Paul's letter to the Galatians (A reader's version of the Marcionite text)
Paul an apostle, not of men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, who awakened himself from the dead;
To the assemblies of Galatia : Goodness to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ,
Who gave himself for our sins, so that he might rescue us from this wicked Destiny according to the pleasure
of God our Father.
I marvel that you are so quickly transferred from Him Who called you in His goodness to a different gospel:
Which is not entirely another according to my gospel ; but there are some who trouble you and would change you
to a different gospel of Christ.
But even if an angel out of heaven should announce another gospel to you, let him be cursed!
As I said before, so I say again,
If any one announces another gospel to you let him be cursed. I make known to you, brethren, the gospel -
that gospel announced by me, that it is not according to man. For I neither received it from a man, nor was I taught,
except by revelation of Jesus Christ.
But when the Supreme God was well-pleased, having selected me from my mother's womb, and having called me by
His goodness, to reveal his Son in me, in order that I might proclaim him among the nations,
immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood.
Neither went I up into Jerusalem to those who were before me apostles; but I went into Arabia, and again returned into
Damascus.
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and of Cilicia. After fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem;
But I went according to revelation, and I set before them the canon of the gospel but apart, to those of repute,
fearing that I should go or had gone for nothing. But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek,
was compelled to be circumcised: But because of those who crept in to spy out this liberty of ours
which we enjoy in Christ, so that they might enslave us - To these not even for an hour we yielded in subjection,
That the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But from those reputed to be something - those of repute
conferred nothing to me.
But against them, when they had seen that I was entrusted the gospel of the uncircumcision,
Peter, James and John , who regard themselves pillars, gave to me the right of fellowship:
- to me the nations - to them the circumcision!
Only they would have it that I should remember the poor; which I had been cautious to do.
Now when Peter came to Antioch I confronted him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Prior to certain ones coming from James, he was eating with the nations; But when they came,
He withdrew and segregated himself, being afraid of those of the circumcision.
When I saw they walked dishonestly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before all,
“If you, being a Jew, live like the nations, Why do you urge the nations to be Judaizing?”
A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith. But if seeking to be made upright in Christ
we were actually discovered to be sinners, is even Christ sin’s servant? May it not be!
Because if I build again those things which I overthrew, I prove myself to be a law-breaker.
For myself, by His law to the law I died, so for God I may be living. With Christ I was crucified.
I live but it is no longer I living but Christ‘s life within me. That life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who ransomed himself for me.
O senseless Galatians - who bewitched you ? Was it by one before whose eyes Jesus Christ was crucified in plain
view? This only I wish to learn of you : Did you receive the spirit by the works of the law,
or by the hearing of faith? Are you so mindless?
Having begun with spirit within, now you are being perfected by flesh? Did you suffer so much for nothing?
Because certainly, it is for nothing! Learn that the righteous by faith shall live.
All those under the Law are under a curse; and the one doing those things lives in them.
The Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us;
For as it has been written:
"Cursed is every one that hangs
on a tree".
We receive therefore the blessing of the Spirit through faith, For all, you are sons of God by the faith.
As a man I say, when we were barely-born, we were enslaved under the elements of the cosmos.
But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, That he might purchase those under law,
and that we may receive adoption.
God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father". How is it then, when you knew not God,
you served those which are nature- gods, that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements,
for which you lust to slave again anew ?
You observe days and months and times and years. I am afraid of you, lest somehow for nothing
I have laboured for you.
My children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you - Tell me, you who desire to be under law:
do you not hear the law?
For Abraham had two sons, the one by a slave-maid, the other by a free-woman. But he who was of the slave-woman
was born after the flesh; but he of the free-woman was by promise.
This is allegorized: these are two revelations, indeed the one from Mount Sinai is the synagogue of the Jews,
giving birth, according to the Law, into slavery; The other gives birth into freedom,
Above every Principality, Power, Dominion, of every name that is named, not only in this destiny, but also in that
which is to come- the holy assembly promised to us, which is our “mother”. So then, brethren,
we are not children of the slave-woman, but of the free. In the liberty wherewith Christ made us free,
Stand firm - and be not entangled again in the weight of slavery. Behold, I Paul say to you,
that if you be circumcised, Christ shall gain you nothing. But I testify again that a man is circumcised
Christ shall gain him nothing. But I testify again that a man circumcised is a debtor to fulfil the whole law.
Nothing comes from Christ, for whosoever in law are justified - they have fallen from goodness.
For in Christ neither circumcision makes any impact, nor uncircumcision; but faith perfected through love.
You did run well; who hindered you to be unyielding to the truth? This enticement comes not from him
Who calls you. A little leaven spoils the whole loaf. But he distressing you shall bear the judgement,
whoever he is. But I, brethren, if I still proclaim circumcision, why yet am I persecuted?
Then abolished is the offence of the cross. I wish that they castrated themselves who throw you into confusion !
For you were called for liberty, brethren; only not liberty for the urging by the flesh, but by love to serve one another.
For all the law in you is fulfilled: love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another,
take heed that you be not consumed of one another. But I say, walk by the spirit, and in no wise should you fulfil
the desire of flesh. For the flesh desires against the spirit, yet the spirit against the flesh; Now these are opposed to one
another, so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if by spirit you are led, you are not under law.
Now manifest are the works of the flesh, which I predicted to you as I also said before, that whoever does such things
shall not be enjoying God's kingdom. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control : against such things there is no law.
But those of the Christ crucified the flesh together with the passions and desires. Bear you one another's burdens,
and thus fulfil the law of Christ. Let him that is taught in the utterance share with him that teaches in all good.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man may sow, that shall he also reap.
For he that sows to his own flesh from the flesh shall reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit
from the Spirit shall reap life eternal. But let us not become weary in doing good: but in due season we shall reap,
not fainting. As we might have opportunity, let us do good. Behold with the large-sized letters
I have written to you with my own hand. As many as wish to make a fair show in flesh,
these urge you to be circumcised, only they are persecutors of the cross of Christ.
For neither they who are themselves circumcised are maintaining law, but they would have you circumcised,
that in your flesh they might boast. But may it not be for me to boast, but only in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ; Yet also to me is the world crucified, and I to the world.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is of any impact, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
As for all the others, not without reason I cause nuisance! For I carry the scars of Christ
in my body. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Amen.
