1.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Verse 1
Be not entangled again; do not return again to the bondage of Jewish rites from which you have been delivered.
2.
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Verse 2
If ye be circumcised; if you seek salvation through this rite, and rely upon it as the ground of acceptance with God.
3.
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Verse 3
He is a debtor, &c.; that is, if he depends upon the law for justification, he must obey it in full.
4.
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Verse 4
Ye are fallen from grace; you give up all right to expect or hope for favor or mercy.
5.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Verse 5
Wait for; depend upon. We are looking to that source as the ground of our reliance.
6.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, 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.
Verse 8
This persuasion; this idea that you must come under obligation to the Mosaic law.
9.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Verse 9
A little leaven, &c.; that is, the error had arisen from the influence of a small number, though it had spread extensively among them.
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.
Verse 10
His judgment; the just judgment of God.
11.
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Verse 11
It would seem from this passage that Paul had himself been charged with adhering to the necessity of circumcision.--Persecution; that is, from the Jews.--Is the offence--ceased; it would cease.
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.
Verse 13
For an occasion to the flesh; for the indulgence of sinful propensities.
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 fulful the lust of the flesh.
Verse 16
Ye shall not fulfil; ye will not fulfil.
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.