesh, I live in faith — the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (21) I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness is through law, then Christ died in vain.

Galatians 3

(1) O foolish Galatians! Who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? (2) This only I wish to learn from you: did you receive the spirit from works of law, or from hearing of faith? (3) Are you so foolish? Having begun in spirit, are you now being completed in flesh? (4) Did you suffer so many things in vain — if indeed also in vain? (5) Therefore the one who supplies the spirit to you and works powers among you — is it from works of law, or from hearing of faith?

(6) Just as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness — (7) you know, then, that those of faith, these are sons of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, having foreseen that God justifies the nations from faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham: "In you all the nations will be blessed." (9) So then, those of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

(10) For as many as are of works of law are under a curse; for it has been written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things having been written in the book of the law, to do them." (11) And that no one is justified before God in law is evident, because "the righteous from faith will live." (12) But the law is not from faith; rather, "the one having done these things will live in them." (13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us — because it has been written: "Cursed is everyone hanging upon a tree" — (14) so that the blessing of Abraham might come to be in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the spirit through the faith.

(15) Brothers, I speak according to man: no one sets aside or adds to a covenant of a man having been ratified. (16) But the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say "and to seeds," as of many, but as of one: "and to your seed," which is Christ. (17) And this I say: a covenant previously ratified by God — the law, having come to be after four hundred and thirty years, does not invalidate it, so as to nullify the promise. (18) For if the inheritance is from law, it is no longer from promise; but to Abraham, through promise, God has graciously given it.

(19) Why then the law? It was added for the sake of transgressions, until the seed might come to whom it had been promised, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. (20) Now the mediator is not of one; but God is one. (21) Is the law then against the promises of God? May it not become so! For if a law was given that was able to make alive, righteousness would really be from law. (22) But the scripture shut up all things together under sin, so that the promise from faith of Jesus Christ might be given to the ones who believe.

(23) But before the faith came, we were guarded under law, being shut up together into the faith being about to be revealed. (24) So then, the law has become our custodian into Christ, so that we might be justified from faith. (25) But the faith having come, we are no longer under a custodian. (26) For you are all sons of God through the faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is not Judean nor Greek; there is not slave nor free; there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if you are of Christ, consequently you are seed of Abraham, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 4

(1) But I say: for as long a time as the heir is an infant, he differs nothing from a slave, being lord of all; (2) but he is under guardians and stewards until the appointed time of the father. (3) So also we, when we were infants, were enslaved under the elements of the world. (4) But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under law, (5) so that he might redeem the ones under law, so that we might receive the adoption. (6) And because you are sons, God sent forth the spirit of His son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" (7) So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, also an heir through God.

(8) But then, indeed, not having known God, you served the ones by nature not being gods; (9) but now, having known God — rather, having been known by God — how do you turn back again to the weak and poor elements, to which you wish to be enslaved all over again? (10) You are observing days and months and seasons and years! (11) I fear for you, lest somehow I have labored among you in vain.

(12) Become as I, because I also became as you, brothers; I beg you. You wronged me in nothing. (13) But you know that through weakness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel to you the former time, (14) and you did not despise nor spit out the trial my flesh brought you; but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. (15) Where then is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, having gouged out your eyes, you would have given them to me. (16) So then, have I become your enemy by speaking truth to you? (17) They are zealous for you, not well; but they wish to shut you out, so that you might be zealous for them. (18) But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only in my being present with you. (19) My children, whom again I am in labor until Christ might be formed in you — (20) but I was wishing to be present with you now and to change my voice, because I am perplexed about you.

(21) Tell me, you who wish to be under law: do you not hear the law? (22) For it has been written that Abraham had two sons — one from the slave-woman and one from the free-woman. (23) But the one from the slave-woman has been born according to flesh, but the one from the free-woman through promise. (24) These things are being allegorized; for these are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai bearing into slavery, which is Hagar. (25) But Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she serves as a slave with her children. (26) But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother. (27) For it has been written: "Rejoice, barren one, the one not bearing; break forth and cry out, the one not laboring; because many are the children of the desolate, more than of the one who has the husband." (28) But you, brothers, are children of promise according to Isaac. (29) But just as then the one having been born according to flesh persecuted the one according to spirit, so also now. (30) But what does the scripture say? "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) Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave-woman but of the free-woman.

Galatians 5

(1) For freedom Christ freed us. Stand, therefore, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of slavery. (2) Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you are circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. (3) And I testify again to every man being circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4) You who are justified in law have been nullified from Christ; you have fallen out of grace. (5) For we, by spirit, from faith, eagerly await the hope of righteousness. (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision has any power, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

(7) You were running well. Who cut you in, so that you do not obey the truth? (8) This persuasion is not from the one who calls you. (9) A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (10) I am confident about you in the lord that you will think nothing else; but the one disturbing you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. (11) But I, brothers, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Then the stumbling-block of the cross has been nullified. (12) Would that the ones upsetting you would even cut themselves off!

(13) For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not use the freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through the love. (14) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (15) But if you bite and devour one another, watch that you are not consumed by one another.

(16) But I say: walk by spirit, and you will not fulfill desire of flesh. (17) For the flesh desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; for these are opposed to one another, so that you do not do whatever you wish. (18) But if you are led by spirit, you are not under law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, rages, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, (21) envies, drunkennesses, carousings, and the things like these — which I foretell to you, just as I said before: the ones doing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (24) But those of Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with the passions and the desires. (25) If we live by spirit, by spirit also let us walk in line. (26) Let us not become conceited, challenging one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6

(1) Brothers, if even a man is overtaken in some trespass, you, the spiritual ones, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, watching yourself, lest you also be tempted. (2) Bear one another's burdens, and thus you will fulfill the law of the Christ. (3) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives his own mind. (4) But let each one test his own work, and then he will have the boasting in himself alone, and not in the other. (5) For each one will bear his own load. (6) But let the one being instructed in the word share with the one instructing him in all good things. (7) Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. (8) Because the one sowing into his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh; but the one sowing into the spirit will reap age-lasting life from the spirit. (9) But let us not lose heart doing the good; for at the proper time we will reap, not growing weary. (10) So then, as we have opportunity, let us work the good toward all, but especially toward the household-members of the faith.

(11) See with how large letters I wrote to you with my own hand! (12) As many as wish to make a good showing in flesh — these compel you to be circumcised, only so that they may not be persecuted for the cross of the Christ. (13) For not even the ones being circumcised keep the law themselves; but they wish you to be circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh. (14) But may it not become so — for me to boast, except in the cross of our lord Jesus Christ, through whom the cosmos has been crucified to me, and I to the cosmos. (15) For neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (16) And as many as will walk in line by this rule — peace upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (17) From now on, let no one provide troubles to me; for I bear the marks of Jesus in my body. (18) The grace of our lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.