The Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Galatians


Paraphrase

The following is a paraphrase of the Epistle to the Galatians based on our study using the New American Standard Bible. This paraphrase is simply the opinion of the author and should only be taken as a tool to understand Messianic Niagara's perspective on the Epistle to the Galatians.

Chapter 1

1From: Paul (a representative sent on a mission but not sent by man-made authority, but through Yeshua the Messiah, the King of Israel, and God, the Father, who raised Him from the dead) 2and to all those who are with me who are remaining faithful.

To: the assemblies throughout the region of Galatia: 3Grace to you and shalom from God our Father and the Master Yeshua the Messiah, 4who died for our sins so that He might rescue us from This World and bring us into the World to Come, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be the glory forevermore. (And all say: Amen.)

6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting God, who called you by the grace afforded by the Messiah, for a different message of Good News; 7which is really not good news at all. Rather there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the genuine Good News message of the Messiah.

8I must say that if we, or even a messenger from heaven, should present to you a message of Good News that is contrary to what we have already presented to you, he is to be accursed! 9I've said it before and I'll say it again now; if any man presents to you a message of Good News that is contrary to what you already received, he is to be accursed! 

10With that being said, who's favour do you think I'm seeking after: men's favour, or God's favour? Do you really think I'm striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of the Messiah!

11My brothers, I want you to realize that the Good News message which I already presented to you is not man-made.12It wasn't passed on to me orally, neither was it something that I was taught in Yeshiva. No, I received it directly from Yeshua the Messiah Himself! 

13Let me remind you of my past, so that you can understand how we got to this point. Firstly, do you not remember my previous way of practicing Judaism? How I used to persecute the Believers and tried to destroy them; 14I was so loyal to the idea that only those with legal Jewish status had a place among God's people that I was advancing beyond many of my contemporaries among the established Jewish community. 15Little did I know that God had set me apart even from before I was born to become His servant to proclaim the Good News. Through His grace, God was pleased 16to reveal His Son to me and then through me so that I might present Him to the Gentiles. Once the Messiah was revealed to me, though, I did not immediately consult with other people, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were representatives of the Messiah before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. 

18Then three years later, I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Simon Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I did not see any other of the representatives of the Messiah except Jacob, the Master's brother. 20(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.22Still, nobody in the assemblies throughout the region of Judah that are in the Messiah had met me in person; 23Only, they kept hearing, "he who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24And they glorified God on account of me.

Chapeter 2

1Then, after fourteen years had passed, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2I went to Jerusalem, not because someone coerced me into going but because I felt that God was leading me there. 

While in Jerusalem, I presented to those who were of esteemed reputation the message that I proclaim to Gentiles; namely, that Gentiles are a part of Israel by faith alone. My fear, though, was that the Gentiles would not be accepted into the larger Jewish communities and thus, on a practical level, my work among them would have been in vain. 

3In response, those who were of reputation did not compel Titus, who is a Greek, to become a proselyte, thus validating my message of Good News that Gentiles can be a part of Israel without becoming proselytes and also confirming that the Gentiles would ultimately be accepted, at least by the believing Jewish communities. 

4This whole situation came about when false brothers who wanted to compel Gentiles to become proselytes were secretly brought in to spy upon our freedom from this unbiblical requirement. We know there is freedom in this legal ruling because we are all the same in the Messiah Yeshua, both Jews and Gentiles. This requirement, that Gentiles have to become proselytes, would put us all into slavery. 5So, accordingly, we did not yield and submit to these false brothers for even a moment, so that the truth of the Good News, that Jews and Gentiles are equal, would remain with you.

6No, those who were of esteemed reputation (actually, what they were makes no difference to me since God shows no partiality)--well, they had nothing to add or to take away from the Good News message which I proclaim.

7On the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the mission to present the Good News message to the Gentiles, just as Simon Peter had been to Jewish people 8(for God who effectually worked for Simon Peter in his mission to the established Jewish community, effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, Jacob, Simon Peter and Johanan, who were reputed to be pillars, embraced Barnabas and I as one of their own, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the established Jewish community. 10They only asked us to remember the poor in Jerusalem--the very thing I also was eager to do.

11On one occasion, though, when Simon Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Previously, before certain men from Jacob's community came to Antioch, Peter used to eat with the Gentiles, thus showing that he viewed them as equals. But when the men from Jacob's community came, he began to withdraw and kept an unfriendly distance from the Gentiles; he did this because he feared what the men from Jacob's community would think. 13The rest of the Jewish people in the community joined him in this hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas began to act hypocritically. 14When I became aware of this, that they were not staying true to the Good News message that Jews and Gentiles are equal in the Messiah, I said to Simon Peter in front of everybody: "If you, a Jew, don't adhere to the unbiblical rules separating Jews and Gentiles; why would you now subject the Gentiles to these same rules and compel them to become proselytes? 15For you hear it said all the time that 'We are Jews by birth and not sinners from among the Gentiles;' 16But we know that a man is not justified by legal Jewish status (whether by birth or through becoming a proselyte) but only through faith in the Messiah Yeshua. Even we, Jewish Believers, who have legal Jewish status, we have believed in the Messiah Yeshua, so that we may be justified by faith in the Messiah and not by our legal Jewish status; since no one is justified by their legal Jewish status.

17But if we don't rely on legal Jewish status and instead seek to be justified in Messiah, will we be considered "sinners" (by our opponents) and equal to Gentiles, thus making the Messiah (in their minds) an administrator of sin? May it never be! 18And why not? Because if I were to again think, like I did in the past, that right-standing before God comes through legal Jewish status, then I would truly be found a sinner! 19God's perfect Torah didn't give me a "free-pass" because I'm Jewish, rather, the Torah showed me that I was a sinner. And to what end? So that I might come to faith and live for God. 

20By identifying with the execution of the Messiah, it's as if I no longer exist and  instead it is the Messiah who lives in me and therefore my legal Jewish status brings no advantage. The life which I now live in This World, I live by faith in the King of Israel, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21My Good News message, which proclaims Jews and Gentiles as equals, does not nullify the grace of God (as some have supposed), rather it upholds true grace; for if righteousness comes through legal Jewish status, then the Messiah died for nothing!

Chapter 3

1You Galatians aren't very smart, are you? Maybe somebody put a spell over you? Don't you remember that I clearly presented to you the fact that the Messiah was executed for all kinds of people and not just Jews? 

2Let's get one thing straight: did you receive the life changing work of the Spirit of God by becoming legally Jewish or by simple faith and trust in God? 3Are you that ignorant? After having your life changed by the Spirit of God, do you now think that there's something more to be gained by becoming a proselyte? 4Was your suffering as a Gentile Believer in vain, if indeed you're actually considering becoming proselytes? 5After all that, do you really believe that God provided you with the life changing work of the Spirit because of a legal status? Was it not because of your straight-forward faith and reliance on God alone? 

6Remember what the Torah says, Abraham himself BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.7Therefore, be sure that it is those who have genuine faith who are sons of Abraham not those who rely on being a proselyte and being called a "son of Abraham" in the eyes of men. 8The Tanakh, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, presented the Good News to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." 9So, again, the ones who are blessed are the ones who rely on God by faith, since they are following in the footsteps of Abraham, the quintessential believer.

10Those who rely on their legal Jewish status for right-standing before God are under a curse because they will one day realize they were not actually living according to God's Torah; just as it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE TORAH, TO PERFORM THEM." 11The fact that no one is justified before God by legal Jewish status is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 12However, relying on legal Jewish status is not a matter of faith; on the contrary, because it says "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." thus making it not based upon a legal status but upon a life of obedience that is comes from faith. 13The Messiah redeemed us from the curse occasioned by breaking the Torah, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"-- 14the result being that in the Messiah Yeshua the blessing promised to Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the life changing work of the Spirit of God through faith.

15Brothers, let me speak in everyday terms: even in the case of a contract between two men, when it has been ratified, no one can just disregard it or change the conditions of it. 16Looking at things a little deeper, does the Torah not say that the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. God did not say, "And to seeds," as if it was referring to many, but rather it's referring to only one, "And to your seed," that is, the Messiah. 

17My point is this: the Torah, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate the covenant made with Abraham which was ratified by God Himself. The Mosaic covenant does not somehow nullify the promise made in the Abrahamic covenant that Gentiles would be blessed. 18For if the inheritance is based on being naturally or even legally connected to the Torah, then it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19If right-standing before God does not come from a natural or legal connection to the Torah, then why was the Mosaic covenant added to the Abrahamic covenant? It was added to teach us about sin; what sin is and how it can be dealt with. Furthermore, the Torah was ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator with a view to the Seed that would come to whom the promise had been made. 20Now a mediator implies that the Mosaic covenant is two-sided. Whereas the Abrahamic covenant is one-sided; it's based upon God's work. 

21So, then because the Mosaic covenant is a two-sided covenant, is it somehow contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! Again, the Torah wasn't given to bring you into covenant relationship with God otherwise we could say that a natural or legal connection to the Torah would be the way to be a part of God's people. 22Rather, since both Jews and Gentiles have transgressed God's perfect Torah, the Torah has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Yeshua the Messiah might be given to those who believe.

23Let me explain this a little further: Before each of us comes to faith in the Messiah, we were kept in custody under the condemnation of the Torah, we essentially had nowhere to go other than to come to faith in the Messiah. 24Therefore the Torah is like a helper that leads you to the Saviour, to the Messiah, so that we may be justified by faith. 

25Once you have come to faith in the Messiah, you no longer have an outsider's status. 26Rather, you are all children of God through faith in Messiah Yeshua. 27For all of you were immersed into the mikvah that is the Messiah Himself and have clothed yourselves with the Messiah. 

28Let me make myself very clear: when it comes to right-standing and status among God's people Israel, it doesn't matter whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, it doesn't matter whether you are a slave or a free man and it doesn't matter whether you are a man or a woman; if you have faith in the Messiah then we all have equal status. 29Furthermore, if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise.

Chapter 4

1Now let me draw a great example from Roman culture: As long as an heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave even though he will eventually be owner of everything, 2but until the date set by the father arrives, he is under guardians and managers. 3So also we, whether you're Jewish or non-Jewish, we were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world; that is, under sin. 4But thank God, when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born with the purpose to one day take upon Himself the condemnation of the Torah, 5so that He might redeem those who are under the condemnation of the Torah, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6And in fact, you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

8However at the time when you did not know God, you were slaves to idols. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather God has made Himself known to you, why would you now, because of persecution, turn back again to weak and worthless pagan practices, which will just enslave you all over again? 10You observe days, months, seasons and years of the pagan calendar! 11I fear for you, that perhaps all my work of discipling you was in vain. 12I beg you, brothers, become like me, for, remember, I consider you as equals. My brothers, you have done me no wrong; 13you'll remember that I first presented to you the Good News as a result of the circumstances of a bodily illness of mine; 14and even though it was an inconvenience to you, you didn't hold it against me. You treated me as a messenger of God, as if I was the Messiah Yeshua Himself. 15Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They eagerly seek you but not commendably. Rather they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18It's true that it is good to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. 19My children, with whom I am again in labor until the Messiah is formed in you--20but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.  

21Tell me, those of you who want to become proselytes, do you not listen to the Torah? 22Remember, it's written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. 23But the son that belonged to the slave was born because of human decisions, and the son that belonged to the free woman was born because of the promise God made.24If I may make a midrash, these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai; that is, the Mosaic covenant; but remember that Israel was disobedient at Sinai, therefore this covenant "bears children" that will be slaves. We can compare this covenant with Hagar. 25Now this "Hagar" is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because the rulers of Jerusalem believe that right-standing before God is predicated upon legal Jewish status; so, in reality, Jerusalem is in slavery. 26But the Jerusalem above is free; this would correspond to the coming fulfillment of the New Covenant when all of Israel will be given a change of heart and will be free. In my midrash this corresponds to Sarah and she is our mother. 27For it is written, "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND." 28So, just as Isaac was born not because of human decisions but because God promised it would happen, you Gentiles are a part of Israel because of your faith, which is the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. 29And just like in those days Ishmael persecuted Isaac, so it is now also. 30But what does the Tanakh say? "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN." 31So then, brothers, we are not children of a slave, but of the free woman. You truly are legitimate children of Abraham.

Galatians 5

1It was for the sake of freedom that the Messiah set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a lifestyle of slavery, whether to the established Jewish community who wants to make you feel like second-class citizens if you don't become proselytes or the pagan world who wants to trap you in its slavery. 2Let me make myself emphatically clear: I, Paul, say to you that if you become a proselyte, the Messiah's work on the cross will be worthless to you! 3I'll say it again: every one who becomes a proselyte is under obligation to keep all of the written and oral Torah, which would include separating yourselves from your Gentile family and friends. 4These influencers say that you'll be severed from Israel if you don't become a proselyte? I say you'll be severed from the Messiah, your only hope to be a part of Israel, if you become a proselyte; you will have fallen from grace.

5By the Spirit of God strengthening us, by faith, we are waiting for the hope of the World to Come. 6If you identify with the Messiah Yeshua then having a legal Jewish status or not having it won't matter but what matters is that you have faith expressing itself through love-based obedience to God's commandments. 7You were doing so well too! Who was it that made you stumble and become so blind?  8This persuasion did not come from God because He was the one who called you.9Remember that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10I do have confidence in you, that by the LORD's strength, you will not adopt any other view but the one I presented to you. The one who is disturbing you, though, will bear judgment, whoever he is. 11Think about it for a second, brothers; if I teach that Gentiles need to become proselytes in order to be a part of Israel then why am I still persecuted? In reality, if I teach that then the message of the cross; that we are all equal before God, would be worthless. 12If those who are troubling you think that physical circumcision is all that's needed to be considered righteous before God, then why don't they go all the way and castrate themselves?

13God has called you to be free, brothers; but don't think that means you can do whatever you want, rather serve one another in love. 14For all of the Torah can be summarized by the statement: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15But if you are constantly attacking one another, one day you will go too far. 16I say, live out the Torah by listening to the voice of the Spirit, and you will not find yourself acting selfishly. 17For your sinful nature's desire is completely contrary to the desire of the Spirit of God; your sinful nature and the Spirit of God are in opposition to one another. You will find yourself in a battle of trying to do what you desire and what the Spirit desires. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you won't find yourself under the condemnation of the Torah. 19We know from Torah that submitting to your sinful nature's desire will result in: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and many other things like these, of which I must remind you and warn you that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the result of the life changing work of the Spirit of God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; with things such as these there is no law to measure. 24Now those who belong to Messiah Yeshua have crucified their sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also live out the Torah by the Spirit. 26Let's make sure we don't become boastful, challenging one another and envying one another.

Galatians 6

1Brothers, even if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are experienced at living out the Torah as led by the Spirit, restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; while examining yourself, so that you too will not be tempted to sin. 2Bear one another's burdens, by doing this you will be living out the Torah the way the Messiah lived out the Torah. 3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he's fooling himself. 4Each person must examine his own lifestyle, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5Each person should be responsible for his own life. 6Those who need to be taught the Word and are taught should share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7Don't be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8For the one who sows to submit to his own sinful nature's desires, he will reap corruption, but the one who sows to submit to the life changing work of the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9Let us not give up on doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow tired. 10So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are fellow Believers.

11See these large letters that I myself am writing personally? 12Don't you realize that those who want you to become proselytes are  compelling you simply because they want to look good in front of people and don't want to to be persecuted for the cross of the Messiah; the cross which puts all of us, Jews and Gentiles, on equal ground. 13Those that are influencing you to become proselytes don't even obey the Torah, but they desire to have you become proselytes so that they can make themselves feel better. 14May it never come to the point that I would boast, except in the fact that the cross of our Master Yeshua the Messiah makes us all equals, it's through the cross that the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Whether someone has legal Jewish status or not, all that really matters is being a new creation.16All who live according to this halachah, shalom and mercy be upon them, and upon the faithful remnant within Israel. 

17From now on I don't want anyone to cause me anymore trouble; I already bear the "marks" of Yeshua on my body.18The grace of our Master, Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit, brothers. And all say: Amen!
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