For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman;

Now all this is an allegory, for these women are the two covenants; one from Mount Sinai, which is Hagar bearing children into bondage

(for the word Hagar stands for Mt. Sinai in Arabia and represents the present Jerusalem who with her children is in bondage.)

For it is written, Rejoice, O thou barren one who dost never bear, Break forth in joy, thou that dost not travail; For the children of the desolate woman are many. Yea, more than hers who has a husband.

As for ourselves, brothers, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfillment of a promise.

But, just as it was then --- the son born in the ordinary way [i.e., Ishmael] persecuting the one born according to the Holy Spirit's [leading, i.e., Isaac] --- so it is now [i.e., Jews urging compliance with the requirements of the law of Moses persecuting those who refuse to return to dependance on that law for salvation. See 3:1-3].

But what does the Scripture say? Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the slave's son shall not be heir along with the son of the free woman.

So, brothers, we are the children of no slave woman, but of free woman. For freedom did not Christ set us free;

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Why, I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ can do nothing for you.

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

You are for justification by the Law? Then you are done with Christ, you have deserted grace,

But we are not, for we through the Spirit are eagerly waiting by faith for a hope of righteousness (a hope well founded);

For, in Christ Jesus, neither, circumcision, availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith, through love, energising.

As for me, I am fully trusting you in the Lord that you will be no otherwise minded; but he who is trying to unsettle you will have to bear his punishment, whoever he may be.

as for me, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? for then there would not be so much objection to the doctrine of the cross.

For you, brothers, were called for freedom; only do not make your freedom an excuse for self-indulgence, but in love enslave yourselves to one another.

For the whole Law has been fulfilled in this one precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

But, I am saying to you, live in harmony with the Holy Spirit's [desire for you] and [then] you will not [always] be giving in to the wrong desires of your body.

For the desire of the flesh is against that of the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit is against that of the flesh, for they two are antagonistic, so that you may not do those things that you wish.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest; such, for instance, as fornication, impurity, indecency,

Worship of images, use of strange powers, hates, fighting, desire for what another has, angry feelings, attempts to get the better of others, divisions, false teachings,

Let us stop being ambitious for honors, so challenging one another, envying one another.

Brothers, if a man is taken in any wrongdoing, you who are of the Spirit will put such a one right in a spirit of love; keeping watch on yourself, for fear that you yourself may be tested.

Take on yourselves the [spiritual] burdens of one another, for in doing so you will be fulfilling Christ's law [of love, John 13:35].

For if some man presumes to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

But let every man make test of his work, and then will his cause for glory be in himself only, and not in his neighbour.

for every one must carry his own pack load.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.

For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.

So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

Those who want to make a good impression in public [before the Jews] try to compel you to be circumcised, just so they will escape being persecuted for [faithfulness to] the cross of Christ.

For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh [that is, in the fact that they convinced you to be circumcised].

But far be it from me to have glory in anything, but only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which this world has come to an end on the cross for me, and I for it.

For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus].

From now on let no one trouble me [by making it necessary for me to justify my authority as an apostle, and the absolute truth of the gospel], for I bear on my body the branding-marks of Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me].

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised, for He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in [fellowship with] Christ. [Note: The term "heavenly realms" is used somewhat differently throughout this book. Here it refers to Christians as part of the church on earth].

just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love

He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—

for appreciation of the glory of his grace, by which he blessed us in him who is beloved.

who has by his blood obtained for us the redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace,

which he abounded for us in all wisdom and intelligence.

for he has discover'd to us the secret of his will, that out of his meer good pleasure, he had purposed in himself,

with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth.

In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,

so that we who were the first to hope in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior] would exist to the praise of His glory.

who for the praise of his glory is the pledge of our common heritage, unto the complete redemption of his purchased property.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers;

[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].

having the eyes of your heart enlightened. For you to know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the wealth of the glory of his inheritance in the sanctified.

and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength

above all the angelic Rulers, Authorities, Powers, and Lords, above every Name that is to be named not only in this age but in the age to come ??22 he has put everything under his feet and set him as head over everything for the church,

And he subordinated all things under his feet, and appointed him head over all things for the church,

Which, indeed, is his body, the fulness of him who, the all things in all, is for himself filling up.

For at one time you lived in sin, following the ways of the world, in subjection to the Ruler of the Powers of the air--the Spirit who is still at work among the disobedient.

Among whom we all at one time were living in the pleasures of our flesh, giving way to the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest.

But God, being full of mercy, through the great love which he had for us,

even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).

For to show, in times to come, the exceeding riches of his grace, in kindness to us ward, in Christ Jesus.

For, by his favour, have ye been saved, through means of faith, and this hath come to pass - not from you, of God, the free-gift!

for we are his workmanship,

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

For this reason keep it in mind that in the past you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are looked on as being outside the circumcision by those who have circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;

For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us],

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

When He came, He brought the good news of peace for you who were far away and for you who were near;

For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,

Having been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, there being, for chief corner stone, Jesus Christ himself, -

In [harmony with] Him the entire building [i.e., the church] is properly assembled, rising into a dedicated temple for the Lord. [See I Cor. 3:16-17].

In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

For this cause, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you the nations: -

If at least ye have heard of the administration of the favour of God which hath been given unto me for you,

For by revelation showed he this mystery unto me, as I wrote above in few words,

namely, that in Christ Jesus the Gentiles form one body with us the Jews, and are coheirs and copartners in the promise, through the gospel.

for which I was called to serve in accordance with the gift of God's unmerited favor which was bestowed on me by the exercise of His power--

and to make plain [to everyone] the plan of the mystery [regarding the uniting of believing Jews and Gentiles into one body] which [until now] was kept hidden through the ages in [the mind of] God who created all things.

according to his purpose for ages, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord;

So I ask you not to lose heart at my sufferings on your behalf, for they are your glory and honor.

For this cause, I bow my knees unto the Father, -

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father].

So that he would grant you, according to the wealth of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit for the inner man.

For the Christ to dwell in your hearts through faith,

and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

May there be to God, who is able to do infinitely more [for us] than we could [even] ask or think, according to [His] power at work in us ---

to him is the glory in the church in Christ Jesus for all generations of the age of the ages. Truly.

So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],

Live in a humble, gentle and patient way, showing tolerance [for the weaknesses] of one another out of love [for them].

endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: for there is but one body and one Spirit,

There is one body and one Spirit, even as you have been marked out by God in the one hope of his purpose for you;

[There is] one Lord [i.e., Jesus], one faith [i.e., one body of teaching], one immersion [i.e., in water for the forgiveness of sins],

For this reason he says, He went up on high, taking his prisoners with him, and gave freely to men.

And therefore He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; to qualify holy men for the work of the ministry,

With a view to the fitting of the saints for the work of ministering, for an upbuilding of the body of the Christ;

So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].

But being truthful in love, we may cause all things to grow for him who is the head--the Christ--

From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.

This I say therefore, and solemnly declare in Lord, for you to walk no longer as also the other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,