Galatians
Joseph Smith Translation
Chapter
1
1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus
Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the
churches of Galatia:
3 Grace be
to you and peace from God the Father, and from
our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver
us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 To whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that
called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble
you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you
than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now please
men,
or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be
the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which
was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of
Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past
in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God,
and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my
equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of
my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my
mother’s womb, and called me by his
grace,
16 To reveal his Son in
me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were
apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to
see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James
the Lord’s brother.
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold,
before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and
Cilicia;
22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea
which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted
us in times past now preacheth the faith which once
he destroyed.
Chapter
2
1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, and took Titus with me
also.
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto
them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which
were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek,
was compelled to be circumcised:
4 Notwithstanding there were some brought in by false brethren unawares, who came in privily to spy out our
liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an
hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever
they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they
who seemed to be somewhat in
conference added nothing to me:
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of
the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was
unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the
apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the
Gentiles:)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be
pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas
the right hands of fellowship; that we should
go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they
would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward
to do.
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him
to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat
with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself,
fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him;
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to
the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a
Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the
Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners
of the Gentiles,
16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith
of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But
if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found
sinners, is therefore Christ the
minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if
I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I
through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do
not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Chapter
3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not
obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,
crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the
Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are
ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and
worketh miracles among you, doeth he it
by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be
blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with
faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are
under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of
the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the
sight of God, it is evident: for, The
just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that
doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles
through Jesus Christ; that they might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though but a
man’s covenant, yet when confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He
saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is
Christ.
17 And this I say, that
the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was
four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the
promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance is
of the law, then no more
of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then the
law was added because of transgressions,
till the seed should come to whom the promise was made in the law given to Moses, who was ordained by the
hand of angels to be a
mediator of this first covenant (the law).
20 Now this mediator was not a mediator of the
new covenant, but there is one mediator of the new covenant, who is Christ, as it is
written in the law concerning the promises made to Abraham and his seed. Now
Christ is the mediator of life; for this is the promise which God made
unto Abraham.
21 Is the
law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law
given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the
law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,
that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law,
shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster until Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer
under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all bone in Christ
Jesus.
29 And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to
the promise.
Chapter
4
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a
servant, though he be lord of all;
2
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the
world:
4
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a
woman, made under the law,
5
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons.
6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of
God through Christ.
8
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature
are no gods.
9
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye
again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in
bondage?
10
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren,
I beseech you to be perfect
as I am perfect; for I
am persuaded as ye have a
knowledge of me, ye have not injured
me at all by your sayings.
13
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at
the first.
14
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but
received me as an angel of God, even
as Christ Jesus.
15
Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have
plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17
They zealously affect you, but not
well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18
But it is good to be zealously
affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present
with you.
19
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in
you,
20
I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in
doubt of you.
21
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other
by a freewoman.
23
But he who was of the bondwoman was
born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the
mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now
is, and is in bondage with her children.
26
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27
For it is written, Rejoice, thou
barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the
desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for
the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Chapter
5
1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be
not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you
nothing.
3
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do
the whole law.
4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the
law; ye are fallen from grace.
5
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8
This persuasion cometh not of him
that calleth you.
9
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise
minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?
then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12
I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one
another.
14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even
in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of
another.
16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and
ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and
these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that
ye would.
18
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies,
21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you
in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of
God.
22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts.
25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one
another.
Chapter
6
1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore
such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be
tempted.
2
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth
himself.
4
But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in
himself alone, and not in another.
5
For every man shall bear his own burden.
6
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all
good things.
7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap.
8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we
faint not.
10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
11
Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
12
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be
circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to
have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
15
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the
Lord Jesus.
18
Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.