1 1Some authorities prefer to join with 4:31 and render but with the freedom of the free woman Christ set us freeAJohn 8:32, 36; Rom 8:15; 2 Cor 3:17; Gal 2:4; 5:13It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore B1 Cor 16:13keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a CActs 15:10; Gal 2:4yoke of slavery.

2 Behold I, A2 Cor 10:1Paul, say to you that if you receive BActs 15:1; Gal 5:3, 6, 11circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I ALuke 16:28testify again to every man who receives BActs 15:1; Gal 5:2, 6, 11circumcision, that he is under obligation to CRom 2:25keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who 1Or would beare seeking to be justified by law; you have AHeb 12:15; 2 Pet 3:17fallen from grace. 5 For we 1Lit bythrough the Spirit, 2Lit out ofby faith, are ARom 8:23; 1 Cor 1:7waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in AGal 3:26Christ Jesus B1 Cor 7:19; Gal 6:15neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but CCol 1:4f; 1 Thess 1:3; James 2:18, 20, 22faith working through love.

7 You were AGal 2:2running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from ARom 8:28; Gal 1:6Him who calls you. 9 A1 Cor 5:6A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 A2 Cor 2:3I have confidence 1Lit towardin you in the Lord that you BGal 5:7; Phil 3:15will adopt no other view; but the one who is CGal 1:7; 5:12disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still AGal 4:29; 6:12persecuted? Then BRom 9:33; 1 Cor 1:23the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that AGal 2:4; 5:10those who are troubling you would even 1Or cut themselves offBDeut 23:1mutilate themselves.

13 For you were called to AGal 5:1freedom, brethren; B1 Cor 8:9; 1 Pet 2:16only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love C1 Cor 9:19; Eph 5:21serve one another. 14 For AMatt 7:12; 22:40; Rom 13:8, 10; Gal 6:2the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “BLev 19:18; Matt 19:19; John 13:34Yoᴜ sʜᴀʟʟ ʟovᴇ ʏoᴜʀ ɴᴇɪɢʜʙoʀ ᴀs ʏoᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ.” 15 But if you AGal 5:20; Phil 3:2bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, ARom 8:4; 13:14; Gal 5:24fwalk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out BRom 13:14; Eph 2:3the desire of the flesh. 17 For ARom 7:18, 23; 8:5ffthe flesh 1Lit lusts againstsets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, BRom 7:15ffso that you may not do the things that you 2Lit wishplease. 18 But if you are ARom 8:14led by the Spirit, BRom 6:14; 7:4; 1 Tim 1:9you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: 1I.e. sexual immoralityA1 Cor 6:9, 18; 2 Cor 12:21immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, ARev 21:8sorcery, enmities, B2 Cor 12:20strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, CRom 2:8; James 3:14ffdisputes, dissensions, 1Or heresiesD1 Cor 11:19factions, 21 envying, ARom 13:13drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not B1 Cor 6:9inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But AMatt 7:16ff; Eph 5:9the fruit of the Spirit is BRom 5:1-5; 1 Cor 13:4; Col 3:12-15love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, AActs 24:25self-control; against such things BGal 5:18there is no law. 24 Now those who 1Lit are of Christ Jesusbelong to AGal 3:26Christ Jesus have BRom 6:6; Gal 2:20; 6:14crucified the flesh with its passions and CGal 5:16fdesires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also 1Or follow the Spiritwalk AGal 5:16by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become APhil 2:3boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.