Modern Literal Version
[Galatians 1]
1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him up from the dead), 1:2 and all the brethren who are together with me, to the congregations* of Galatia: 1:3 grace to you* and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 1:4 who gave himself concerning our sins, *that he might liberate us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father: 1:5 the glory is to him, forevermore. Amen.
1:6 I marvel that you* are so quickly transferring yourselves from the one who called you* by the favor of Christ to a different good-news; 1:7 which is not another good-news, except now there are some who are disturbing you* and wish to pervert the good-news of the Christ. 1:8 But even if we or a messenger from heaven, should proclaim to you* any good-news contrary to what we ourselves proclaimed to you*, let him be accursed. 1:9 As we have said before, so now I am saying again, if anyone proclaims to you* any good-news contrary to what you* received, let him be accursed. 1:10 For* am I now persuading men or God? Or am I seeking to please men? For* if I was still pleasing men, I myself would not be a bondservant of Christ.
1:11 But I am making known to you*, brethren, the good-news which was proclaimed by me, that it is not according to man. 1:12 For* I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 1:13 For* you* have heard previously of my conduct in Judaism, how that I was surpassingly persecuting the congregation* of believers of God and was making havoc of her; 1:14 and how I was progressing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own race, possessing even-more zealousness for the ancestral traditions. 1:15 But when God was delighted– he separated* me from my mother's womb, having called me through his grace, 1:16 to reveal his Son in me, in order that I may proclaim the good-news of him among the nations. Immediately, I did not consult with flesh and blood; 1:17 nor did I go up into Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and I returned again into Damascus.
1:18 Thereafter, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Peter and remained with him fifteen days. {Fall 39 AD.} 1:19 But I did not see any other of the apostles, except James the Lord's brother. 1:20 Now concerning the things which I write to you*, behold, in God's sight, I am not lying. 1:21 Thereafter I came to the districts of Syria and Cilicia. 1:22 But I was still unrecognized by face to the congregations* of Judea, which are in Christ; 1:23 but they were only hearing that, The one previously persecuting us is now proclaiming the good-news of the faith of which he was previously making havoc. 1:24 And they were glorifying God with* me.
2:1 Thereafter, I went-up again to Jerusalem after fourteen years with Barnabas, also having taken Titus together with me. {Acts 15} 2:2 But I went-up according to revelation, and I myself submitted to them the good-news which I am preaching among the Gentiles, (but privately before those of repute), lest I might be running or had run in vain.
2:3 But not even Titus who was together with me, being a Greek, was urged to be circumcised. 2:4 But it was because of false brethren who were smuggled in, who entered in beside us to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order that they might enslave us; 2:5 to whom, even for an hour, we did not yield to their subjection; in order that the truth of the good-news might remain with you*.
2:6 Now they did not contribute anything to me, that is from those of repute and from those reputed to be something (for* what sort of person they were previously, carries nothing of any-value to me; God does not receive the countenance of man). 2:7 But instead, after they saw that I had been entrusted with the good-news of the uncircumcision, just-as Peter that of the circumcision 2:8 (for* he who worked in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision also worked in me to the Gentiles). 2:9 And having known the grace which was given to me, James and Cephas and John, (those reputed to be pillars), gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, that* indeed we should go to the Gentiles but they should go to the circumcision, 2:10 adding only that* we should remember the poor; which I was diligent also to do* this same thing.
2:11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I stood against him to his face, because he was being condemned. 2:12 For* he was eating together with the Gentiles before some came from James. But when they came, he was retreating back and separating* himself, fearing those who were from the circumcision. 2:13 And the rest of the Jews were also hypocrites together with him; so-then even Barnabas was led away with their hypocrisy. 2:14 But when I saw that they are not being straightforward according to the truth of the good-news, I said to Peter before them all, If you, being* a Jew, are living like-a-Gentile and not like-a-Jew, why are you urging the Gentiles to live like-a-Jew?
2:15 We are Jews by nature and not sinners from the Gentiles; 2:16 knowing that a man is not made righteous from the works of the law, if it is not through the faith of Jesus Christ. Also we believed in Christ Jesus, in order that we might be made righteous from the faith of Christ and not from the works of the law, because not any flesh will be made righteous from the works of the law.
2:17 But if seeking to be made righteous in Christ; if we ourselves were also found to be sinners, is then Christ a servant of sin? Let it not happen! 2:18 For* if I build up again these things which I have torn-down, I establish myself as a transgressor. 2:19 For* through the law I died to the law, in order that I might live to God.
2:20 I have been crucified together with Christ. I am now no longer living, but Christ is living in me and that life which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith, in the faith of the Son of God, who loved* me and gave himself up on my behalf. 2:21 I am not nullifying the grace of God; for* if righteousness is through the law, consequently*, Christ died undeservedly.
3:1 O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you* that the truth is not to be obeyed, (in whose eyes, Jesus Christ was portrayed among you* as having been crucified)? 3:2 I only wish to learn this thing from you*. Did you* receive the Spirit from the works of the law or from the report of faith? 3:3 Are you* so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you* now being completed in the flesh? 3:4 You* suffered vainly so-many things? If actually it was even vainly. 3:5 Therefore, is the one supplying the Spirit to you*, and working miracles among you*, are they from the works of the law or from the report of faith?
3:6 Just-as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him *for righteousness. {Gen 15:6?} 3:7 Consequently*, you* know that those who are from faith, these are sons of Abraham. 3:8 Now the Scripture having foreseen that God would make the Gentiles righteous from faith, proclaimed the good-news beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'All the nations will be blessed in you.' {Gen 12:3, 18:18, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14} 3:9 So-then those who are sons from faith are blessed together with the believing Abraham. 3:10 For* as many as are from the works of the law are under a curse; for* it has been written, 'Cursed is everyone who is not remaining in all things which have been written in the book of the law, and to practice them.' {Deu 27:26} 3:11 Now it is evident that no one is made righteous in the law before God, because, 'The righteous will be living from faith.'{Hab. 2:4} 3:12 Now the law is not from faith, but, 'The man who has practiced them will be living in them.'{Lev 18:5} 3:13 Christ bought us up out of the curse of the law, after he became a curse on our behalf; for* it has been written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree,' {Deu 21:23} 3:14 in order that the blessing of Abraham might happen to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus; in order that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through the faith.
3:15 Brethren, I am speaking according to the manner of man, even a man's covenant* after it has been validated, no one nullifies or alters it with provisions. 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He did not say and to seeds, as upon many, but as upon one and 'to your seed,' which is the Christ. {Gen 22:18, 26:4} 3:17 Now I am saying this: the law, having happened four hundred and thirty years afterward, is not invalidating the covenant* that has been validated beforehand by God in reference to Christ, *that* it should do-away-with the promise. {Exo 12:40} 3:18 For* if the inheritance is from the law, it is no more from the promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through the promise. 3:19 Therefore why was the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed would come to whom it has been promised; having been appointed through messengers by the hand of an intermediary. 3:20 Now the intermediary is not of just one, but God is one. 3:21 Therefore is the law against the promises of God? Let it not happen! For* if a law was given which is able to give-life, righteousness really would have been from the law. 3:22 But scripture locked up all things together under sin, in order that the promise which comes from the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
3:23 But before the faith came, we were being guarded under the law, having been locked up together to the faith which was about to be revealed. 3:24 So-then the law has become our guardian* to bring us to Christ, in order that we might be made righteous from the faith. 3:25 But after the faith came, we are no longer under a guardian*. 3:26 For* you* are all sons of God, through the faith, in Christ Jesus. 3:27 For* as many as were immersed* into Christ were clothed with Christ. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bondservant nor free man, there is no male and female; for* you* all are one in Christ Jesus. 3:29 But if you* are consequently* Christ's, you* are also Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.
4:1 But I am saying inasmuch time as the heir is an infant, he carries nothing of more-value-than that of a bondservant, though being lord of all; 4:2 but is under commissioners and stewards till the appointed-day of the father. 4:3 So also, when we were infants, having been enslaved under the elemental principles of the world, 4:4 but when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born out of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 in order that he might buy those up who were under the law, in order that we might receive the sonship. 4:6 And because you* are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 4:7 So-then you are no longer a bondservant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
4:8 But indeed back then, not knowing God, you* were enslaved to the ones who by nature are not gods. 4:9 But now having known God, but rather having been known by God, how are you* returning again to the weak and poor elemental principles? Do you* again wish to be enslaved to these anew? 4:10 You* yourselves observe days and months and seasons and years. 4:11 I fear for you*, lest somehow I have vainly labored toward you*.
4:12 Brethren, I beseech of you*, become like I am, because I have also become like you* are. You* wronged me in nothing; 4:13 but you* know that I myself proclaimed the good-news to you* beforehand because of a weakness of the flesh. 4:14 And you* did not scorn, nor did you* spurn my test, which was in my flesh; but you* accepted me as a messenger of God, even as Christ Jesus. 4:15 Therefore what was your good-fortune? For* I testify of you*, that, if possible, you* would have given your* eyes to me, having popped them out. 4:16 So-then have I become your* enemy, declaring the truth to you*? 4:17 They are zealous for you* in no good way. But they wish to lock you* out from us, in order that you* may be zealous for them. 4:18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good thing and not only while* I was present* with you*. 4:19 My little-children, of whom I am in travail again till when Christ should be formed in you* again. 4:20 But I was wishing to be present* with you* now, and to change my voice, because I am perplexed at you*.
4:21 Tell* me, you* who wish to be under the law, are you* not hearing the law? 4:22 For* it has been written, that Abraham had two sons, one from the maidservant and one from the free woman. {Gen 21:2-9} 4:23 But indeed the one from the maidservant has been born according to the flesh, but the one from the free woman has been born through the promise. 4:24 Which things are allegorized; for* these women are two covenants*; indeed one from Mount Sinai, who is Hagar, giving-birth to children into bondage. 4:25 For* this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the Jerusalem which is now and she is enslaved with her children. 4:26 But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of all of us. 4:27 For* it has been written, 'Barren one who is not bearing children, be joyous; burst forth and cry, the one who is not travailing, because many more are the children of the desolate rather than from her who has the husband.' {Isa 54:1} 4:28 Now brethren, we are children of the promise according to Isaac. 4:29 But just-like then, he who was born according to the flesh was persecuting the one who was born according to the Spirit, so it is also now. 4:30 But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the maidservant and her son; for* the son of the maidservant should never inherit with the son of the free woman. {Gen 21:10} 4:31 Consequently*, brethren, we are not children of a maidservant, but of the free woman.
5:1 Therefore stand-firm* in the freedom in which Christ made us free, and do* not be held again in a yoke of bondage.
5:2 Behold, I Paul say to you*, that, if you* are circumcised, Christ will be profiting you* nothing. 5:3 Now, I am testifying again to every man being circumcised, that he is a debtor to practice the whole law. 5:4 You* were done-away-with, cut off from the Christ, you* who are made righteous by the law; you* fell from the grace of God. 5:5 For* we are waiting for the hope of righteousness in a Spirit from faith. 5:6 For* neither circumcision nor uncircumcision prevails over anything in Christ Jesus, but faith working through love*. 5:7 You* were running well; who hindered you*, saying, The truth is not to be obeyed? 5:8 This persuasion is not from the one who is calling you*. 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole batch. 5:10 I have confidence in you* in the Lord, that you* will not be mindful of another person and he who is disturbing you* will be bearing his judgment, whoever he is. 5:11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Consequently*, has the offense of the cross been done-away? 5:12 I wish-that those who are unsettling you* will even castrate themselves.
5:13 For* brethren, you* were called upon the basis of freedom; only do not use your* freedom *for a starting-point for the flesh, but serve** one another through love*. 5:14 For* all the law is fulfilled in one word, in this: 'You will love* your neighbor like yourself.' {Lev 19:18} 5:15 But if you* are biting and devouring one another, beware*, that you* may not be consumed by one another.
5:16 But I am saying, walk* by the Spirit and you* should never complete the lust of the flesh. 5:17 For* the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, and these lay in opposition to one another; in order that you* may not do* these things which you* would wish. 5:18 But if you* are led by the Spirit, you* are not under the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are apparent, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, unbridled-lust, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strifes, jealousies, furies, selfish ambitions, dissensions, sects, 5:21 envies, murders, drunkennesses, revelings and things similar to these things; which I am saying to you* beforehand, also just-as I foretold to you*, that those who are practicing such things– they will not be inheriting the kingdom of God!
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love*, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 5:23 meekness and self-control. There is no law against such. 5:24 But those who are of the Christ crucified the flesh together with its passions and lusts.
5:25 If we are living in the Spirit, we should also march in the Spirit. 5:26 Do* not become conceited, inflaming one another, envying one another.
6:1 Brethren, even if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you*, the spiritual, mend* such a one in a spirit of meekness; noting any trespass in yourself, lest you might also be tempted. 6:2 Bear* the burdens of one another and thus fulfill* the law of the Christ. 6:3 For* if anyone thinks himself to be something, being nothing, he is deceiving himself. 6:4 But let each one test his own work and then he will have his boasting toward himself alone and not toward the other. 6:5 For* each one will be bearing his own load.
6:6 But let him, who is instructed in the word, share in all good things with the one who instructs. 6:7 Do* not be misled. God is not ridiculed; for* whatever a man should sow, he will also be reaping this thing. 6:8 Because he who is sowing to his own flesh will be reaping corruption from his flesh, but he who is sowing to the Spirit will be reaping everlasting life from the Spirit. 6:9 Now we should not be depressed in practicing good; for* we will be reaping in our own time, if we do not faint. 6:10 Therefore consequently*, as we have opportunity, we should work what is the good thing toward all men but especially in the household of the faith.
6:11 Behold*, how-large the alphabet letters are I wrote to you* with my own hand.
6:12 As many as wish to have a good* countenance in the flesh, these are urging you* to be circumcised; only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of the Christ. 6:13 For* they themselves do not even observe the law, (those who have been circumcised), but they wish you* to be circumcised, in order that they may boast in your* flesh. 6:14 But let it not happen for me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. 6:15 For* neither anything circumcision nor uncircumcision prevails in Christ Jesus, but a new creation. 6:16 And as many as will be marching by this standard*, peace and mercy is upon them and upon the Israel of God.
6:17 Furthermore let no one be harassing me, for* I bear the brands of the Lord Jesus on my body.
6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your* spirit, brethren. Amen.
{NOTES: You should read the 'Definitions' Section and other non-bible sections.}
{Luke is written 60-63 AD}
{Actual writing of Acts 63 AD.}
{{ Introduction to Ephesians 62-64 AD
By the time, Paul wrote to the Ephesian congregation, they seem to have few problems, which were so common to the other congregations of the Lord in his letters, or they had already learned the truth from them. Paul is still in prison and sends others in his place to help and encourage them. The introduction in the first chapter and second about God's favor; his original plan for our salvation, all we have to do it obey it. Eph. contains the most misquoted verse in the Bible by Christians, completely out of context, 2:8. God made a plan for us to be saved from our sins and showed us many examples in Acts. Once saved from your past sins, Christians have the letters to guide them on how to stay in God's grace and receive further forgiveness of sin for us as the 'new creation.' So many miss this fact. In chapter 3, he describes God's plan, a mystery hidden until this age when the Gentile and the Jew would be together in one body, the congregation of believers. The absolute best description of what the body of Christ is supposed to be and follow in Chapter 4:1-6, 11-16. We pray that all 'achieve to the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son.' In Chapter 5, Paul uses an example of a husband and wife to describe Jesus' love for the congregation. In Chapter 6, Paul tells us the devil is the real enemy, and only the knowledge of God's word can defeat him and his schemes.}}
Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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