\NormalFont\ShortTitle{GALATIANS}

{\MTB This book is a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia province. We call this book

\par }{\MT Galatians



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Galatians 1:1-5
\par }
{\SH I, Paul, as God’s chosen apostle, am sending this letter to the churches in Galatia and asking God’s blessings on you.
\par }
{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{I}}, Paul,
{\ADD{write this letter to you. I remind you that I am}} an apostle. That is not because a group of people
{\ADD{appointed me}}, nor because a human being
{\ADD{sent me to be an apostle}}. Instead, Jesus Christ and God
{\ADD{our heavenly}} Father, who caused Jesus to become alive again after he died, have
{\ADD{appointed and}} sent
{\ADD{me to be an apostle}}.

\VS{2}All the fellow believers
{\ADD{who are here}} with me
{\ADD{approve of this message that I am writing. I am sending this letter}} to the congregations that
{\ADD{are}} in Galatia
{\ADD{province}}.

\VS{3}{\ADD{I pray that}} God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ will kindly
{\ADD{help}} you and enable
{\ADD{you to have inner}} peace.

\VS{4}Christ offered himself
{\ADD{as a sacrifice}} in order that
{\ADD{he might remove the guilt for}} our sins. He did that in order that he might enable us to not
{\ADD{do the evil things that people who do not know him}} do.
{\ADD{He did this}} because God, who is our Father, wanted it.

\VS{5}{\ADD{I pray that people will}} praise God forever. ◄May it be so!/Amen!►


\par }{\SH I am disappointed that you are believing a message that is not the good news about Christ, and I ask God to eternally punish those who are teaching such a message.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 1:6-10

\par }{\PP \VS{6}I am very disappointed [IRO] that so soon
{\ADD{after you trusted in Christ}} you have turned away from
{\ADD{God}}. He chose you in order that
{\ADD{you might have what}} Christ freely/kindly gives. I am also disappointed that so soon you are believing a different
{\ADD{message which some say is}} “good news.”

\VS{7}Their message is not a true message.
{\ADD{What is happening is that}} certain persons are confusing your
{\ADD{minds}}. They are desiring to change the good message ◄that Christ
{\ADD{revealed/about}} Christ►
{\ADD{and are creating another message}}.

\VS{8}But even if we
{\ADD{(exc) apostles}} or an angel from heaven would tell you a message that is different from the good message that we told you
{\ADD{before}}, I
{\ADD{appeal to God}} that
{\ADD{he}} punish such a person
{\ADD{forever}}.

\VS{9}As I told you previously, so now I tell you this once more: Someone is telling you
{\ADD{what he says is}} a good message, but it is a message that is different from
{\ADD{the good message}} that I gave you. So I
{\ADD{appeal to God}} that
{\ADD{he}} severely punish that person.

\VS{10}{\ADD{I said that}} because [RHQ] I do not desire that people approve me,
{\ADD{contrary to what some have said about me}}. It is God whom I desire to approve me.
{\ADD{Specifically, I do not say and do}} [RHQ] things just to please people. If it were still people whom I was trying to please, then I would not be one who
{\ADD{willingly and completely}} serves Christ.


\par }{\SH It was Jesus Christ, not any human, who revealed the message that I proclaim.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 1:11-12

\par }{\PP \VS{11}My fellow believers, I want you to know that the message about Christ that I proclaim to people is not one that some person
{\ADD{created/thought up}}.

\VS{12}I did not receive this message from a human
{\ADD{messenger}}, and no
{\ADD{human being}} taught it to me. Instead, Jesus Christ revealed it to me.


\par }{\SH For 17 years after God showed his Son to me, I had no contact with the apostles.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 1:13-24

\par }{\PP \VS{13}People have told you how I used to behave when
{\ADD{I practiced}} the Jewish religion. They told you that I continually did very harmful things to the groups of believers that God
{\ADD{established}}, and they told you that I tried to get rid of those people.

\VS{14}I practiced the Jewish religion more thoroughly than many
{\ADD{other Jews}} who were my age practiced it. I much more enthusiastically tried to get others to obey the traditions that my ancestors
{\ADD{kept}}.

\VS{15}Nevertheless, before I was born,
{\ADD{God}} ◄set me apart/selected me►. He chose me
{\ADD{to live eternally}}, something that I did not deserve.

\VS{16}He wanted me to know that Jesus is ◄his Son/the man who is also God►, so that I would tell others the message about him in regions where non-Jews live. But I did not immediately go to any human beings [SYN] in order to gain
{\ADD{an understanding of that message. I received it directly from Christ!}}!

\VS{17}I did not
{\ADD{immediately}} leave Damascus and go to Jerusalem
{\ADD{for that purpose}} to those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away to Arabia
{\ADD{region, a desert area}}. Later I returned once more to Damascus
{\ADD{city}}.

\VS{18}Then three years after
{\ADD{God revealed this good message to me}}, I went up to Jerusalem in order that I might meet Peter. But I stayed with him for
{\ADD{only}} 15 days,
{\ADD{which was not long enough for him to teach me thoroughly about Christ}}.

\VS{19}I also saw James, the brother of our Lord
{\ADD{Jesus and the leader of the believers there, but}} I did not see any other apostle.

\VS{20}God knows that what I am writing to you is completely true [LIT]!

\VS{21}After
{\ADD{I left Jerusalem}}, I went to
{\ADD{the regions of}} Syria and Cilicia.

\VS{22}{\ADD{At that time, people in}} the Christian congregations that are in Judea
{\ADD{province}} still had not met me [SYN] personally.

\VS{23}They only heard
{\ADD{others say about me}} repeatedly, “{\ADD{Paul}}, the one who was formerly doing harmful things to us, is now telling the
{\ADD{same message}} which we believe and which formerly he was trying ◄to destroy/to cause people to stop believing►!”

\VS{24}And they praised God because of
{\ADD{what had happened to}} me.




\par }\Chap{2}{\SH Finally, when I returned to Jerusalem and told Peter, James, and John what I always proclaim, they agreed that Barnabas and I were preaching the same message and serving the Lord just like they were.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 2:1-10

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}After 14 years passed, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas. I took Titus also.

\VS{2}But
{\ADD{I tell you that}} I went up there because of what God revealed to me.
{\ADD{It was not because someone there asked me to come}}. I told people what was the good message that I was preaching in regions where non-Jews live. But I talked privately to those whom your new teachers highly respect. I did that in order that what I was doing and what I had done [MET] might not become useless [MET]
{\ADD{as a result of people rejecting my message because they thought that I was teaching something that was not true}}.

\VS{3}But
{\ADD{even though the leaders of the believers usually insisted that when non-Jews trusted in Christ someone must circumcise them}}, they did not even insist that Titus be circumcised, even though he was a Greek man who was with me.

\VS{4}{\ADD{I talked to them privately}} because some people
{\ADD{successfully}} pretended that they were fellow believers and associated with the true believers. They did that in order that they might observe closely what we do because we are free
{\ADD{from having to obey all the Jewish laws and rituals}} because of our close relationship with Christ Jesus [MET]. Those people wanted to make us
{\ADD{like}} slaves [MET]
{\ADD{of those rituals by convincing us that we cannot trust Christ solely but that we must also obey all the Jewish rituals}}.

\VS{5}But not even briefly did we
{\ADD{(exc)}} do what they wanted
{\ADD{about circumcision. We(exc) resisted them}} in order that the truth of the message about Christ might continue to
{\ADD{benefit}} you.

\VS{6}The
{\ADD{leaders in Jerusalem}}, whom your new teachers respect, did not add anything to what I preach.
{\ADD{And I would add that}} what status those leaders had did not influence me, because God does not favor certain/important persons [IDM] more than others.

\VS{7}Instead of those leaders adding to the message that I tell people, they understood that I had been given the good message $\{$God had given the good message to me$\}$ so that I might proclaim it to the non-Jews [MTY], just like
{\ADD{God}} had given the good message to Peter so that he might tell it to those who are Jews [MTY].

\VS{8}That is, just like
{\ADD{God}} had empowered/authorized Peter in order that he might be an apostle
{\ADD{to bring God’s message}} to the Jews [MTY], he also had empowered/authorized me in order that I might be an apostle to
{\ADD{bring his message to}} the non-Jews.

\VS{9}And
{\ADD{those leaders}} knew that God had kindly given to me this special work. So James, Peter, and John, the ones whom your new teachers
{\ADD{respect because they are}} leaders [MET]
{\ADD{of the believers}}, shook hands with us [IDM]
{\ADD{to show that they agreed that Barnabas and I are serving the Lord just like they are, and that we are preaching the same message that they are preaching}}. They also agreed that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} are the ones whom God was sending to
{\ADD{tell his message to}} non-Jews, but that God is sending them to
{\ADD{tell his message to}} Jews [MTY].

\VS{10}They merely urged that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} still remember to help the poor
{\ADD{fellow believers who live in Jerusalem}}. That is exactly what I have been eager to do.


\par }{\SH Later I rebuked Peter for not behaving according to the gospel, in that he was encouraging non-Jews to adopt Jewish laws and rituals.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 2:11-21

\par }{\PP \VS{11}But
{\ADD{later while I was at}} Antioch
{\ADD{city}}, after Peter came there, I told him directly [SYN] that what he was doing was wrong.

\VS{12}{\ADD{This is what happened}}:
{\ADD{Peter went to Antioch and started eating regularly with non-Jewish believers there}}. Later there were certain
{\ADD{Jewish believers who}} came
{\ADD{to Antioch who claimed that}} James,
{\ADD{the leader of the congregations in Jerusalem}}, had sent them. But when
{\ADD{those certain}} men came, Peter gradually quit
{\ADD{eating}} with the non-Jewish believers and would not associate with them. He was afraid that the Jewish
{\ADD{believers from Jerusalem would criticize him for associating with non-Jews}}.

\VS{13}Also, the other Jewish
{\ADD{believers who were in Antioch}} [SYN] acted ◄insincerely/in a way that they knew was not right► along with
{\ADD{Peter}}. The result was that they convinced even Barnabas to
{\ADD{stop associating with the non-Jewish believers}}!

\VS{14}But when I realized that they were not acting according to the truth of the message about Christ,
{\ADD{when}} all
{\ADD{the fellow believers there}} were present, I told Peter
{\ADD{the following}}: “Although you
{\ADD{(sg)}} are a Jew,
{\ADD{you often conduct yourself}} like non-Jews
{\ADD{do by disregarding Jewish laws about food. When you are among non-Jews}}, you
{\ADD{(sg)}} do not customarily conduct yourself at all like Jews
{\ADD{do}}. So, ◄now it is wrong that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} are causing non-Jews
{\ADD{to think that they must obey all}} the Jewish rituals and customs!/why are you
{\ADD{(sg)}} causing non-Jews
{\ADD{to think that they must obey all}} the Jewish rituals and customs?► [RHQ]”

\VS{15}Some of us
{\ADD{believers}} were born as Jews. We
{\ADD{(exc)}} were
{\BD{not born as non-Jews.}}
{\ADD{We Jews have always considered non-Jews to be}}
{\BD{‘sinners’}}
{\ADD{because they do not obey the Jewish rituals and laws}}.

\VS{16}But we
{\ADD{(exc)}} now know that it is not because some person obeys the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses}} that
{\ADD{God}} erases the record of that person’s sins.
{\ADD{God erases the record of a person’s sins only if that person trusts in what Jesus Christ has done}}. Even we
{\ADD{(exc)}} Jews trusted
{\BD{Christ Jesus.}} We
{\ADD{(exc)}} did that in order that
{\ADD{God}} would erase the record of our sins because of our trusting Christ, and not because of our obeying the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses. God has said that}} he will
{\ADD{never}} erase the record of people’s sins just
{\BD{because of their obeying those laws.}}

\VS{17}Furthermore, because we
{\ADD{(exc) Jews}} desired that
{\ADD{God}} would erase the record of our sins because of our relationship with Christ,
{\ADD{it means that}} we realized that we ourselves were sinners
{\ADD{like non-Jews, whom we called}} sinners,
{\ADD{because we(exc) also were not obeying the Jewish rituals and laws}}.
{\ADD{But}} ◄{\ADD{we(inc) certainly cannot conclude}} that it is Christ who causes us to sin./{\ADD{should we conclude}} that it is Christ who causes us to sin?► [RHQ]
{\ADD{No, Christ}} certainly does not
{\ADD{cause anyone to sin}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{18}So if I should again believe
{\ADD{that God would erase the record of my sins because of my obeying the laws that he gave to Moses}} [MET],
{\ADD{I would be like a man who}} rebuilds an old building that he tore down. It would
{\ADD{soon}} be clear that I am one who disobeys those same laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses}}.

\VS{19}When
{\ADD{I realized that I could not earn God’s favor}} by
{\ADD{obeying}} the laws
{\ADD{that he gave to Moses, I decided not}} to
{\ADD{respond to what those laws demanded}} [MET],
{\ADD{just like}} a dead person
{\ADD{does not respond to anything}}. Now I live to
{\ADD{honor/serve}} God.

\VS{20}{\ADD{It is as though}} I was with Christ when he was crucified $\{$died on the cross$\}$ [MET] (OR,
{\ADD{It is as though}} my
{\ADD{old way of life ended when}} Christ died on the cross.) No longer am I
{\ADD{directing the way I behave as I did before I believed in Christ}}. Now Christ
{\ADD{is directing how}} I
{\ADD{behave. And whatever I do}} now while I live, I do it trusting in God’s Son. He is the one who loved me and offered himself
{\ADD{as a sacrifice}} for me.

\VS{21}I am not rejecting
{\ADD{as useless}} what God
{\ADD{did for me}} ◄{\ADD{kindly/that I did not deserve}}►,
{\ADD{as my opponents are doing. I fully accept that God saved me by acting kindly towards me}}. If it is because people
{\ADD{obey the}} laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses}} that God erases the record of their sins, then Christ died ◄for nothing/needlessly►.




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Because you trusted in Christ, not because you obeyed the laws God gave Moses, you received the Holy Spirit and now experience his working among you.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 3:1-5

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}You
{\ADD{fellow believers who live in}} Galatia are very foolish! ◄Someone must have put an evil spell on you!/Did someone put an evil spell on you?► [RHQ] I clearly explained to you [SYN]
{\ADD{what}} Jesus Christ
{\ADD{accomplished when}} he was crucified $\{$he died on the cross$\}$.

\VS{2}{\ADD{So}}, I want you to tell me one thing:
{\ADD{Do you think that}} it was because you obeyed the laws God gave Moses that you received the
{\ADD{Holy}} Spirit?
{\ADD{Do you not know that}} [RHQ] it was because
{\ADD{when you}} heard
{\ADD{the good message concerning Christ, you}} trusted in him?

\VS{3}◄You are acting so foolishly/Why are you being so foolish?► [RHQ]! You first
{\ADD{became Christians}} as a result of God’s Spirit
{\ADD{enabling you}}. So, ◄you should not now think that it is by what you yourselves do that you will continue
{\ADD{to grow spiritually}}/do you now think it is by your own human efforts that you will continue
{\ADD{to grow spiritually?}}!► [RHQ]

\VS{4}Keep in mind that
{\ADD{if what God has done for you was because of your obeying the laws that God gave to Moses and}} not because of trusting in Christ, when others caused you to suffer, you suffered many things needlessly! [RHQ]
{\ADD{I certainly hope that you did not suffer like that}} needlessly.

\VS{5}{\ADD{When God now}} generously gives to you his Spirit and performs miracles among you,
{\ADD{do you think that it is}} [RHQ] because you obey the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses? Surely you know that}} it is because when you heard
{\ADD{the good message about Christ}}, you trusted in him [RHQ]!


\par }{\SH It is those Jews and non-Jews who trust Christ who are Abraham’s spiritual descendants, because those who seek to be justified by obeying the laws that God gave Moses are condemned by God.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 3:6-12

\par }{\PP \VS{6}{\ADD{What you have experienced is}} as
{\ADD{Moses wrote in the Scriptures about}} Abraham.
{\ADD{He wrote that Abraham}} trusted God, and as a result, he was considered as being righteous $\{${\ADD{God}} erased the record of his sins$\}$.

\VS{7}You must realize, therefore, that it is those who trust
{\ADD{in what Christ has done who}} are
{\ADD{like}} Abraham’s descendants [MET]
{\ADD{because they trust in God as Abraham did}}.

\VS{8}Furthermore, God planned beforehand that it was
{\ADD{when}} non-Jews trusted
{\ADD{him}} that he would erase the record of their sins.
{\ADD{Moses wrote in}} the Scriptures [PRS] this good message that God told Abraham: “Because of
{\ADD{what}} you
{\ADD{did}}, I will bless
{\ADD{people in}} [MTY] all nations.”

\VS{9}So,
{\ADD{we can conclude that}} it is those who trust
{\ADD{in what Christ has done}} whom
{\ADD{God}} blesses. That includes
{\ADD{all non-Jews and Jews who trust him}}, along with Abraham, the one who trusted him
{\ADD{long ago}}.

\VS{10}That is, God will eternally punish all those who
{\ADD{mistakenly}} think
{\ADD{that God will erase the record of their sins}} as a result of their
{\ADD{obeying}} the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses}}. What is written in the Scriptures is that
{\ADD{God}} will eternally punish everyone who does not continuously and completely obey all the laws
{\ADD{that Moses wrote}}.

\VS{11}But God has declared that if he erases the record of anyone’s sins, it will not be as a result of their obeying the laws God gave Moses.
{\ADD{This is evident because the Scriptures say}}, “Every person whose record of sins God erases because that person trusts God will live
{\ADD{spiritually}}.”

\VS{12}But
{\ADD{when God gave}} his laws
{\ADD{to the Jews, he did}} not
{\ADD{say that a person must}} trust
{\ADD{him}}. Instead,
{\ADD{God said that}} it is those who obey
{\ADD{all God’s laws, continuously and completely}}, who will live.


\par }{\SH Christ was condemned instead of us, so that God might bless the non-Jews just as he blessed Abraham, and so that we might receive the Spirit.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 3:13-14

\par }{\PP \VS{13}Even though we humans have not continuously and completely obeyed God’s laws, Christ rescued us from
{\ADD{God}} punishing us eternally. Christ rescued us by his being
{\ADD{the one God condemned}} instead of God condemning us. What is written $\{${\ADD{someone/Moses}} wrote$\}$
{\ADD{in the Scriptures}} shows that this is true. It is written $\{${\ADD{He}} wrote$\}$, “{\ADD{God}} has cursed anyone
{\ADD{whom people have executed for his crimes and whose body they}} have hung on a tree.”

\VS{14}Jesus Christ rescued us in order that as a result of what he
{\ADD{has done, God might bless the non-Jews, in a way similar to the way}} God blessed Abraham. He also desired that as a result of our trusting
{\ADD{Christ}}, we
{\ADD{all}} might receive the Spirit
{\ADD{whom God}} promised to
{\ADD{give to}} us.


\par }{\SH By giving his laws to the Jews, God has not canceled what he promised to Abraham much earlier concerning his descendant, Christ. Just like God gave his blessings to Abraham just because he promised to do so, he freely gives his blessings to us.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 3:15-18

\par }{\PP \VS{15}My fellow believers, I will now
{\ADD{illustrate}} by referring to human
{\ADD{relationships. After an agreement is confirmed by two people}} $\{${\ADD{two people have signed}} an agreement$\}$, no one can reject it or add to it.

\VS{16}{\ADD{God}} declared to Abraham and his descendant that he was promising
{\ADD{to give blessings to Abraham}}.
{\ADD{The words that God spoke were not “and your}} descendants.”
{\ADD{He was not}} referring to many persons. Instead, he was referring to one person, who is Christ,
{\ADD{because the words that God spoke were}}, “and your descendant.”

\VS{17}This is what I am saying:
{\ADD{Since God}} gave the laws
{\ADD{to the Jews}} 430 years after
{\ADD{he declared to Abraham what he was promising to do for Abraham}}, those laws do not cancel that agreement
{\ADD{with}} Abraham that God himself had previously agreed about [PRS].

\VS{18}Remember that if it is because
{\ADD{we obey God’s}} laws
{\ADD{that he gives to us}} what
{\ADD{he has}} promised
{\ADD{to give to us}}, then it is not
{\ADD{just}} because he
{\ADD{has}} promised
{\ADD{that he would give those things to us}}. God freely gave to Abraham
{\ADD{what he had promised to give to him, just}} because
{\ADD{God had}} promised
{\ADD{that he would give it to him. Similarly, it is not because we obey God’s laws that God gives to us what he has promised to give to us}}.


\par }{\SH God gave his laws to supervise us sinful Jews until Christ, Abraham’s promised descendant, would come.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 3:19-25

\par }{\PP \VS{19}So,
{\ADD{if someone should ask}}, “Why
{\ADD{did God later give}} his laws
{\ADD{to Moses?” I would reply that}} it was in order that
{\ADD{people might realize}} how sinful they were.
{\ADD{Those laws were valid}} until
{\ADD{Jesus came. He was}} the descendant that God
{\ADD{was referring to when he made}} the promises to Abraham.
{\ADD{The laws}} were given $\{${\ADD{God}} gave
{\ADD{his laws}}$\}$
{\ADD{to Moses}} by God’s causing angels to
{\ADD{speak to him. Moses was the}} mediator,
{\ADD{the one who told the laws to the people}}.

\VS{20}Now,
{\ADD{when}} a mediator
{\ADD{functions}}, one
{\ADD{person}} is not
{\ADD{speaking with another}} directly; but God himself
{\ADD{made his promises directly to Abraham}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}{\ADD{If someone should ask, “When God gave his}} laws
{\ADD{to Moses}} long
{\ADD{after he told Abraham}} what he was promising
{\ADD{to give to him, was he}} changing his mind?”
{\ADD{I would reply that God}} certainly did not
{\ADD{change his mind when he did that}}! If God had given a law that could enable people to live
{\ADD{eternally}}, then it actually would be because of people
{\ADD{obeying that}} law that God would erase the record of their sins.

\VS{22}But instead,
{\ADD{what we read in}} the Scriptures [PRS] is that God
{\ADD{caused all people to be unable to escape being punished for}} their
{\ADD{sins}} [MET], just like
{\ADD{people}} in prison
{\ADD{are unable to escape}} [PRS, MET].
{\ADD{God did that in order that he might give what he promised to those who trust Jesus Christ, just}} because they trust him.

\VS{23}Before
{\ADD{God revealed the good message about}} trusting
{\ADD{in Christ}}, the laws [PRS] that God gave to Moses were
{\ADD{confining/imprisoning us Jews}} [MET],
{\ADD{as}} a prisoner
{\ADD{in jail is}} confined.
{\ADD{We}} were unable to escape
{\ADD{obeying those}} [MET]
{\ADD{laws}}. This happened in order that
{\ADD{we might believe}} the good message
{\ADD{concerning Christ, the message that God would}} reveal
{\ADD{later}}.

\VS{24}{\ADD{Like a father supervises his immature son by appointing a}} servant to take care of him [MET],
{\ADD{God}} was supervising us
{\ADD{by}} his laws [MET, PRS] until Christ came.
{\ADD{He did this}} in order that he might erase the record of our sins
{\ADD{only}} because we trust
{\ADD{Christ}}.

\VS{25}But
{\ADD{now that God}} has revealed the message
{\ADD{about trusting in Christ}}, the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses}} are no longer supervising us
{\ADD{Jews}} [PRS, MET].


\par }{\SH Because of our relationship with Christ, we are Abraham’s spiritual descendants, and God’s heirs, no longer like slaves.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 3:26-29

\par }{\PP \VS{26}Now all of you
{\ADD{Jews and}} non-Jews are
{\ADD{as though you are}} God’s children because you trusted Christ Jesus.

\VS{27}That is, you who
{\ADD{began a relationship}} with Christ when you were baptized identified yourselves [MET] with Christ.

\VS{28}{\ADD{If you are believers, it does}} not
{\ADD{matter to God if you are}} Jews or non-Jews; slaves or ones
{\ADD{who are}} not slaves; males or females, because all of you are
{\ADD{as}} one
{\ADD{sort of person because of your relationship}} with Christ Jesus.

\VS{29}Furthermore, since you belong to Christ, you are
{\ADD{like}} Abraham’s descendants
{\ADD{because you trust God as Abraham did}}, and you will possess/receive all that God has promised [MET].




\par }\Chap{4}{\SH Each of you is no longer like a slave, but a child of God and an heir of what he has promised.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 4:1-7

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now, I
{\ADD{will further}} discuss
{\ADD{children and heirs}}:
{\ADD{An heir is a person who will later}} control all that his father has. But as long as that heir is a child, others
{\ADD{control}} him, with the result that he is just like a slave [MET].

\VS{2}Until the
{\ADD{day that}} his father
{\ADD{previously}} determined,
{\ADD{other}} persons supervise him and manage his father’s property.

\VS{3}Likewise, when we
{\ADD{(inc)}} (OR, we
{\ADD{(exc) Jews}}) were
{\ADD{like}} young children [MET], we were controlled by the spiritual powers of this world. They controlled us like
{\ADD{masters control their slaves}} [MET].

\VS{4}But exactly at the time [MTY]
{\ADD{that God had previously determined}}, he sent
{\ADD{Jesus}}, who is ◄his Son/the man who is also God►, into the world. Jesus was born to a
{\ADD{human}} mother. He had to obey the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses}}.

\VS{5}God sent Jesus in order that he might redeem us who had to obey
{\ADD{God’s}} laws. God wanted us all to receive from
{\ADD{God}} the status of being his children [MET].

\VS{6}Furthermore, we know that we are God’s children because God sent the Spirit, who is intimately related to Jesus, to live in our ◄inner beings/hearts►.
{\ADD{The Spirit enables us to}} pray fervently, “Daddy, Father!”
{\ADD{This shows that we are God’s children}}.

\VS{7}So,
{\ADD{because of what God has done}}, no longer is
{\ADD{each of}} you
{\ADD{like}} a slave. Instead,
{\ADD{each of you is}} a child
{\ADD{of God}}. Furthermore, since
{\ADD{each of you is God’s}} child, God has also made you his heir,
{\ADD{one who will receive all that he has promised}}.


\par }{\SH I plead with you to do as I did when I was with you, and not obey all the Jewish rules and rituals.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 4:8-20

\par }{\PP \VS{8}When you did not have a relationship with God [MET], you served gods that really did not exist [MET]. You were their slaves.

\VS{9}But now you have come to know God. Perhaps
{\ADD{it would be better to say that}} now God knows you.
{\ADD{So now you are acting foolishly}}! ◄You are again believing
{\ADD{that by obeying}} rules and rites
{\ADD{you will benefit spiritually}}! [RHQ]
{\ADD{Those rules are}} ineffective and inadequate! You are wanting to
{\ADD{obey them}} again [MET] like slaves obey their masters. [RHQ]

\VS{10}You
{\ADD{non-Jews}} are carefully practicing
{\ADD{Jewish rules and rituals about what you should do}} ◄on
{\ADD{Sabbaths/on Jewish days of rest}}► and
{\ADD{on the first day of each}} month and on
{\ADD{special}} seasons and years.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}I ◄worry/am concerned► about your
{\ADD{mistaken ideas. I do not want}} to have
{\ADD{so}} strenuously served you in vain.

\VS{12}My fellow believers, I strongly urge you that you do as I do.
{\ADD{Stop thinking that you have to obey ◄Jewish rules and rituals/ceremonial laws}}►.
{\ADD{When I was with you}}, I
{\ADD{did not obey all the Jewish rules and rituals}}, just like you
{\ADD{did not obey them}}.

\par }{\PP {\ADD{At that time}} you treated me entirely as you should have [LIT].

\VS{13}You know that the first time I preached to you,
{\ADD{I went to your area to regain my health, because I was physically weak}}.

\VS{14}{\ADD{Although}} you might have
{\ADD{despised me because}} I was physically weak, you did not despise me or act contemptuously/disrespectfully toward me. Instead, you welcomed me like
{\ADD{you would welcome}} an angel from God.
{\ADD{You welcomed me}} like
{\ADD{you would welcome}} Christ Jesus!

\VS{15}◄I am disappointed that you have forgotten
{\ADD{that then}} you
{\ADD{declared that you were}} pleased with
{\ADD{me}}./Have you forgotten
{\ADD{that then}} you
{\ADD{declared that you were}} pleased with
{\ADD{me}}?► [RHQ] I can testify that you
{\ADD{would have done anything to help me}}. You would have gouged out your eyes
{\ADD{and}} given them to me,
{\ADD{if that would have helped me}}!

\VS{16}So I am very disappointed that you
{\ADD{now}} act as though [RHQ] I have become hostile to you
{\ADD{because I have kept}} speaking the true
{\ADD{message about Christ}} to you.

\VS{17}Those
{\ADD{who are insisting on obeying Jewish rules}} are eagerly
{\ADD{showing interest in}} you, but
{\ADD{what they are doing is}} not good. They even want you not to associate with
{\ADD{me and other true}} believers, because they want you to eagerly show
{\ADD{interest in}} them,
{\ADD{not in us}}.

\VS{18}But
{\ADD{just like}} it always feels good to have others show that they appreciate you,
{\ADD{I would like you}} always
{\ADD{to appreciate me}}, and not only when I am with you.

\VS{19}You
{\ADD{who are like}} my children,
{\ADD{once}} again I am very worried/concerned about you [MET],
{\ADD{and I will continue to}} be worried/concerned until Christ’s
{\ADD{nature becomes developed}} in you
{\ADD{completely and wholeheartedly}} [MET]
{\ADD{as a child}} becomes developed
{\ADD{in his mother’s womb}}.

\VS{20}But I do wish that I could be with you now and that I might talk
{\ADD{more gently with you}}, because I do not know
{\ADD{what to do about}} you
{\ADD{while we are apart}}.


\par }{\SH Because of our relationship with Christ, we are not subject to Mosaic law; being Abraham’s spiritual descendants, we are free from such bondage.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 4:21-31

\par }{\PP \VS{21}Some of you desire
{\ADD{to obey all the laws}} that God gave Moses.
{\ADD{I say that}} you
{\ADD{should}} consider [RHQ]
{\ADD{the implications of what Moses wrote in}} the Scriptures.

\VS{22}{\ADD{He}} wrote that Abraham became the father of two sons. His female slave,
{\ADD{Hagar}}, bore one son, and his
{\ADD{wife Sarah}}, who was not a slave, bore the other.

\VS{23}Also,
{\ADD{the sons differed. Ishmael}}, the
{\ADD{son born by}} the female slave, was conceived naturally. But
{\ADD{Isaac}}, the
{\ADD{son born by}} his wife who was not a slave, was conceived
{\ADD{miraculously}} as a result of what
{\ADD{God}} had promised
{\ADD{Abraham}}.

\VS{24}{\ADD{I am telling you this}} as an illustration. These
{\ADD{two women}} symbolize two agreements.
{\ADD{God made}} the first
{\ADD{agreement, which involved obeying the laws that God gave to Moses}} at Sinai Mountain.
{\ADD{Because that agreement forces those who accept it to keep obeying all its rules}} [MET],
{\ADD{it is like a slave mother who}} gives birth to slaves.
{\ADD{So}} Hagar,
{\ADD{the female slave, symbolizes}} that
{\ADD{agreement}}.

\VS{25}Also, the
{\ADD{word}} ‘Hagar’ is
{\ADD{associated with}} Sinai Mountain,
{\ADD{which is}} in Arabia
{\ADD{land. Hagar, the female slave, also}} represents Jerusalem as it is today. Jerusalem is
{\ADD{like}} [MET] a slave
{\ADD{mother, and those who live there}} [PRS]
{\ADD{are like}} her slave children [MET]
{\ADD{because they all must obey the laws that God gave to Moses}}.

\VS{26}But there will be a
{\ADD{new}} Jerusalem in heaven [MTY], and we
{\ADD{who will go there}} are free
{\ADD{from having to obey Jewish laws}}. We
{\ADD{who belong to that city consider it to be}} our mother [MET]
{\ADD{city because we are God’s true children}}.

\VS{27}{\ADD{Our new city will have more people than those who live in Jerusalem now. It will be just like}} Isaiah foretold about
{\ADD{the people whom he expected would come back to Jerusalem from exile. He expected that they would be more numerous than those who}} were taken into exile. He wrote:

\par }{\PI {\ADD{You who live in Jerusalem, you will}} rejoice! Now you have no children, like a barren
{\ADD{woman}} who does not give birth to
{\ADD{children! But some day you will}} shout
{\ADD{joyfully}}, ◄without restraint/as loudly as you can►,
{\ADD{even though now you are few in number, like a woman who}} cannot give birth
{\ADD{to children, and you}} feel deserted.
{\ADD{You will be very happy}} because
{\ADD{you will have many children who will come to you. Those children will be}} more than
{\ADD{the children}} any woman with a husband
{\ADD{could have borne}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}Now,
{\ADD{my}} fellow believers, you have become children
{\ADD{of God as a result of believing God’s}} promise to us, as Isaac
{\ADD{was born as a result of Abraham believing what God promised to him}} [MET].


\par }{\PP \VS{29}{\ADD{Also, long ago Abraham’s son}} Ishmael, the one who was conceived naturally, caused trouble for
{\ADD{Abraham’s son}} Isaac, who
{\ADD{was conceived}} supernaturally [MET]. Similarly, now
{\ADD{those who think that we must obey the laws that God gave Moses in order that God will save us are causing trouble for those who are trusting Abraham’s descendant, Christ}}.

\VS{30}But these are [RHQ] the words in the Scriptures [PRS]: “The son of the
{\ADD{woman}} who was not a slave will inherit
{\ADD{what his father has}}. The female slave’s son will certainly not inherit those things. So send away from
{\ADD{this place}} the female slave and her son [MET]!”
{\ADD{That means that you should certainly expel from your groups those who insist that we obey all the laws God gave Moses}} [MET].

\VS{31}{\ADD{My}} fellow believers,
{\ADD{Hagar symbolizes the laws that God gave to Moses. But we are not those who must obey all the laws that God gave to Moses}} [MET].
{\ADD{So}} we are not
{\ADD{the}} female slave
{\ADD{Hagar’s spiritual}} descendants [MET]. But
{\ADD{Sarah’s descendants are those who were born as a result of believing what God promised to Abraham. So we are}} the
{\ADD{spiritual}} descendants of
{\ADD{Sarah, the woman}} who was not a slave [MET].




\par }\Chap{5}{\SH Reject the false teaching that you must be circumcised, and do not become enslaved to rules and rituals again, otherwise Christ will not benefit you at all.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 5:1-6

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}It is in order that we might live without ◄being obliged
{\ADD{to/having to}}►
{\ADD{obey all the Jewish rituals}} that Christ freed us
{\ADD{from God condemning us because of our disobeying those rituals}}. So, firmly
{\ADD{reject the false teaching that someone must circumcise you, and}} do not
{\ADD{live like}} slaves again [MET]
{\ADD{by letting others force you to obey those rules and rituals again}}.

\VS{2}Consider very carefully what I, Paul,
{\ADD{an apostle}}, now tell you: If,
{\ADD{to fulfill Jewish ritual laws}}, you are permitting yourself to be circumcised $\{$someone to circumcise you$\}$, what Christ
{\ADD{has done for you}} will not benefit you at all.

\VS{3}Instead, I solemnly declare again to every man who is circumcised $\{$has someone circumcise him$\}$
{\ADD{in order for God to accept him}}, that you must
{\ADD{perfectly}} obey all of the laws
{\ADD{that God gave Moses, in order for God to save you}}.

\VS{4}Those of you who are sure that God will erase the record of your sins because you obey the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses}}, you have separated yourselves from Christ. You have abandoned/rejected
{\ADD{God’s true method of saving you, which was}} by kindly erasing the record of your sins, in a way that you did not deserve.

\VS{5}But we who have a relationship with Christ and who trust in Christ are eagerly waiting to receive what God’s Spirit assures us that we can expect. We can expect to receive it because God has erased the record of our sins.

\VS{6}As for us who have a relationship with Christ Jesus, God is not concerned whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. Instead, God is concerned about whether we trust
{\ADD{in}} Christ, with the result that we love
{\ADD{other people}}.


\par }{\SH Although someone has confused you, I am sure that you will not accept his false teaching, and that God will punish him.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 5:7-12

\par }{\PP \VS{7}You were progressing well
{\ADD{spiritually}} [MET]. You should not have let someone influence you so that
{\ADD{now you}} are not believing the true
{\ADD{message about Christ}} [RHQ]!

\VS{8}{\ADD{God}}, the one who chose you, is not the one who is persuading you to think like this!

\VS{9}{\ADD{Remember that this false doctrine that someone is teaching you will affect all of you, just like}} [MET] a little yeast causes all of the dough to swell up.

\VS{10}{\ADD{Nevertheless}}, because of my relationship with the Lord, I am certain that you will think only as I do
{\ADD{about forcing people to obey rules and rituals}}. Furthermore,
{\ADD{God}} will punish anyone who is confusing you
{\ADD{by teaching this false message}}, even if he is an important person.

\VS{11}But, my fellow believers,
{\ADD{although someone claims that I am proclaiming that men must be circumcised, I certainly am not still proclaiming that. Remember that the Jews are still}} ◄{\ADD{persecuting me/causing me to suffer}}►. If I were still proclaiming that men must be circumcised
{\ADD{in order for God to accept them}}, ◄the Jews would not be persecuting me./why would the Jews be persecuting me?► [RHQ]
{\ADD{They would}} [RHQ] not be
{\ADD{persecuting me}}/causing me to suffer
{\ADD{because}} then
{\ADD{the Jews}} would no longer be offended.
{\ADD{They}} ◄{\ADD{are offended/do not want to accept what I teach}}►
{\ADD{because I proclaim that Christ, the Messiah, died on}} the cross [MTY].

\VS{12}I
{\ADD{would even}} wish that those who are disturbing you
{\ADD{by insisting that men be circumcised}} would also emasculate [EUP] themselves,
{\ADD{with the result that they would be expelled from your congregations}}!


\par }{\SH Although you are free from having to obey Jewish rules, instead of doing what your self-directed nature desires, love and serve each other.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 5:13-15

\par }{\PP \VS{13}My fellow believers,
{\ADD{God}} chose you in order that
{\ADD{you might live}} without having to
{\ADD{obey rules and rituals}}. But
{\ADD{do not assume that because}} you are free
{\ADD{from having to obey rules and rituals}},
{\ADD{God}} permits you to
{\ADD{do whatever your}} self-directed nature
{\ADD{desires}}. Instead, constantly, as you love
{\ADD{each other}}, serve each other.

\VS{14}Keep in mind that we can sum up all of the laws
{\ADD{that God has}} given us in one law, which is: “You must love each person you come in contact with, just like
{\ADD{you love}} yourself.”

\VS{15}Since you are attacking and injuring [MET] each other
{\ADD{by the things that you say}} [MET], I warn you that
{\ADD{if you continue doing that}}, you will totally ruin each other
{\ADD{spiritually}}.


\par }{\SH Let God’s Spirit direct you, and then you will not do what your self-directed nature desires.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 5:16-18

\par }{\PP \VS{16}{\ADD{So}} I tell you this: Constantly let
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit direct you.
{\ADD{If you do that}}, you will certainly not do the things that your self-directed nature wants
{\ADD{you to do}}.

\VS{17}Your self-directed nature ◄opposes
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit/does not
{\ADD{want you to do what}} God’s Spirit
{\ADD{wants you to do}}►, but also his Spirit opposes your self-directed nature. These two are always ◄fighting with/opposing► each other. The result is that you do not
{\ADD{constantly}} do the
{\ADD{good}} deeds that you truly desire
{\ADD{to do}}.

\VS{18}But when you are led by God’s Spirit $\{$when God’s Spirit directs you$\}$, you
{\ADD{can do what pleases God}}, now that you are no longer obligated
{\ADD{to obey all}} the laws
{\ADD{that God gave Moses}}.


\par }{\SH Those who think evil thoughts and do evil things will not receive the blessings of God’s rule, but God’s Spirit produces many good qualities in our lives.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 5:19-24

\par }{\PP \VS{19}{\ADD{You already know}} how
{\ADD{people think and}} act [PRS] because of their self-directed nature. These are
{\ADD{some of the things that they do: People}} are sexually immoral.
{\ADD{People}} commit unnatural sexual acts.
{\ADD{People}} act indecently.

\VS{20}{\ADD{People}} worship false gods
{\ADD{and}} things
{\ADD{that}} represent those gods.
{\ADD{People}} perform ◄rituals in order that evil spirits might act for them/sorcery►.
{\ADD{People}} are hostile
{\ADD{to others. People}} quarrel
{\ADD{with each other. People}} are ◄jealous/resent other people’s status►.
{\ADD{People}} behave angrily.
{\ADD{People}} try ◄to get others to think highly of them/to exalt themselves► and ◄do not consider what others want/act selfishly►. People do not associate
{\ADD{with others. People}} associate only with those who agree
{\ADD{with them}}.

\VS{21}{\ADD{People}} want what others have.
{\ADD{People}} get drunk.
{\ADD{People}} ◄revel/participate in wild parties►. And
{\ADD{people do other}} things like these. I warn you
{\ADD{now}}, just like I warned
{\ADD{you previously}}, that the ones
{\ADD{who constantly}} act
{\ADD{and think}} like that will not receive
{\ADD{what}} God
{\ADD{has for his own people when he begins}} to rule over us.

\VS{22}But
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit causes
{\ADD{us to do these things}}: We love
{\ADD{others}}. We are joyful. We are peaceful. We are patient. We are kind. We are good. We are
{\ADD{ones whom}} others can trust.

\VS{23}We are gentle. We control our behavior. There is no law that says people should not
{\ADD{think and act in such ways}}.

\VS{24}Furthermore, we who belong to Christ Jesus have
{\ADD{stopped obeying}} our self-directed nature and
{\ADD{stopped doing}} all the evil things that we desire to do [MET].
{\ADD{It is as though}} [MET] we nailed them to the cross!


\par }{\PP \VS{25}Since
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit has caused us to
{\ADD{be spiritually}} alive, we should
{\ADD{conduct our lives the way the}} Spirit
{\ADD{directs us}}.

\VS{26}We should not be saying how great we are. We should not be making ourselves more important than others. We should not envy each other.




\par }\Chap{6}{\SH Gently correct anyone among you who is sinning, and help each other without thinking you are better than others.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 6:1-6

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}My fellow believers, if
{\ADD{you}} discover that a person
{\ADD{among your congregation}} is sinning,
{\ADD{those of}} you whom
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit
{\ADD{is directing and empowering}} should gently correct that person.
{\ADD{Furthermore, each of}} you
{\ADD{who corrects another person should}} be very cautious in order that you might not
{\ADD{sin like that when}} you are tempted $\{${\ADD{when something}} tempts you$\}$.

\VS{2}{\ADD{When there are ones who have}} problems, you should help each other. By doing that, you will complete what Christ requires.

\VS{3}Keep in mind that those who
{\ADD{refuse to help others because they think that they are more important than other people, although they are}} not really more important, are deceiving themselves.

\VS{4}Instead, each
{\ADD{of you}} should
{\ADD{constantly}} test/judge
{\ADD{and decide if you can approve what you yourself are doing and thinking}}. Then you can boast because of what you yourself
{\ADD{are doing and thinking}}, and not because what you are doing is superior to what other persons
{\ADD{are doing}}.

\VS{5}Keep in mind that you must each perform your own
{\ADD{individual}} tasks.

\VS{6}{\ADD{You}} who are being taught $\{$whom others are teaching$\}$
{\ADD{God’s truth}} should share your various
{\ADD{material}} things [EUP] with your teachers.


\par }{\SH We should not tire of doing good, but instead, we should do good to everyone, especially to believers.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 6:7-10

\par }{\PP \VS{7}You should not deceive yourselves.
{\ADD{Remember that}} God is never outwitted $\{$no one ever fools God$\}$.
{\ADD{Just like}} a farmer will reap exactly the kind
{\ADD{of crop that}} he plants [MET],
{\ADD{God will reward people according to what they have done}} [MET].

\VS{8}{\ADD{God}} will punish eternally those who do what their self-directed natures urge them to do. But those who please
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit will live forever
{\ADD{with God}} because of what
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit does for them.

\VS{9}But we should not ◄tire of/become discouraged while► doing what pleases God, because
{\ADD{eventually}}, at the time
{\ADD{that God}} has determined, we will receive a reward [MET], if we do not stop
{\ADD{doing the good things that we have been doing}}.

\VS{10}So, whenever we have opportunities, we should do
{\ADD{what is}} good to all people. But especially we should do what is good to all our fellow believers.


\par }{\SH Some people want you to be circumcised only so that they will not be persecuted for proclaiming what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, but that is the only thing that I will boast about.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 6:11-16

\par }{\PP \VS{11}I am now writing this last part of this letter to you in my own handwriting. Notice the large letters with which I am now writing. I am doing this in order that I might emphasize this:

\VS{12}Some Jewish believers are trying to force you to perform certain rituals so that other Jews will think highly of them. They are insisting that you be circumcised $\{$that someone must circumcise you$\}$. They are doing that only in order that other Jews would no longer ◄persecute them/cause them to suffer► for proclaiming that God will save us because of our trusting in what Christ accomplished when he died on the cross [MTY, MET].

\VS{13}The reason that I say that is that the ones who are insisting that you be circumcised $\{$that someone circumcise you$\}$ do not themselves fully obey the laws that God gave to Moses. Instead, they desire that you let someone circumcise you in order that they might boast to those Jews who would ◄persecute them/cause them to suffer► that you did that because they insisted [MTY] that you do it.

\VS{14}I myself, however, strongly desire that I never boast about anything like that. The only thing I will boast about is what our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished by dying on the cross [MTY]. Because of what Christ did on the cross, I no longer am interested in the things that those who do not trust Christ [MTY] think are important, and those people are no longer interested in the things that I [MET] think are important.

\VS{15}I will boast about Christ dying on the cross because God is concerned neither that people are circumcised nor that people are not circumcised. Instead, he is concerned only that people conduct their lives in a completely new way.

\VS{16}I pray that God will give inner peace and act kindly towards all who will act according to this new way of life. It is all those who live according to this new way of life who are now truly God’s people [MET], as the Israeli people were God’s people previously.


\par }{\SH I have suffered enough for declaring the truth about Jesus, so do not trouble me again.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 6:17

\par }{\PP \VS{17}Finally, I say that people have persecuted me/caused me to suffer for declaring the truth about Jesus, and as a result I have scars on my body. Your new teachers do not have scars like mine! So do not trouble/bother me about these matters again!


\par }{\SH I pray that God may act kindly within you.
\par }
{\SR Galatians 6:18

\par }{\PP \VS{18}My fellow believers, I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will kindly accomplish what he desires within you. ◄Amen!/May it be so!►


\par }