Bible (American Standard)/Galatians

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians
==Chapter 1==
 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man,
but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him
from the dead), 
 and all the brethren that are with me,
unto the churches of Galatia: 
 Grace to you and peace from
God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 who gave
himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this
present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:
 to whom [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 I
marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you
in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; 
 which is
not another [gospel] only there are some that trouble you, and
would pervert the gospel of Christ. 
 But though we, or an
angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than
that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. 
 As
we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth
unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him
be anathema. 
 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of
God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing
men, I should not be a servant of Christ. 
 For I make
known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was
preached by me, that it is not after man. 
 For neither did
I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me]
through revelation of Jesus Christ. 
 For ye have heard of
my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, how that
beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of
it: 
 and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of
mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous
for the traditions of my fathers. 
 But when it was the
good pleasure of God, who separated me, [even] from my mother's
womb, and called me through his grace, 
 to reveal his Son
in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I
conferred not with flesh and blood: 
 neither went I up to
Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away
into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus. 
 Then
after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and
tarried with him fifteen days. 
 But other of the apostles
saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 
 Now touching
the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie
not. 
 Then I came unto the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
 And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of
Judaea which were in Christ: 
 but they only heard say, He
that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once
made havoc; 
 and they glorified God in me.
==Chapter 2==
 Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again
to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 
 And
I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which
I preach among the Gentiles but privately before them who were
of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in
vain. 
 But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek,
was compelled to be circumcised: 
 and that because of the
false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy
out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might
bring us into bondage: 
 to whom we gave place in the way of
subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel
might continue with you. 
 But from those who were reputed
to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me:
God accepteth not man's person)-- they, I say, who were of
repute imparted nothing to me: 
 but contrariwise, when they
saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel of the
uncircumcision, even as Peter with [the gospel] of the
circumcision 
 (for he that wrought for Peter unto the
apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the
Gentiles); 
 and when they perceived the grace that was
given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed
to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of
fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto
the circumcision; 
 only [they would] that we should
remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.
 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the
face, because he stood condemned. 
 For before that certain
came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came,
he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of
the circumcision. 
 And the rest of the Jews dissembled
likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away
with their dissimulation. 
 But when I saw that they walked
not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto
Cephas before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the
Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the
Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 
 We being Jews by nature,
and not sinners of the Gentiles, 
 yet knowing that a man
is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in
Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be
justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law:
because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
 But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we
ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin?
God forbid. 
 For if I build up again those things which I
destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. 
 For I through
the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God. 
 I
have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that
live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live
in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 
 I do not
make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the
law, then Christ died for nought.
==Chapter 3==
 O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose
eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? 
 This
only would I learn from you. Received ye the Spirit by the works
of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 
 Are ye so foolish?
having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?
 Did ye suffer so many things in vain? if it be indeed in
vain. 
 He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and
worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith? 
 Even as Abraham believed
God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 
 Know
therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of
Abraham. 
 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would
justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand
unto Abraham, [saying,] In thee shall all the nations be
blessed. 
 So then they that are of faith are blessed with
the faithful Abraham. 
 For as many as are of the works of
the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every
one who continueth not in all things that are written in the
book of the law, to do them. 
 Now that no man is justified
by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live
by faith; 
 and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth
them shall live in them. 
 Christ redeemed us from the
curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 
 that
upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ
Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith. 
 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though
it be but a man's covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no
one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. 
 Now to Abraham
were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to
seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is
Christ. 
 Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand
by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after,
doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect.
 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of
promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. 
 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions,
till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made;
[and it was] ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one; but God is
one. 
 Is the law then against the promises of God? God
forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make
alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. 
 But the scriptures shut up all things under sin, that the
promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that
believe. 
 But before faith came, we were kept in ward
under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be
revealed. 
 So that the law is become our tutor [to bring
us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
 But
now faith that is come, we are no longer under a tutor. 
 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put
on Christ. 
 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can
be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for
ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus. 
 And if ye are
Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.
==Chapter 4==
 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he
differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;
 but is under guardians and stewards until the day
appointed of the father. 
 So we also, when we were
children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his
Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 
 that he might
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons. 
 And because ye are sons, God sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and
if a son, then an heir through God. 
 Howbeit at that time,
not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are
no gods: 
 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather
to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and
beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over
again? 
 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and
years. 
 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have
bestowed labor upon you in vain. 
 I beseech you, brethren,
become as I [am], for I also [am become] as ye [are]. Ye did me
no wrong: 
 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the
flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time: 
 and
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. 
 Where 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. 
 So then
am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth? 
 They
zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you
out, that ye may seek them. 
 But it is good to be
zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only
when I am present with you. 
 My little children, of whom I
am again in travail until Christ be formed in you-- 
 but I
could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone;
for I am perplexed about you. 
 Tell me, ye that desire to
be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 
 For it is
written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one
by the freewoman. 
 Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is
born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born]
through promise. 
 Which things contain an allegory: for
these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing
children unto bondage, which is Hagar. 
 Now this Hagar is
mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now
is: for she is in bondage with her children. 
 But the
Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother. 
 For
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 that hath
the husband.
 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of
promise. 
 But as then he that was born after the flesh
persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, so also it is
now. 
 Howbeit 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. 
 Wherefore,
brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the
freewoman.
==Chapter 5==
 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast
therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.
 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive
circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. 
 Yea, I
testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he
is a debtor to do the whole law. 
 Ye are severed from
Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away
from grace. 
 For we through the Spirit by faith wait for
the hope of righteousness. 
 For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith
working through love. 
 Ye were running well; who hindered
you that ye should not obey the truth? 
 This persuasion
[came] not of him that calleth you. 
 A little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump. 
 I 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. 
 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still
persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done
away. 
 I would that they that unsettle you would even go
beyond circumcision. 
 For 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. 
 For
the whole law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this: Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 
 But if ye bite and
devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of
another. 
 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not
fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
 For 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. 
 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are
not under the law. 
 Now the works of the flesh are
manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, 
 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife,
jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 
 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I
forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 
 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
 meekness, self-control;
against such there is no law. 
 And they that are of Christ
Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts
thereof. 
 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us
also walk. 
 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one
another, envying one another.
==Chapter 6==
 Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass,
ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 
 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
 For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is
nothing, he deceiveth himself. 
 But let each man prove his
own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of
himself alone, and not of his neighbor. 
 For each man shall
bear his own burden. 
 But let him that is taught in the
word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap. 
 For 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.
 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season
we shall reap, if we faint not. 
 So 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.
 See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own
hand. 
 As 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. 
 For 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.
 But 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. 
 For neither is
circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
 And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace [be] upon
them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 
 Henceforth,
let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks
of Jesus. 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit, brethren. Amen.