Galatians 4-6

Galatians 4

¹But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

²but is under guardians and stewards until the term appointed of the father.

³So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:

⁴but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

⁵that he might redeem them which were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

⁶And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

⁷So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

⁸Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them which by nature are no gods:

⁹but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known of God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?

¹⁰Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.

¹¹I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labour upon you in vain.

¹²I beseech you, brethren, be as I am, for I am as ye are. Ye did me no wrong:

¹³but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:

¹⁴and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

¹⁵Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

¹⁶So then am I become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.

¹⁸But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

¹⁹My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you,

²⁰yea, I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I am perplexed about you.

²¹Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

²²For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.

²³Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.

²⁴Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.

²⁵Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.

²⁶But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.

²⁷For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her which hath the husband.

²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

³⁰Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.

³¹Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.

Galatians 5

¹With freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

²Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

³Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

⁴Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.

⁵For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

⁷Ye were running well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

⁸This persuasion came not of him that calleth you.

⁹A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

¹⁰I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

¹¹But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumblingblock of the cross been done away.

¹²I would that they which unsettle you would even cut themselves off.

¹³For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.

¹⁴For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

¹⁵But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

¹⁶But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.

¹⁸But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, heresies,

²¹envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they which practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

²³meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

²⁴And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.

²⁶Let us not be vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6

¹Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

³For if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

⁴But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbour.

⁵For each man shall bear his own burden.

⁶But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

⁷Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

⁸For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.

⁹And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.

¹¹See with how large letters I have written unto you with mine own hand.

¹²As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

¹³For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

¹⁴But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

¹⁵For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

¹⁶And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.