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Galatians 5:11-13
Easy-to-Read Version
Galatians 5:11-13
Easy-to-Read Version
11 My brothers and sisters, I don’t teach that a man must be circumcised. If I do teach circumcision, then why am I still being persecuted? If I still taught circumcision, then my message about the cross would not be a problem. 12 I wish those people who are bothering you would add castration[a] to their circumcision.
13 My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Galatians 5:12 castration Paul uses a word that means “to cut off” in place of “circumcision,” which means “to cut around,” to show how angry he is at the false teachers for forcing non-Jewish men to be circumcised.
Galatians 5:11-13
New International Version
Galatians 5:11-13
New International Version
11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?(A) In that case the offense(B) of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators,(C) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(D) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(E) rather, serve one another(F) humbly in love.
Footnotes
- Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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