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Galatians · Bible in Basic English

Galatians 5 Bible in Basic English

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About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 Christ has truly made us free: then keep your free condition and let no man put a yoke on you again.
1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
1 Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ οὖν, ᾗ Χριστὸς ἡμᾶς ἠλευθέρωσε, στήκετε, καὶ μὴ πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε.
2 See, I Paul say to you, that if you undergo circumcision, Christ will be of no use to you.
2 Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
2 Ἴδε ἐγὼ Παῦλος λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε, Χριστὸς ὑμᾶς οὐδὲν ὠφελήσει.
3 Yes, I give witness again to every man who undergoes circumcision, that he will have to keep all the law.
3 Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
3 μαρτύρομαι δὲ πάλιν παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ περιτεμνομένῳ ὅτι ὀφειλέτης ἐστὶν ὅλον τὸν νόμον ποιῆσαι.
4 You are cut off from Christ, you who would have righteousness by the law; you are turned away from grace.
4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
4 κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ οἵτινες ἐν νόμῳ δικαιοῦσθε, τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε·
5 For we through the Spirit by faith are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
5 For we through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
5 ἡμεῖς γὰρ Πνεύματι ἐκ πίστεως ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἀπεκδεχόμεθα.
6 Because in Christ Jesus, having circumcision or not having circumcision are equally of no profit; but only faith working through love.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love.
6 ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ πίστις δι᾽ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη.
7 You were going on well; who was the cause of your not giving ear to what is true?
7 You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?
7 Ἐτρέχετε καλῶς· τίς ὑμᾶς ἐνέκοψε τῇ ἀληθείᾳ μὴ πείθεσθαι;
8 This ready belief did not come from him who had made you his.
8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
8 ἡ πεισμονὴ οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς.
9 A little leaven makes a change in all the mass.
9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
9 μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ.
10 I am certain about you in the Lord, that you will be of no other mind; but he who is troubling you will have his punishment, whoever he is.
10 I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
10 ἐγὼ πέποιθα εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν Κυρίῳ ὅτι οὐδὲν ἄλλο φρονήσετε· ὁ δὲ ταράσσων ὑμᾶς βαστάσει τὸ κρῖμα, ὅστις ἂν ᾖ.
11 But I, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still attacked? then has the shame of the cross been taken away.
11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.
11 ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, εἰ περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω, τί ἔτι διώκομαι; ἄρα κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ.
12 My desire is that they who give you trouble might even be cut off themselves.
12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
12 ὄφελον καὶ ἀποκόψονται οἱ ἀναστατοῦντες ὑμᾶς.
13 Because you, brothers, were marked out to be free; only do not make use of your free condition to give the flesh its chance, but through love be servants one to another.
13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
13 Ὑμεῖς γὰρ ἐπ᾽ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἐκλήθητε, ἀδελφοί· μόνον μὴ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν εἰς ἀφορμὴν τῇ σαρκί, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης δουλεύετε ἀλλήλοις.
14 For all the law is made complete in one word, even in this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
14 ὁ γὰρ πᾶς νόμος ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ πληροῦται, ἐν τῷ, ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.
15 But if you are given to fighting with one another, take care that you are not the cause of destruction one to another.
15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.
15 εἰ δὲ ἀλλήλους δάκνετε καὶ κατεσθίετε, βλέπετε μὴ ὑπ᾽ ἀλλήλων ἀναλωθῆτε.
16 But I say, Go on in the Spirit, and you will not come under the rule of the evil desires of the flesh.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
16 Λέγω δέ, Πνεύματι περιπατεῖτε καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς οὐ μὴ τελέσητε.
17 For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; because these are opposite the one to the other; so that you may not do the things which you have a mind to do.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
17 ἡ γὰρ σὰρξ ἐπιθυμεῖ κατὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος, τὸ δὲ Πνεῦμα κατὰ τῆς σαρκός· ταῦτα δὲ ἀντίκειται ἀλλήλοις, ἵνα μὴ ἃ ἂν θέλητε ταῦτα ποιῆτε.
18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
18 εἰ δὲ Πνεύματι ἄγεσθε, οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ νόμον.
19 Now the works of the flesh are clear, which are these: evil desire, unclean things, wrong use of the senses,
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
19 φανερὰ δέ ἐστι τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός, ἅτινά ἐστι μοιχεία, πορνεία, ἀκαθαρσία, ἀσέλγεια,
20 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,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
20 εἰδωλολατρία, φαρμακεία, ἔχθραι, ἔρεις, ζῆλοι, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι, διχοστασίαι, αἱρέσεις,
21 Envy, uncontrolled drinking and feasting, and such things: of which I give you word clearly, even as I did in the past, that they who do such things will have no part in the kingdom of God.
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.
21 φθόνοι, φόνοι, μέθαι, κῶμοι καὶ τὰ ὅμοια τούτοις, ἃ προλέγω ὑμῖν καθὼς καὶ προεῖπον, ὅτι οἱ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες βασιλείαν Θεοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, a quiet mind, kind acts, well-doing, faith,
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
22 ὁ δὲ καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματός ἐστιν ἀγάπη, χαρά, εἰρήνη, μακροθυμία, χρηστότης, ἀγαθωσύνη, πίστις,
23 Gentle behaviour, control over desires: against such there is no law.
23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
23 πρᾳότης, ἐγκράτεια· κατὰ τῶν τοιούτων οὐκ ἔστι νόμος.
24 And those who are Christ's have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires.
24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
24 οἱ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ τὴν σάρκα ἐσταύρωσαν σὺν τοῖς παθήμασι καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις.
25 If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.
25 Εἰ ζῶμεν Πνεύματι, Πνεύματι καὶ στοιχῶμεν.
26 Let us not be full of self-glory, making one another angry, having envy of one another.
26 Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
26 μὴ γινώμεθα κενόδοξοι, ἀλλήλους προκαλούμενοι, ἀλλήλοις φθονοῦντες.
Cross references (26)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; Romans 6:14; John 8:32–36
  2. 2 Galatians 5:6; Acts 15:1; Galatians 2:3–5; Romans 9:31–32; Galatians 5:11
  3. 3 Galatians 3:10; Romans 2:25; James 2:10–11; Deuteronomy 27:26; Deuteronomy 31:21
  4. 4 2 Peter 2:20–22; Romans 9:31–32; Romans 11:6; Galatians 2:21; Hebrews 12:15
  5. 5 Psalm 130:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Psalm 62:5; Romans 8:23–25; Titus 2:13
  6. 6 Galatians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 7:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; James 2:14–26; 2 Corinthians 5:14
  7. 7 1 Corinthians 9:24; Galatians 3:1; Hebrews 12:1; Matthew 13:21; 1 Peter 1:22
  8. 8 Galatians 1:6; Romans 8:28
  9. 9 1 Corinthians 15:33; Mark 8:15; 1 Corinthians 5:6–7; Luke 12:1; Luke 13:21
  10. 10 Galatians 5:12; Philippians 3:15; Galatians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Galatians 2:6
  11. 11 1 Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 6:12; Galatians 4:29; Galatians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 1:18
  12. 12 Galatians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 5:13; Genesis 17:14; Exodus 12:15; Joshua 7:25
  13. 13 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Corinthians 9:19; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 15:1–2; Galatians 5:14
  14. 14 Matthew 7:12; Leviticus 19:18; Galatians 6:2; Romans 13:8–10; John 13:34
  15. 15 1 Corinthians 3:3; James 3:14–4:3; Galatians 5:26; 2 Corinthians 11:20; 2 Corinthians 12:20
  16. 16 Galatians 5:24–25; Romans 8:12–14; Galatians 6:8; Galatians 5:19–21; Colossians 3:5–10
  17. 17 Romans 8:13; Romans 8:5–8; John 3:6; Matthew 26:41; Psalm 119:20
  18. 18 Romans 6:14–15; Romans 8:14; Proverbs 8:20; Galatians 5:25; Ezekiel 36:27
  19. 19 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Colossians 3:5–8; Matthew 15:18–19; 1 Peter 4:2–4; Revelation 21:8
  20. 20 Titus 3:10; Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 11:19; 2 Corinthians 11:19; Acts 8:9–11
  21. 21 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Romans 8:13; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:5–6; 1 Corinthians 5:11
  22. 22 Colossians 3:12–17; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7; John 15:5; James 3:17–18; John 15:2
  23. 23 1 Timothy 1:9; Acts 24:25; Titus 2:2; Titus 1:8; 1 Corinthians 9:25
  24. 24 Romans 6:6; Romans 13:14; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:16–18; Romans 8:9
  25. 25 Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:4–5; Romans 8:2; John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6
  26. 26 James 3:14–16; Philippians 2:1–3; James 4:16; 1 Corinthians 3:7; Luke 14:10

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Quotes verse 5:22 Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Book V, Preface)

    … again, he proceeds to tell us the spiritual actions which vivify a man, that is, the engrafting of the Spirit; thus saying, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, benignity, faith, meekness, continence, chastity: against these there is no law." As, therefore, he who has gone forward to the better things, and has brought forth …

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  2. Quotes verse 5:17 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book VIII, Chapters III–V)

    Thus came I to understand, from my own experience, what I had read, how that "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh." I verily lusted both ways; yet more in that which I approved in myself, than in that which I disapproved in myself.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  3. Quotes verse 5:2 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily IX)

    … as received Him," it is said "to them gave He power to become the sons of God." And yet many of these children Paul hath affirmed to be nothing profited by their father; "For if ye be circumcised," saith he, "Christ shall profit you nothing." And if Christ be no help to those who will not take heed to themselves, …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  4. Quotes verse 5:22 Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (Lecture XVII)

    … Himself send Him forth at this time also upon you; and by Him keep us also, imparting His benefit in common to us all, that we may ever render up the fruits of the Holy Ghost, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, in Christ Jesus our Lord:--By whom and with whom, together with the Holy Ghost, …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)

  5. Quotes verse 5:3 John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith (Book IV, Chapters XXIV–XXV)

    For he who is circumcised is a debtor to do the whole law.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)