Do Not Submit Again to a Yoke of Slavery

5 [fn]Stand fast therefore in the freedom for which Christ has set us free, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

2 Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to keep the entire law. 4 You who are seeking to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly await the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither does circumcision have any significance, nor uncircumcision, but what matters is faith working through love.

7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other mindset. But the one who is troubling you will bear his judgment, whoever he may be. 11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been done away with. 12 Oh that those who are unsettling you would cut themselves off!

13 You were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in this one commandment: “Yoʋ shall love yoʋr neighbor as yoʋrself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.