Christ Set Us Free, So Stand Firm In Faith. If You Pursue The Law, Christ Will Not Profit You
5 Christ set us free for freedom. Therefore be standing-firm, and do not again be held-in[a] a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold— I, Paul, say to you that if you receive-circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man receiving-circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole Law. 4 You who are [trying to be] declared-righteous by the Law were alienated[b] from Christ. You fell-from grace[c]. 5 For by [d] the Spirit, by faith, we are eagerly-awaiting the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision can-do[e] anything, but faith working[f] through love.
Who Hindered You From Believing The Truth? He Will Bear His Judgment
7 You were running well. Who hindered[g] you that you should not be persuaded[h] by the truth? 8 The persuasion is not from the One calling you! 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I am persuaded[i] with reference to you in the Lord that you will think no other thing. But the one disturbing you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11 But I, brothers, if I am still proclaiming circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Then the offense of [j] the cross has been abolished. 12 O-that[k] the ones upsetting you would indeed cut-themselves-off [l]!
Use Your Freedom To Serve One Another In Love, Not As an Opportunity For The Flesh
13 For you were called for freedom, brothers, only do not use the freedom for an opportunity for the flesh, but be serving one another through love. 14 For the whole Law has been fulfilled in one saying— in the “You shall love your neighbor as yourself ” [Lev 19:18]. 15 But if you are biting and devouring one another, watch out that you may not be consumed by one another!
Walk By The Spirit And You Will Not Fulfill The Flesh’s Desires Or Be Under The Law
16 And I say— be walking by the Spirit and you will never[m] fulfill[n] the desire of [o] the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are contrary[p] to one another in-order-that you might not be doing these[q] things which you may be wanting. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Those Who Practice The Works of The Flesh Will Not Inherit God’s Kingdom
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are sexual-immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, rages[r], selfish-interests, dissentions, factions, 21 envy[s], drunkenness, revelries, and the things like these— as to which things I tell you beforehand, just as I said-before, that the ones practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Those In Christ Crucified The Flesh And Bear The Fruit of Living By The Spirit
22 But the fruit of [t] the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And the ones of [u] Christ Jesus crucified the flesh, with its passions and desires. 25 If we are living by the Spirit, let us also be walking-in-line[v] with the Spirit.
Don’t Be Conceited. Humbly Care For One Another And You Will Fulfill Christ’s Law
26 Let us not become conceited[w] ones, challenging[x] one another, envying one another.
Footnotes
- Galatians 5:1 Or, caught-in, subject-to.
- Galatians 5:4 Or, separated, severed, cut off. Christ is of no value to people seeking to relate to God based on works.
- Galatians 5:4 Grace and works are mutually-exclusive paths.
- Galatians 5:5 Or, in.
- Galatians 5:6 Or, avails; has power for, has validity for.
- Galatians 5:6 Or, being in operation, being at work.
- Galatians 5:7 Or, cut-in-on.
- Galatians 5:7 Or, be obeying.
- Galatians 5:10 Or, confident.
- Galatians 5:11 That is, consisting of.
- Galatians 5:12 Or, Would-that.
- Galatians 5:12 That is, castrate themselves (a sarcastic response to their desire for circumcision); or, cut themselves off from the congregation.
- Galatians 5:16 Or, by no means.
- Galatians 5:16 Or, finish, bring to completion.
- Galatians 5:16 That is, originating in.
- Galatians 5:17 Or, opposed. But not as equals, for before Christ the flesh was dominant; after, the Spirit leads us into conformity to Him.
- Galatians 5:17 That is, these desires of the flesh. The Spirit prevents us from living according to the flesh, proving the ‘never’ of v 16. Compare 1 Jn 3:9.
- Galatians 5:20 Or, [fits of] rage.
- Galatians 5:21 Or, [acts of] envy. It is plural, as is the next word.
- Galatians 5:22 That is, produced by.
- Galatians 5:24 That is, belonging to.
- Galatians 5:25 That is, living in conformity to.
- Galatians 5:26 This is defined by 6:3.
- Galatians 5:26 Or, provoking, calling out (to fight).