Galatians 5
The full text of Galatians 5 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Look, I, Paul, tell you this: if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all.
3 Again I declare to everyone who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been cut off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; what counts is faith working through love.
7 You were running well. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
9 A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.
10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. But the one who is throwing you into confusion will bear the penalty, whoever he may be.
11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
12 As for those agitators—I wish they would go all the way and castrate themselves!
13 You, brothers and sisters, were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as an opening for the flesh; rather, through love serve one another.
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do whatever you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
Translation notes (9)
- Galatians 5:5a This can also be translated, 'Or we await the hope of righteousness.' The Greek phrase 'hope of righteousness' can mean either the hope that righteousness brings, or the righteousness that is the object of our hope.
- Galatians 5:11a The Greek word skandalon means a stumbling block or scandal—something that trips people up and provokes offense. The Greek word adelphoi means 'brothers,' but here it includes all believers, both men and women.
- Galatians 5:12a The Greek word apokopsontai literally means 'cut themselves off.' In the context of the circumcision dispute, this is a deliberately shocking wish that the agitators would not stop at circumcision but emasculate themselves entirely. While some translate it more mildly as 'cut themselves off from you,' the cruder sense is widely recognized.
- Galatians 5:13a The Greek word sarx, translated 'the flesh,' here means self-indulgent human nature. The Greek word adelphoi means 'brothers,' but here it includes all believers, both men and women.
- Galatians 5:16a The Greek word sarx, translated 'flesh,' refers to the self-centered human nature that is opposed to the Spirit.
- Galatians 5:17a This can also be translated, 'Or so that you cannot do what you want.' The final part of the verse can describe the result of this conflict in two ways: either the Spirit restrains the flesh's desires, or the two opposing pulls keep you from simply following your own will.
- Galatians 5:19a The Greek word porneia covers a broad range of illicit sexual conduct. The Greek word aselgeia denotes unrestrained, shameless indulgence.
- Galatians 5:20a The Greek word pharmakeia refers to the use of drugs, potions, and spells, or magic arts; it is here rendered 'sorcery'.
- Galatians 5:24a The Greek word sarx is translated 'flesh.' For more explanation, see the note at 5:16.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own modern English translation, worked directly from the original Greek and honest to the earliest manuscripts. It was completed in 2026 — the most modern English Bible translation — and is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Every chapter, including all of Galatians, is free to read here on the web.
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