Every post in Galatians, in order. Tap a post for the whole conversation, or the book icon for the verses.
Since Paul left, some teachers have been through. They say the men here need to be circumcised, the way the Jewish law says. And we should be keeping the special days and months and seasons. A lot of people are listening.
Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
Galatia. I can’t believe how fast you’re walking away from the one who called you by Christ’s kindness, over to a different good news. Which isn’t good news at all. Someone is messing with your heads.
I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
If anyone brings you a different message from the one we brought you, even us, even an angel from heaven, let him be under God’s curse. I said it before. I’m saying it again.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! As 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 under a curse!
Replying to @paul
Well. He’s not happy.
I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
Does this sound like someone trying to keep people happy? If I were still trying to please people, I wouldn’t be Christ’s servant.
Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
You’ve heard what I used to be like. I hunted God’s church and tried to wipe it out. I was further along in Judaism than most people my age, and fierce about our ancestors’ traditions.
Luke@luke · JerusalemAnd Saul was there, approving of it all.
Now he’s going house to house, dragging believers, men and women, off to prison. Everyone except the apostles scatters.For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
When God showed me his Son, I didn’t go running to anyone for advice. Went off to Arabia, then back to Damascus. Three years before I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Peter. Stayed with him fifteen days. The only other apostle I saw was James, the Lord’s brother. Before God, I’m not lying.
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.
Replying to @paul
We never met him. All we kept hearing was: the man who used to hunt us down is now preaching the faith he tried to destroy. We praised God for him.
I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.
Fourteen years later I went up to Jerusalem again, with Barnabas. Took Titus too. I laid out the message I preach to non-Jews, privately, to the ones everyone sees as leaders. And nobody made Titus get circumcised, even though he’s Greek.
Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
Replying to @paul
Can confirm. Greek. Uncircumcised. Nobody made me.
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
James, Peter and John, the ones they call the pillars, shook hands with Barnabas and me. We go to the non-Jews; they go to the Jews. All they asked was that we keep remembering the poor. Which I was keen to do anyway.
And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Right, so. Peter’s been in Antioch, eating with the non-Jewish believers like it’s nothing. Then some men turned up from James in Jerusalem, and now he’s pulled back. Eats separately.
When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
Replying to @antioch.church
And the other Jewish believers have gone along with it. Even Barnabas.
The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
He was scared of the circumcision crowd, and he was in the wrong. So I told him to his face, in front of all of them: you’re a Jew and you live like a non-Jew, so how can you make non-Jews live like Jews?
Someone in the Antioch church@antioch.church · AntiochRight, so. Peter’s been in Antioch, eating with the non-Jewish believers like it’s nothing. Then some men turned up from James in Jerusalem, and now he’s pulled back. Eats separately.When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Replying to @paul
He said it in front of everyone. Everyone. Proper awkward.
When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Nobody is put right with God by keeping the law. Only through faith in Jesus Christ. We’re Jews by birth and we know that. It’s why we believed in him too.
We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
I’ve been crucified with Christ. It’s not me living any more. Christ lives in me. The life I live now, I live by trusting the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
If you could get right with God by keeping the law, then Christ died for nothing.
I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
You foolish Galatians! Who has put a spell on you? You saw Jesus Christ crucified, as plain as day. One question. Did you receive the Spirit by keeping the law, or by hearing and believing? You started with the Spirit, and now you’re trying to finish on your own effort? Are you really that foolish?
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
Replying to @paul
Ouch.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
Abraham believed God, and God counted that as making him right with him. So the people who have faith are Abraham’s real children.
Moses@mosesAbram believes the LORD, and the LORD counts that as making him right with God. One sentence. People are still quoting it.So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
Scripture saw this coming. It told Abraham the good news in advance: all nations will be blessed through you. That’s you.
Moses@moses · HaranThen this. The LORD tells Abram to leave his country, his relatives and his father’s house, and go to a land he’ll show him. He’ll make him into a great nation, and every family on earth will be blessed through him.The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
It’s obvious nobody gets right with God by the law. Scripture says it: the one who is right with God will live by faith.
Habakkuk@habakkukLook at the proud one. He isn’t right inside. But the one who is right with God will live by faith.Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
Think of it in everyday terms. Once an agreement is signed and sealed, nobody can cancel it or add to it. The law came 430 years after God’s promise to Abraham. It can’t cancel the promise.
Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended. What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.
Replying to @paul
So why was the law given at all?
Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.
You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. There’s no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. You’re all one in Christ Jesus.
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
When the time was exactly right, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to buy freedom for the people under the law, so we could be adopted as his children. And he sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, calling out “Abba, Father”. So you’re not a slave any more. You’re a child. And if you’re a child, you’re an heir.
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
You know God now. Or rather, God knows you. So why would you go back to those weak, worthless things and be slaves all over again? Special days! And months! And seasons and years! I’m scared for you. Scared all my work with you was for nothing.
A believer in Galatia@believer.galatia · GalatiaSince Paul left, some teachers have been through. They say the men here need to be circumcised, the way the Jewish law says. And we should be keeping the special days and months and seasons. A lot of people are listening.But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
Remember how we met? I was ill. That’s how I came to be preaching to you in the first place. My illness was a real test for you, and you didn’t look down on me or turn me away. You welcomed me like an angel from God. Like Christ Jesus himself. If you could have torn out your own eyes and given them to me, you would have.
You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself. What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
Replying to @paul
We would have.
What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
My dear children. I’m going through labour pains over you all over again, until Christ is formed in you. I wish I could be with you right now and change my tone. I honestly don’t know what to do with you.
My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
You want to live under the law? Then listen to what it says. Abraham had two sons: one by Hagar, the slave woman, one by Sarah, the free woman. The slave’s son was born the ordinary way; the free woman’s son was born because of God’s promise. They’re a picture of two agreements. And you, brothers and sisters, are like Isaac. Children of the promise.
Sarah@sarahIt’s a boy. Right on time, like God said. His name is Isaac.Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free. So stand firm, and don’t let anyone put the yoke of slavery back on you.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
Listen. I, Paul, am telling you: if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ is no use to you at all. In Christ, circumcised or not makes no difference. What counts is faith, working itself out through love.
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
Replying to @paul
So that’s a no, then.
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
You were running so well. Who cut in on you? It takes only a little yeast to work its way through the whole batch of dough.
You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.
You were called to be free. Just don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do whatever you like. Serve one another in love. The whole law comes down to one line: love your neighbour as yourself.
Moses@mosesSame part, from the LORD: no revenge, no grudges. Love your neighbour as yourself. And he signs it “I am the LORD.”For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Replying to @paul
But if you keep biting each other and tearing into each other, watch out. You’ll eat each other alive.
But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
What our selfish nature produces is obvious: sleeping around, impurity, idol worship, sorcery, hatred, arguing, jealousy, rage, rivalry, splits, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and so on. I’m warning you again: people who live like that won’t have a share in God’s kingdom.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There’s no law against any of that.
Paul@paulWhat our selfish nature produces is obvious: sleeping around, impurity, idol worship, sorcery, hatred, arguing, jealousy, rage, rivalry, splits, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and so on. I’m warning you again: people who live like that won’t have a share in God’s kingdom.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
If someone gets caught doing wrong, set them right again, gently. And watch yourself, or you’ll be tempted too. Carry each other’s burdens. That’s how you keep the law of Christ.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Don’t kid yourselves. God can’t be made a fool of. You reap what you sow.
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
Don’t get tired of doing good. At the right time we’ll reap a harvest, if we don’t give up.
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Look how big the letters are. I’m writing this bit with my own hand.
See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!
As for me, I’ll never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Circumcised or not doesn’t mean a thing. What counts is a new creation.
But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
From now on, nobody give me any more trouble. I carry the marks of Jesus on my body.
From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.