Paul's Letter to the Galatians
Galatians 1
1. Paul, an apostle not from humanity, nor by
human authority,* except by the power of Jesus Christ and God His Father, who
raised Him from the dead,*
2. And from all the brethren with me, to the
churches that are in Galatia,
3. Blessings be with you and peace from God the
Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4. He who sacrificed* Himself on behalf of our
sins, to deliver us from this evil world, according to the will of our Father,
5. Whom we glorify forever,
amen.
6. I am amazed how quickly you turned to a
different faith,* away from Christ, who called you through His grace,
7. To [a faith] which is not the real thing,
except it is from people who make a joke out of you and wish to change your
faith in Christ.*
8. Even if I or an angel from heaven should
preach to you a faith* outside of what has been proffered to you, we shall be anathemas.
9. Just as I told you from the beginning, and now
again I tell you, if any human being preaches to you something outside of what
you have received, they shall be anathemas.
10. For do I now conform* myself to humanity or
to God, or do I want to praise humanity? For if I had until now praised
humanity, I would not have been a servant of Christ.
11. However, I declare to you, brethren, the hope
[of the Kingdom] that I preached to you, was not from the human being.
12. Neither did I receive it or learn it from a
human being, except through the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
13. For you have heard of my old walk in Judaism,
how I persecuted the church of God and tried to ruin it.
14. And I prospered through Judaism, more so than
any of my age group who were my kin, and I searched extensively in the learning
of my ancestors.
15. While He was pleased, however, He who from my
mother's womb chose me and called me through His Grace,
16. Who revealed His Son through me among the
nations, in His hour He was not revealed to me through flesh and blood,
17. And I did not go to the apostles who were
[chosen] ahead of me in Jerusalem, except I went to the Arabs and again I
returned to Damascus.
18. And after three years I went to Jerusalem to
see Keepa [Peter,] and I remained with him fifteen days.
19. The other apostles I did not see, however,
except James, [one of the] brethren of our Lord.
20. About these things that I write you then,
behold, before God, I do not lie.
21. And after these, I went to the Corinthians of
Syria and Cilicia.
22. And the churches in Judea, [who were
believers] in Christ, did not know me face to face.
23. Except they heard this alone that the one who
persecuted us, now behold, he proffers the faith [in the Kingdom, the faith]
that he used to tear down in the past.*
24. And they glorified God for having me.*
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*1:1.1 Literal Aramaic (Lit. Ar.) idiomatic
expression: "By the hand of the human being."
*1.1.2 Lit. Ar. idiom (id.): "House of the
dead."
*1:4 Lit. Ar. expression: "Gave his
soul."
*1:5 Lit. Ar. id.: "To [the end of] the
universe."
*1:6 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech:
"Hope."
*1:7 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech:
"Hope," or message of Christ.
*1:8 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech:
"Hope."
*1:10 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech:
"Allow."
*1:23 Lit. Ar. expression: "From old
season."
*1:24 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "And
they glorified by me to God."
Galatians 2
1. Again, however, after fourteen years, I went up to
Jerusalem together with Barnabas, and I fetched Titus with me.
2. I went up then openly* and revealed to those who preached
the Hope [of the Kingdom,] regarding those matters that were between us, whether
I was proceeding in vain or whether I was to continue.*
3. Even Titus who was with me, being Aramaean, did not feel
that he had to be circumcised.
4. Because of it, some brethren who [could not refrain from]
revealing this, entered among us in order to disturb the freedom we have through
Jesus Christ, so as to enslave us,
5. [The apostles in Jerusalem] did not even waste one hour to
consider [these brethren's] efforts to enslave us,* so that the truth about the
Hope may be strengthened in you.
6. Those who thought they had a legitimate complaint did not
put me off, for God does not judge on face value; they, however, were not in a
position to grant me permission one way or the other.*
7. On the contrary, for they saw that I believed in the
preaching to the uncircumcised, as did Keepa [Peter] to the circumcised.
8. For He who endeavors on behalf of Keepa [Peter] in
apostleship, also endeavors on my behalf in the apostleship to the nations.
9. And as they were cognizant of the grace that was vouchsafed
me, James and Keepa [Peter] and John, they who were perceived as the pillars,
they gave me and Barnabas the right to proceed,* that we may [preach] among the
nations and they among the circumcised.
10. That we may devote ourselves to the needy alone, and I was
at a loss as to why they did this.
11. When Keepa [Peter] came to Antioch under disguise,*
because they would otherwise latch on to him,
12. Before people came from James [to meet him,] he ate with
the nations.* When they arrived, however, he excused himself and departed,
because he was more comfortable in the company of the circumcised.*
13. And some of the Jews also followed suit,* so that even
Barnabas was fetched so as to [condone what they did.]"
14. And so I saw that they did not proceed fully according to
God's Revelation,* I told Keepa [Peter] everything indeed, "If you, being a
Jew, live according to the Aramaean faith,* and not according to the Jewish
faith, how can you impose on the nations to live according to Judaism?
15. "For if we are from our origin Jews, and not of the
sinful origin of the nations,*
16. "As we know that the human being is not sanctified by
the observance of the Law, except by the Faith of Jesus Christ, and we also as
we believe in Christ, that we are sanctified through that Faith in Christ, and
not through the observance of the Law, because no flesh is sanctified through
observing the Law.
17. "And if we then wished to be sanctified through
Christ, while we have also been found to be sinners, is then our Lord Jesus
Christ in the service of sin? Heaven forbid!
18. "For if I start building up those things that I tore
down, I will appear as someone who abandoned the commandments.
19. "I, however, allowed the Law to expire according to
the Law,* so that I may live according to God.
20. "And I was crucified with Christ, and henceforth it
is not I who lives, except it is Christ who lives through me. And this [life]
that I now live in the flesh, I live it through the faith in that Son of God, He
who loved me and gave himself on my behalf.
21. "I cannot spurn the grace of God. For if
sanctification is through the Law, Christ died in vain."
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*2:2.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "By
revelation."
*2:2.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "To run in
vain."
*2:5 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "Neither a full
hour they threw to their enslaving..."
*2:6 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "Those however that
expected they were something, from them they were did not make me idle, for God
by faces of humanity does not grant, they however anything did not permit
me."
*2:9 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "The right of the
organization."
*2:11 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "By his covered
faces."
*2:12.1 A designation for people of the Roman Empire who were
neither Jews, nor Aramaeans. The Jews and Aramaeans of this period shared the
same culture and language. Moreover, the Jewish converts and the Aramaeas were
physically indistinguishable.
*2:12.2 Lit. Ar. expression: "Because he was in
submission on from those of circumcision."
*2:13.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Threw in with
him."
*2:13.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "To equalize
before their faces."
*2:14 Lit. Aramaic word: "Awen-gali-yoon."
*2:14. Lit. Ar. idiom: "Aramaicly," or according to
Scriptures. Paul leaves no doubt that the Ancient Aramaic Scripture is the only
true Gospel of Christianity. Therefore, no part of Scriptures could ever have
been originated in any other language.
*2:19 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "For I by the Law
to the Law deadened." Here Paul explains another transition from the Old
Covenant to the New Covenant.
Galatians 3
1. O, thoughtless Galatians,* who has accursed you, that
behold, like someone put the blinders before your eyes,* [you have lost sight
of] Jesus Christ crucified?
2. This alone I wish to know of you, did you receive the
Spirit by performing the Law or by heeding the Faith?
3. Did you become so foolish that while before, the Spirit
abided in you, you have now become the slaves of the flesh?
4. Was all that we preached regarding constraints? And thus
our association has fallen within these narrow limits.
5. He who gave you the Spirit and the covenant of power, did
He thus give them to you for your observances of the Law or because of your heeding
the Faith?
6. Just as Abraham believed in God, and it was credited to him
as sainthood,
7. Know, therefore, that those who were faithful, they are the
children of Abraham.
8. For, from times of old, before knowing that through faith
was how nations were blessed, Abraham was promised,* as the holy Scripture says,
"Through you all nations shall be justified*."
9. Since the believers were justified through the faith of
Abraham.
10. For those who [believed] in the observance of the Law, are
under the curse of the Law. For it is written [in Scriptures,] "Cursed is
he who does not do everything that is written here in the Law."
11. So then no human being achieves sainthood before God
through the Law, this is obvious, because it is written in Scriptures that the
saint lives by Faith.
12. The Law then did not emerge from Faith, except whoever
performed those things that were written therein, came to live in the Faith.
13. Therefore, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law,
who took on these curses on our own behalf. For it is written [in Scriptures,]
"Accursed is he who is hanged by the Staff.*"
14. So that through Faith the blessings of Abraham would be
granted by Jesus Christ, and we received the declaration of the Spirit through
Faith.
15. Brethren, I speak as a human being, the Covenant of the
Son of Man that I testify to, let no human being denigrate it or change anything
in it.*
16. To Abraham and to his seed, He deeded the Kingdom. And He
did not say, "And to your seed," as in the plural, except, "to
your seed," as in the singular, that being the Christ.
17. This then I say, that the Covenant from Old was fulfilled
by God through Christ,* the Law which came to us four hundred and thirty years
[before Jesus,] could not degrade and void the Kingdom [promised from the
foundations of the universe.]*
18. If, however, the inheritance was given to us by the Law,
that would not constitute a kingdom. The inheritance, then, that God gave
Abraham was the Kingdom itself.
19. Why then the Law? Since there would be too many liberties*
taken, until there came the seed that was prophesied.* And he would give the Law
through the angels by the One who is Able.
20. The One who was Able was not alone, God, however, is One.
21. Was the Law thus a stumbling block before the Kingdom of
God? Heaven forbid. For if the Law was given so it would be possible to attain
eternal life, truly then righteousness was through the Law.
22. Except, Scriptures comprised of everything that was under
the power of sin,* so that the Kingdom that is the Faith in Jesus Christ would
be proffered to those who believed.
23. Until Faith came then, the Law protected us, as we
embodied that Faith that was destined to be revealed.
24. Thus the Law was our gateway to Christ, so that we may be
made righteous through faith.
25. As Faith has come, we need no gateways.
26. For you are all children of God through the faith in Jesus
Christ.
27. For those who were baptized through Christ, have taken* on
the Christ.
28. There is neither Jew, nor Aramaean,* neither the slave,
nor the free, neither the male heir, nor female. For you are all one in Jesus
Christ.
29. And if you belong to Christ, you are thus of the seed of
Abraham and heirs of the Kingdom.
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*3:1.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: (specifically addressing
a small group) "Deficient in thought."
*3:1.2 Lit. Ar. expression: "Tied the tiers."
*3:6 Lit. Ar. id.: "Counted."
*3:8.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Given the
hope."
*3:8.2 Lit. Ar. id.: The word doesn't exist in English. It
means "blessed, made peaceful and congratulated" all at once.
*3:13 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "The
wood," or "Caesar."
*3:15 Note: Only the Ancient Aramaic retains the correct
meaning of this passage.
*3:17.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction retained: The Old
Covenant or the Old Testament was fulfilled through Christ.
*3:17.2 Paul sets the date when the Law was recorded at 430
B.C.
*3:19.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech:
"Advances."
*3:19.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "To whom were
directed the joyous expectations."
*3:22 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Under
sin."
*3:27 Lit. Ar. id.: "Attired."
*3:28 Lit. Ar. id.: "Aramaic speaking person."
Galatians 4
1. I tell you then, while the heir is a child, he is
indistinguishable from the rest of the servants, yet he is the lord of all.
2. Except he is even under their supervision and that of the
house masters, until the season designated by his father.
3. Thus we also, while young, we were under submission to the
rituals of the world.
4. Then when the age came to an end, God sent his Son, and he
was born from woman and was under the Law,
5. So as he may redeem those who were under the Law, and that
he may proffer the consecration for the Children.
6. And then as you are Children, God sent the Spirit of His
Son to your hearts, that which calls the Creator "Our Father."
7. Hence you are not servants, except Children. And if
Children, then also heirs by the hand of* Jesus Christ.
8. For when you did not know God, you worked for those who
were by their nature not Godly.
9. Now that you know God and moreover that you have heard from
God, you are again returning to those sick and impoverished rituals, and you
want to start again being under submission to these.
10. You observe [the rituals] by day, month, season and year.
11. I am concerned that all my efforts should not end up in
vain for you.*
12. Be for me as I am for you. Brethren, I pray that nothing
should go remiss because of me.*
13. For you know that even through the weakness of the flesh,
I have preached to you the Kingdom promised from olden* times.
14. And my past offenses of the flesh you did not hold against
me, except like an angel of God you did receive me, and like Jesus Christ.
15. What happened to that generosity? For I testified that if
it were possible, you would have even plucked out your eyes and given them to
me.
16. Then what, have I become your enemy that I preach the
truth?
17. The discrimination that your enemies sowed between you is
not for your benefit,* except they wish to create havoc among you.
18. It is beautiful, however, that you are discriminating at
all times and not only when I am with you alone.
19. Children,* these things that I agonize* over again from
the beginning, I do so that Christ may be victorious in you,
20. For I am pleased to be with you now and speaking to you in
a lower tone of voice,* because I am amazed with you.
21. Tell me, those of you who wish to be under the Law,* do
you indeed heed the Law?
22. For it is written, Abraham had two sons, one from the
mother and one from the emancipated.
23.Except the one who was born of the mother was of the flesh,
however the one born from the emancipated was of the land.
24. These are then the two lines of the Covenant.* One that is
from Mount Sinai, was born to serve, which is Haggar.
25. For Haggar is a mountain of Sinai, in Arabia, and
Jerusalem [ended up following this line,] and performed this service together
with its children.
26. That Jerusalem then, which we hold in high esteem, is our
mother.
27. For it is written [in Scriptures,]
"I was pleased by the barren [woman,] who had not given
birth,
And overjoyed by the step mother who would not go through
labor pains,"
because the children of the outcast had increased more
than the children of the tribeswoman.
28. We, however, brethren, are like Isaac, we are the children
of the inheritance.*
29. And like the one who was born of the flesh, rejected the
one who was born of the Spirit, likewise now.
30. Except what did Scriptures say?
"I shall bring out the mother and the child,
because the Son of the mother shall not inherit the same as
the son of the emancipated."
31. Therefore, brethren, we are not children of the mother,
except the children of the emancipated.
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*4:7 Lit. Ar. id.: "By the power," or through.
*4:11 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "I am in fear that
not emptily I provided for you."
*4:12 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "No foolishness
should come upon you through me."
*4:13 Lit. Ar. id.: Reference to Old Testament.
*4:17 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Dividing through
you was not for the beautiful."
*4:19.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "My children."
*4:19.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "[Go into]
throes [over.]"
*4:20 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Change my
echo."
*4:21 Lit. Ar. expression retained: "To live strictly by
the Law."
*4:24 Lit. Ar. id.: "Divisions of covenance."
*4:27 Lit. Ar. id. "From the rib."
*4:28 Lit. Ar. id.: "Kingdom," "property"
or "land."
Galatians 5
1. Therefore, hold on to the freedom that Christ granted us,*
and do not [allow yourselves to be] under the yoke of performing [the Law.]
2. Behold, I, Paul, am telling you, that if you become
circumcised, Christ does not commend you for it.
3. Again I testify to every human being who is circumcised,
that he is responsible to fulfill all the Law.
4. You have relieved yourselves from Christ, those of you who
have glorified yourselves* by the Law and as such dropped out of grace.
5. For we, through the spirit of faith, are strengthening the
hope of sanctification.
6. For through Christ Jesus neither is being in circumcision
anything, nor is being outside circumcision anything, except that faith should
be perfected* through love.
7. Run the course well. Who made you heedless of the truth?
8. That heedlessness was not from the one who called you.
9. A little yeast leavens the whole dough.
10. I testify on your behalf before our Lord,* that you have
no other opinion. And those who mock you, let them await the Judgment that is
coming.
11. I, then, brethren, even if I were still preaching
circumcision, why would I be still rejected? Why has the shape of the cross
changed?* *
12. Then, let them remain among you, those who strike across
your midst in mockery.*
13. You were called to His freedom, brethren, however, let not
your freedom be for the sake of the flesh, except let your submission to each
other be in love.
14. For all the Law is fulfilled by one manifestation, that
you love your kin as yourself.
15. If, however, you grind one another down and chew each
other out, see that you do not eliminate* each other.
16. I am telling you then, walk in the Spirit and never be a
slave to the pleasures of the flesh.
17. For the flesh enjoys what lowers the spirit, and the
spirit enjoys what lowers the flesh, and both of them are a hindrance to each
other, so that you can never do what you wish.
18. If then you were fetched by the Spirit, you are not under
the Law.
19. For you know the manifestation of the flesh, fornication,
evil doing, dissolution,
20. The making of idols, witchcraft, hostility,
destructiveness, backbiting, resentfulness, stubbornness, divisiveness, apathy,
21. Killing, murder, drunkenness, [outrageous] singing and the
like. And those who devote themselves to such things, as I told you from the
start, I tell you now as well, they shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22. The fruit of the Spirit, however, are love, joy, peace,
compassion, fulfillment, grace, faith,
23. Gentleness, hope -- the Law does not consecrate these.
24. These belong to Christ, they crucified the flesh together
with all its wounds and lusts.
25. To live thus is by the Spirit and in submission to the
Spirit.
26. And [those that live so] are not lacking in bliss that
they should torment one another and cut down each other.
__________
*5:1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "Stand therefore
through freedom in that which Christ freed us."
*5:4 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech:
"Sanctified."
*5:6 Lit. Ar. id.: "Developed," or nurtured.
*5:10 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "I am alibi over
you through our Lord."
*5:11.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "They, why,
voided is the crisscrossing of the Cross?"
*5:11 and 5:12 Drawing the parallel to the two lines of the
Covenant mentioned earlier in the chapter.
*5:12 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "Associate then
also cutting they cut those that ridicule you."
*5:15 Lit. Ar. id.: "Sift."
Galatians 6
1. Brethren, if one of you comes forward with some
foolishness, you who are of the Spirit, win them over with a gentle spirit, and
beware that you are not tempted yourselves [to commit the same foolishness.]
2. And bear each other's burden, so as to fulfill the law of
Christ.
3. For if a human being thinks of themselves as something
special,* they lose their soul.
4. Except a human being should weigh their own actions, and
their pride should be within themselves and not by what others think.
5. For every human being is responsible for their own
conscience.
6. However, the one who hears the Manifestation becomes a
partaker with the one who tells him about all the blessings.
7. Do not be misled. God cannot be mocked. For whatever a
human being sows, that is what he reaps.
8. Whoever sows in the flesh, shall reap through the labor
pains of the flesh. And whoever sows in the spirit, shall reap the everlasting
life of the Spirit.
9. And as we do well, it will not be sufficient. For the
harvest season will be upon us and we will not be able to finish up.
10. So now while there is still time,* let us be good to every
human being, especially toward the children of the Faith.*
11. Look, these things that I write you, I am writing by my
own hand.
12. Those who take pride in the flesh, are the ones who are
pushing you to be circumcised, so as you may not be delivered by the cross of
Christ alone.
13. For those who are circumcised [among you] do not even
observe the Law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised anyway, so that
they could pride themselves in your flesh also.
14. For me, however, there is no pride, except for the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world crucified me, and by which I am
crucified to the world.
15. For neither is circumcision anything, nor is
non-circumcision, except for a new birth.
16. And those who abide by this doctrine, shall have peace
upon them and mercy, and upon Israel of God.
17. Henceforth, let no human being criticize what I do,* for I
bear the stigmata* of our Lord Jesus Christ upon my body.
18. May the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be in your
spirit,* brethren, amen.
(The end of the Letter to the Galatians that was written from Rome.)
__________
*6:3 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Expect they are
something which they are not."
*6:10.1 Lit. Ar. expression: "We have season."
*6:10.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "Increasingly
toward the children of the house of faith."
*6:17.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Cast misdeed
toward me."
*6:17.2 Lit. Aramaic: "Death marks."
*6:18 Lit. Ar. id.: "Be with your spirits."
June 8, 2000 -- translated by Victor Alexander © 2000
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