Galatians

Agreeing with God

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Galatians 1

Greetings

¹I appreciate Paul, Your apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and You, God our Father, Who raised Jesus from the dead). ²I am thankful for all the brothers who were with Paul, who wrote to the assemblies of Galatia and to me.

³I am also grateful for the grace and peace which comes from You, God our Father, and from Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴Who gave Himself for my sins. I cannot adequately express my appreciation for Jesus delivering me out of this present evil age, according to Your will, O our God and Father—⁵to You be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Another Gospel

⁶Like Paul I also marvel that Christians are so quickly deserting You Who called us in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”; ⁷I agree that there is not another “good news.” Only I observe that there are some who trouble us, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.  ⁸But I agree that even though Paul, or an angel from heaven, should preach to me any “good news” other than that which they have preached, let him be cursed. ⁹As Paul has said before, so I now say again: if any person preaches to us any “good news” other than that which we received, let him be cursed.

¹⁰Like Paul I am not seeking the favor of men, but Your favor, O God. I am not striving to please people. For if I were still pleasing people, I would not be the servant of Christ. ¹¹But I make known to You, along with my Christian siblings, concerning the Good News which was preached by Paul, that it is not according to man. ¹²For I agree that neither did Paul receive it from man, nor was he taught it, but it came to him by Your revelation through Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Conversion

¹³For I have heard of Paul’s way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure he persecuted Your assembly, O God, and ravaged it. ¹⁴He advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of his own age among his countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers.

¹⁵But when it was Your good pleasure, O God, Who separated Paul from his mother’s womb, and called him through Your grace, ^[1]6to reveal Your Son in him, that he might preach Jesus among the Gentiles, he did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, ¹⁷nor did he go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him, but he went away into Arabia.

Then he returned to Damascus. ¹⁸Then after three years he went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹But of the other apostles he saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother.

²⁰Now, about the things which Paul wrote for us, behold, before You, O God, I agree that he was not lying. ²¹Then he came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²²He was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in You and in our Christ. ²³I understand that they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴And they glorified You in Paul.

 

Galatians 2

so that they would understand what Paul had been teaching and agree that he was right.

³I understand that they did agree and did not even compel Titus, who was with Paul, being a Greek, to be circumcised. ⁴This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have through Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage; ⁵to whom Paul, Barnabas, and Titus gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with us.

⁶But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it made no difference to Paul; I agree that You, our God, do not show partiality to people)— they, Paul said, who were respected imparted nothing to him, ⁷but to the contrary, when they saw that Paul had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision ⁸(for You Who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed Paul also to the Gentiles); ⁹and when they perceived the grace that was given to Paul, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that Paul and Barnabas should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. ¹⁰They only asked them to remember the poor—which very thing Paul was also zealous to do.

Peter’s Hypocrisy

¹¹But I understand that when Peter came to Antioch, Paul resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.

¹²For before some people came from James, Peter ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

¹³And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

¹⁴But when Paul saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of Your Good News, Paul said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?”

¹⁵Paul and Barnabas were Jews by nature and not Gentile sinners. ¹⁶Yet  I know (like they did) that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I agree that even as we believe in You, we are justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

Law & Faith

^[2]7But if, while I seek to be justified in Christ, I myself also am found to be a sinner, are You a servant of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸For I agree with Paul that if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.

¹⁹For I agree that I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to You, my God. ^[3]0I agree that I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Jesus living in me.

I agree with Paul that the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in Your Son, Who loved me, and gave Himself up for me. ²¹I do not make void Your grace, O God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

 

Galatians 3

completed in the flesh? ⁴Did I suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

⁵You, therefore, Who supply Your Spirit to us, and work miracles among us, do You do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? ⁶Even as Abraham “believed You, O God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” ⁷I know, therefore, that we who are of faith are children of Abraham.

⁸I agree that the Scripture, foreseeing that You would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached Your Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” ⁹So then, I agree that we who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

¹⁰For I agree that as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹Now, that no person is justified by the law before You, O God, is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” ¹²I know that the only way that I can be right in Your sight is by faith.

¹³I agree that Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law, having become a curse for me. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” ¹⁴I agree that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through You. I also agree that I might receive the promise of Your Spirit through faith.

Covenant

¹⁵Father, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it. ¹⁶Now, the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. You do not say, “To seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “To Your seed,” which is Christ.

¹⁷Now, I agree with Paul who said this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by You, O God, in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. ¹⁸For I understand that if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but You have granted it to Abraham by promise.

The Law

¹⁹What then is the law? I agree that this system of law was added to show mankind how guilty we are of breaking Your laws, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of Your mediator, Moses. ²⁰Now, I agree that when You gave Your promise to Abraham, You did it by Yourself alone, without a mediator. ²¹Are Your laws and Your promises against each other? Certainly not! For if Your laws could save me, You would not have provided a different way for me to be free from sin.

²²But I agree that Your Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the way out through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those of us who believe. ²³But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

²⁴So I agree that the law has become my school teacher to bring me to Christ, that I might be justified by faith. ²⁵But now that faith has come, I am no longer under that teacher. ²⁶For we are all Your children, O God, through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷For as many of us as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

²⁸I agree that there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for we are all one in Jesus. ²⁹If we are Yours, then we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise.

 

Galatians 4

Adoption

¹But I agree with Paul, that so long as the heir is a minor, he is no different from a slave, though he is lord of all; ²but is under tutors and managers until the day appointed by the father. ³So I agree that we also, when we were children, were held like slaves under the useless rules of this world.

⁴But when the fullness of the time came, God, You sent out Your Son, born to a woman, born under the law, ⁵that He might redeem us who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. ⁶And because we are children, You sent out the Spirit of Your Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

⁷So I am no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then Your heir, O God, through Christ.

⁸However, at that time, not knowing You, my God, I was a slave to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹But now that I have come to know, You, or rather to be known by You, why do I turn back again to the weak and miserable useless rules, to which I desire to be in bondage all over again?

¹⁰I agree that (like the Galatians Christians) I also observe days, months, seasons, and years. ¹¹Paul was afraid for people like me, that he might have wasted his labor for us. ¹²Paul begged people like me, his Christian siblings, to put ourselves in his shoes as he had put himself in our shoes.

Care for Paul

People like me in Galatia did not do any wrong to Paul ¹³even though it was because of an illness that Paul first preached the gospel to them.  ¹⁴Paul’s illness was a trial to them yet they did not treat Paul with contempt or scorn. They received him as Your angel, O God, even as if it were  Christ Jesus Himself.

¹⁵I agree that Paul enjoyed the blessing.  For he testified to the Galatians that, if possible, they would have plucked out their eyes and given them to him. ¹⁶So then, I agree that he had not become their enemy by telling them the truth.

¹⁷I agree that (like the Galatians) false teachers also zealously seek people like me in no good way. No, they desired to alienate us, that they might seek us. ¹⁸But it is always good to be zealous, provided the cause is good, and not just when leaders like Paul are present with us.

¹⁹Paul’s dear children were the object of his travail until

Christ was formed in them. ²⁰I understand that he wished to be present with them then, and to change his tone, for he was perplexed about them.

Freedom & Bondage

²¹I agree with Paul, who told those that desire to be under the law, to not listen to the law. ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. ²³However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴I believe that these things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

²⁵For I agree that this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. ²⁶But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷For it is written,

“Rejoice, you barren who do not bear.

Break forth and shout, you that do not travail.

For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.”

²⁸Now I affirm, Father, that we, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁹But as then, the person who was born according to the flesh persecuted the person who was born according to the Spirit. It is the same way now.

³⁰However, I agree with what Your Scripture says. “Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”

³¹So I affirm, Father, then that my Christian siblings and I are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.

 

Galatians 5

Liberty

¹I agree to stand firm, therefore, in the liberty by which You through Christ have made me free, and I choose to not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

²Behold, I agree with Paul who told those that received circumcision that Christ will profit them nothing. ³Yes, I also agree with Paul, who testified again to every person who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

⁴I choose to not be alienated from Christ by desiring to be justified by the law. I choose to not be fallen away from grace.

⁵For I, through Your Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶For I agree that in Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

⁷When I am running a good race, I choose to not let others interfere with me that I should not obey the truth. ⁸I know that kind of persuasion is not from You Who called me. ⁹I understand the saying, “A little yeast grows through the whole batch of dough.”

¹⁰I am confidence in You, Lord, that I will think no other way. But anyone who troubles me will pay the penalty, whoever that person may be.

¹¹I agree that if Paul preached circumcision, he would not have been persecuted. Then, the stumbling block of the cross would have been removed. ¹²Like Paul, I wish that those who disturb Christians would cut themselves off. ¹³For I affirm that I have been called for freedom.

Only I agree to not use my freedom for my selfishness, but through love to  serve others.

¹⁴For I agree that the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

¹⁵But I agree that if I bite and ravage other Christians, I will destroy them and me.

¹⁶But I also agree that if I walk by the Spirit I will not fulfill the lust of my flesh. ¹⁷For I understand that my selfinterests are against Your Spirit, and Your Spirit against my compulsions of selfishness; and these two ways of life are antithetical to one another. I agree that I cannot live sometimes one way and other times another way based on how I feel.

Works of the Flesh

¹⁸But I choose to be led by Your Spirit and escape being dominated by the law. ¹⁹Now I agree that the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, ²¹envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which Paul forewarn me, even as he also forewarned others, that if I use my freedom this way I  will not inherit Your Kingdom, O God.

Fruit of the Spirit

²²But I agree and affirm that the fruit of Your Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴I belong to You and have crucified my flesh with its passion to get my own way.

^2[4]I agree that if I live by Your Spirit, I will also walk by Your Spirit. ^2[5]I choose to not become conceited, provoking others, and envying others.

 

Galatians 6

Unity

¹Father, even if a person falls into sin, I choose to be spiritual and to forgivingly restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. I choose to keep my critical comments to myself. ²I choose to reach out to those who are burdened and oppressed, and so fulfill Christ’s law.

³For if I think myself to be to good to help others in need, I badly deceive  myself. ⁴But I choose to validate  my own work, and then I will rejoice in my own work and not compare myself with my neighbor.

life. ⁹I choose to not get tired in doing good, for I agree that I will reap at the right time, if I do not give up and quit.

¹⁰So then, as I have opportunity, I choose to work for the good of all people, and especially toward those who are of the community of faith.

Legalism

 ¹¹I understand that Paul asked all of us to see with what large letters he wrote with his own hand to express the importance of this warning about the legalist.

¹²I agree with Paul that as many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel others to be circumcised. I believe that they do this only because they do not have the courage to be persecuted for the cross of Christ themselves. ¹³I also agree that even those who receive circumcision do not keep the law themselves, but they desire to have others circumcised, that they may boast of their success in winning Christians to their legalism.

¹⁴I choose (like Paul did) to not boast, except in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

¹⁵For I affirm that in Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ¹⁶I agree that as many of us as walk by this rule, peace and mercy will be on us, and on Your Israel.

¹⁷From now on, I do not want to be bothered by legalistic disputes, for with Paul, I also bear marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.

Benediction

¹⁸May grace from our Lord Jesus Christ be with my spirit, Father. Amen.

[1] I understand that then after a period of fourteen years Paul went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with him. ²He went up by revelation, and he laid before them the Good News which he preach among the Gentiles, but privately before the leaders of the church,

[2] Like the foolish Galatians, I agree that I can be bewitched to not obey the truth, before whose eyes Your Jesus Christ was openly set forth among us as crucified?

[3] I just want to learn this for myself. Did I receive Your

Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? ³Am I so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, am I now

[4] For I agree that each of us must take responsibility for  own lives.

[5] But since, I have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, I choose to share with those who taught me. ⁷I choose to not be deceived. God, You are not mocked, for whatever I sow, that I will also reap. ⁸For if I sow to my own selfishness I will from my selfishness reap corruption. But if I sow to Your Spirit I will from Your Spirit reap eternal