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Galatians ESV Wright
Galatians ESV Wright
N.T.Wrights Version
Chapter 1
Pauls Apostleship
v1Paul, an apostle---not from men nor through man, but through Jesus
Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--- v2and all
the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
v3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ, v4who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present
evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, v5to whom be the
glory forever and ever. Amen.
Pauls Astonishment
v6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you
in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--- v7not that
there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to
distort the gospel of Christ. v8But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you,
let him be accursed. v9As we have said before, so now I say again: If
anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received,
let him be accursed.
Pauls Prove His Apostleship & His Gospel through Comparing His Former Life With His Faith Life
v13For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I
persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
v14And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own
age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the
traditions of my fathers. v15But when he who had set me apart
before I was born, and who called me by his grace, v16was
pleased to reveal his Son toe me, in order that I might preach him
among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
v17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles
before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to
Damascus.
13You heard, didn't you, the way I behaved when I was still
within 'Judaism'. I persecuted the church of God violently,
and ravaged it. 14I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my
fellow-Jewish contemporaries; I was extremely zealous for my
ancestral traditions. 15But when God, who set me apart from
my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, was pleased
16to unveil his son in me, so that I might announce the good
news about him among the nations - immediately I did not
confer with flesh and blood. 17Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to
those who were aposdes before me. No; I went away to Arabia,
and afterwards returned to Damascus.
Chapter 2
Pauls Apostleship & Gospel Recognized By The Jerusalem Apostles
v1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. v2I went up because of a
revelation and set before them (though privately before those
who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the
Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run
in vain.
v3But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be
circumcised, though he was a Greek. v4Yet because of false
brothers secretly brought in---who slipped in to spy out our
freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us
into slavery--- v5to them we did not yield in submission even for
a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for
you. v6And from those who seemed to be influential (what they
were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. v7On
the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the
gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with
the gospel to the circumcised v8(for he who worked through
Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also
through me for mine to the Gentiles), v9and when James and
Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace
that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to
Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to
the circumcised. v10Only, they asked us to remember the poor,
the very thing I was eager to do.
3But even the Greek, Titus, who was with me, was not forced to
get circumcised . . .
4but because of some pseudo-family members who had been
secretly smuggled in, who came in on the side to spy on the
freedom which we have in the Messiah, Jesus, so that they
might bring us into slavery; 5and I didn't yield authority to
them, no, not for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel
might be maintained for you. 6However, those who had the
reputation of being Something - what sort of 'thing' they were
makes no difference to me, God shows no partiality - those of
reputation added nothing extra to me. 70n the contrary, they
saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the
uncircumcision, just as Peter had been with the gospel for the
circumcision 8(for the one who gave Peter the power to be an
apostle to the circumcision gave me the power to go to the
Gentiles). They knew, moreover, the grace that had been given to
me. 9So James, Cephas and John, who were reputed to be
'pillars', gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship,
that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
10The only extra thing they asked was that we should
continue to remember the poor
the very thing I was eager to do.
Chapter 3
We Have Received The Promise And The Blessing: By Faith Not By Works of the Law
v1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before
your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
v2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works
of the law or by hearing with faith? v3Are you so foolish?
Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected bya the
flesh? v4Did you sufferb so many things in vain---if indeed it
was in vain? v5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works
miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing
with faith---
Blessing For Those Who Live By Faith & Curse For Those Who Rely on the Works of the Law.
v10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it
is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things
written in the Book of the Law, and do them." v11Now it is
evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The
righteous shall live by faith." v12But the law is not of faith,
rather "The one who does them shall live by them." v13Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for
us---for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a
tree"--- v14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might
come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised
Spirit through faith.
Chapter 4
Because Your Are Sons, God Has Sent The Spirit of His Son
v1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different
from a slave,a though he is the owner of everything, v2but he is
under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
v3In the same way we also, when we were children, were
enslaved to the elementary principlesb of the world. v4But when
the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of
woman, born under the law, v5to redeem those who were under
the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. v6And
because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our
hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" v7So you are no longer a slave,
but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
8However, at that stage you didn't know God, and so you were
enslaved to beings that, in their proper nature, are not gods.
9But now that you've come to know God - or, better, to be
known by God - how can you turn back again to that weak
and poverty-stricken line-up that you want to serve all over
again? 10You are observing days, and months, and seasons, and
years! 1 1 I am afraid for you; perhaps my hard work with you is
all going to be wasted.
You Are Sons of the Free Woman Not of the Slave Woman
v21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen
to the law? v22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one
by a slave woman and one by a free woman. v23But the son of
the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the
free woman was born through promise. v24Now this may be
interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is
from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.
v25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;e she corresponds to the
present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. v26But
the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. v27For it is
written,f "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."
v28Now you,g brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
v29But just as at that time he who was born according to the
flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so
also it is now. v30But what does the Scripture say?h "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." v31So, brothers, we
are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
21So, you want to live under the law, do you? All right, tell me
this: are you prepared to hear what the law says? 22For the
Bible says that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl and
one by the free woman. 23Now the child of the slave-girl was
born according to the flesh, while the child of the free woman
was born according to promise.
24Treat this as picture-language. These two women stand
for two covenants: one comes from Mount Sinai, and is born
into slavery; that is Hagar. 25(Sinai, you see, is a mountain
in Arabia, and it corresponds, in the picture, to the present
Jerusalem, since she is in slavery with her children.) 26But the
Jerusalem which is above is free - and she is our mother.
27For the Bible says, Celebrate, childless one, who never gave
birth! Go wild and shout, girl that never had pains!
The barren woman has many more children! Than the one who
has a husband!
28Now you, my family, are children of promise, in the line
of Isaac. 29But things now are like they were then: the one
who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one
born according to the spirit. 30But what does the Bible say?
'Throw out the slave-girl and her son! For the son of the slavegirl will not inherit with the son of the free.' 31So, my family, we
are not children of the slave-girl, but of the free.
5For we are waiting eagerly, by the spirit and by faith, for the
hope of righteousness. 6For in the Messiah, Jesus, neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power. What matters is
faith, working through love. 7You were running well. Who got in
your way and stopped you being persuaded by the truth?
8This persuasion didn't come from the one who called you! 9 A
little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10I am persuaded in the
Lord that you won't differ from me on this. But the one who
is troubling you will bear the blame, whoever he may be. 1 1
As for me, my dear family, if I am still announcing circumcision,
why am I still being persecuted?
If I were, the scandal of the cross would have been neutralized.
12If only those who are making trouble for you would cut the
whole lot offi
Freedom Not As An Opportunity For the Flesh
v13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use
your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love
serve one another. v14For the whole law is fulfilled in one
word:d "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." v15But if
you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not
consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit,
and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. v17For the
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, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
v18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
v19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual
immorality, impurity, sensuality, v20idolatry, sorcery, enmity,
strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
v21envy,e drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn
you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Chapter 6
For Those Who Are Spiritual Ones
v1Brothers,a if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who
are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep
watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. v2Bear one another's
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. v3For if anyone thinks
he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. v4But
let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will
be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. v5For each will have
to bear his own load.
v6One who is taught the word must share all good things with the
one who teaches. v7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for
whatever one sows, that will he also reap. v8For the one who
sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the
one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
v9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we
will reap, if we do not give up. v10So then, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those
who are of the household of faith.
6If someone is being taught the word, they should share with
the teacher all the good things they have. 7Don't be misled;
God won't have people turning their noses up at him. What
you sow is what you'll reap. 8Yes: if you sow in the field of your
flesh you will harvest decay from your flesh, but if you sow in
the field of the spirit you will harvest eternal life from the
spirit. 9Don't lose your enthusiasm for behaving properly.
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