Galatians 5:1-26 (GS trans.) With freedom Messiah has released us: stand firm, therefore, and do not again submit to chains of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you [get] circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 But I again stand to witness to every man who is circumcised, that he is a debtor to keep the whole Torah. 4 You [will be] rendered void of Messiah’s [faithfulness], you who are seeking to be justified by Torah; you have run aground [crashed on the rocks] in grace. 5 For in the Spirit, out of faith, we eagerly await [Rom. 8:19] the certain hope of righteousness [now in Messiah and in the future, Rom. 2:12-16]. 6 For in Christ Jesus [neither] circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything, but faith through the working [accomplishment] of love. 7 You were running well; who cut you off from obeying the truth? 8 Such a persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” 10 I seek to persuade you in the Lord that you not adopt any other view; but the one who is troubling you will receive judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the scandal of the cross has been nullified [made to no effect, voided]. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even castrate themselves! 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your liberation [from slavery] as an opportunity for flesh, but on account of love become slaves [not under Torah but] to one another. 14 For the whole Torah is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” [Lev. 19:18]. 15 If, however, you [snake] bite [Num. 21:6] and devour one another, take care that you do not destroy one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not [no never] bring to fulfillment the fleshly lust. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit [against] the flesh; these are adversaries of each other, in order that you do not accomplish what you desire. 18 But if Spirit led, you are not under Torah. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest: immorality, defilement, sexual promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hating, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and this kind of thing. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not be heirs [of Abraham] in the kingdom rule of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is selfless love, joy, peace, endurance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, and discipline. Torah [truly] is not against such things. 24 Now those of Messiah [Jesus] have crucified fleshliness with its sufferings and lusts. 25 If we live in Spirit, may we march in Spirit. 26 Let us not become puffed up, provoking one another, being envious of one another.
Outline?
Circumcision Controversy (vv. 1-12)
Community of the Crucified (vv. 13-26)