JMNT(i)
1 For the [
aforementioned]
freedom, Christ immediately set us free (or: [The] Anointed One at once frees us in, to, for and with freedom)!
Keep on standing firm, therefore, and do not again be habitually held within a yoke of slavery (or: a cross-lever [of a pair of scales] whose sphere is bondage) (or: Continuously stand firm, then, in the freedom [to which the] Anointing sets us free, and let not yourselves be progressively confined again by a yoke pertaining to servitude)!
2 See and individually consider! I, Paul, continue saying to you folks, that if you should proceed to being circumcised, Christ will continue benefiting you nothing (or: an Anointing will continue of use to you [for] not one thing)!
3 Now I continue solemnly asserting (attesting; affirming; witnessing),
again, to every person (or: human)
proceeding to be circumcised, that he is, and continues being, a debtor (one under obligation)
to do (to perform; to produce)
the whole Law [= the entire Torah]!
4 You people were discharged (made inactive, idle, useless, unproductive and without effect; or: voided, nullified, exempted)
away from Christ, you who are now in Law trying to be rightwised (also = be included in the covenant)
and are basing your fairness and relationships on the way it points out – you at once fell from out of the grace and favor!
5 For in spirit (or: by [the] Breath-effect; with [the] Spirit) –
forth from out of faith and trust – we continuously (or: progressively)
receive by taking away, as with our hands, from out of [
the]
expectation which belongs to and whose source and reality is the fairness, equity and freedom from guilt in right relationship within the Way pointed out (or: forth from the midst of expectant hope, which is the state of being rightwised and pointed in the right direction; also = out of an expectation from covenant inclusion and participation),
6 for within Christ Jesus (or: for you see, in union with [the] Anointed Jesus)
neither circumcision continues having strength, for competence or effectiveness, to be availing (or: be of service for)
anything, nor [
does]
uncircumcision, but rather, [
it is]
faith-and-trust: of itself continuously working effectively (operating; being inwardly active and productive)
through Love (" [God's] acceptance of the object of love without restriction, in spite of the estranged, profanized and demonized state of the object; the whole being's drive and movement toward reunion with another, to overcome existential separation; an ecstatic manifestation of the Spiritual Presence" – Tillich, ibid., on
agape; brackets mine;
cf John 3:16;
1 Cor. 13:4-8).
7 You folks have been running beautifully (finely; ideally)!
Who (or: What)
cut in on you folks, to hinder or thwart you, [
for you]
not to continue to be persuaded (convinced)
by (or: in; with)
the Truth and this reality?
8 This "art of persuasion" (or: The enticement; or: The yielding to [their] persuasion) [
comes]
not from out of the One continuously calling you folks.
9 A little yeast (or: leaven)
is progressively permeating so as to ferment (to be leavening)
the whole batch of kneaded dough.
10 I myself have been convinced so as to be confident (have come to a settled persuasion), [
with a view]
into you folks – within [
the]
Lord (Owner; [= Yahweh, or Christ]; or: I am confident in [the] Lord, [directing my thoughts] into you) –
that you will [
in]
nothing continue being disposed otherwise (or: that you will have not [even] one other opinion or frame of mind).
Now the person constantly agitating and disturbing you people will lift up and progressively carry (or: bear)
the effect of the decision (or: result of [his] sifting and judgment),
whoever he or she may be.
11 Now I, brothers (= fellow believers; = my family),
if am still habitually preaching circumcision as the message, why am I still being constantly pursued and persecuted? If that has been the case, then the snare (trap-spring; bait-stick; = offense; = a stumbling-block)
of the cross (the execution stake)
has been, and remains, discharged (made inactive, down-idled, useless, unproductive and without effect; or: = removed or abolished).
12 Would that (or: I wish that)
those continually unsettling you (causing you to rise up as in an insurrection; thus: disturbing or exciting you folks)
will also, one after another, cut themselves away (i.e., amputate themselves from your body [of believers]; or: cut themselves off [note: some read this to mean to mutilate themselves or castrate themselves])!
13 For you folks were called upon the foundation of (on the basis of; for the purpose of)
freedom, [
my]
brothers. Only not (or: Just not)
the freedom [
which is leading]
into a starting point (or: unto an opportunity, occasion or incentive; to a base of operation)
for (to; in; by; with)
the flesh [comment: = circumcision with the flesh ordinances and ceremonial laws of Judaism; or: = personal license for the estranged human nature],
but to the contrary, through the Love [
agape:
cf vs. 6b, above]
be continuously slaving for one another (serving and performing the duties of a slave to each other).
14 For, the entire Law has been fulfilled and stands filled up within one word (or: within one thought or idea; within one saying or message) –
within the one: "You will continue to love [
agapao;
cf vs. 6b, above]
your near-one (your associate; your neighbor; the one close by your position),
as (in the same way as; or: as he/she were)
yourself." [
Lev. 19:18; comment: this one "expressed thought" is the idea and purpose of the Word]
15 Now since, or if, you folks are habitually biting and repeatedly eating one another down, watch out, lest you may be used up and consumed by (or: under)
one another.
16 So I continue saying, be habitually walking about (= living your life)
in spirit (or: by [the] Spirit; with a Breath-effect),
and you should under no circumstance (or: would by no means)
bring to fruition (carry to its goal; end up with; bring to maturity)
the full rushing passion (the over-desire; craving)
originating in flesh (= pertaining to the estranged human nature, or the self which has been dominated by a system of culture or religion; or: corresponding to flesh- [righteousness]; belonging to [a religious system] of flesh-works).
17 For the flesh [
system or nature]
is constantly rushing passionately down upon (or: against)
the spirit (or: Breath-effect),
and the spirit (or: Breath-effect)
down on (or: against)
the flesh [
nature, or, system of religion]
, for these things are constantly lying in opposition to each other (lying set to displace each other),
so that – whatever you may habitually be intending (wanting; willing; purposing) –
these things you repeatedly can not be doing. [comment: either because of the estranged flesh nature, or, because of the rules of the system]
18 Yet since (or: if)
you folks are continuously being led in spirit (by [the] Spirit; to [the] Spirit; with a Breath-effect),
you do not exist (you are not)
under Law [= Torah; = the flesh system of works].
19 Now the works (actions; deeds)
of the flesh [
religion]
(or: = whose source and origin are the estranged human nature; or: pertaining to the flesh [system, or, nature]; or: = whose results and realm are the self in slavery to a system) [
are]
seen and made apparent in clear light, which are, and continue being, the works of a prostitute (or: [the] Prostitute):
uncleanness (or: waste or worthless material, as of decayed flesh; a never-pruned tree; material that has not been sifted),
excess (immoderation; outrageous behavior),
20 idolatry (being a servant to or worshiping external forms or appearances, phantoms of the mind, unsubstantial or reflected images, or conveyed impressions)
sorcery (employment of drugs and enchantments; magic rites; witchcraft),
hostilities (enmities; alienations),
strife (contentious disposition),
jealousies (or: zealous emotions),
stirring emotions (rushing passions; furies),
factions, standings-apart (divisions),
sects (religious denominations; parties with a particular opinion; the making of choices from preferences),
21 envies, murders, intoxications (times of being drunk),
festal processions (or: excessive feastings),
and things like to these [
whether religious, or personal]
, which things I continue predicting (saying beforehand; or: = giving warning)
to you folks, just as I said before, that those habitually practicing (or: performing)
such [
religious, or personal,]
things will not be inheriting (receiving and enjoying a distributed allotment of)
God's reign (kingdom; sovereign influence and activities).
22 Now the Spirit's fruit (or: So the fruit whose origin and source is the Spirit; But the fruit which is Breath-effect; Yet the fruit of the Attitude)
is: love (unrestricted acceptance and the drive to overcome existential separation),
joy, peace (or: harmony; [= shalom]),
length before a stirring of emotion (slowness of rushing toward something; long-enduring; longsuffering; patience),
useful kindness, goodness (virtuousness),
faith (or: faithfulness; trust; trustworthiness; loyalty; reliance; reliability; allegiance; fidelity),
23 gentle friendliness (meekness; mildness),
inner strength (self-control).
[
The]
Law is not down from such things (or: In the sphere of such things [the] Law does not exists; There is no law against such things; Law does not correspond to and is not on the level of such things).
24 Now those whose source and origin is Christ Jesus (or: those who belong to the Anointed Jesus)
crucified the flesh (or: put the flesh [system] on an execution stake; or: = associate their old estranged human nature as being put to death along with Christ Jesus),
together with the results and effects of the experiences (emotions; feelings; sufferings; passions)
and the over-desires (rushing passionately upon things; full-rushing emotions).
25 Since (or: If)
we continue living in and by spirit (or: for [the] Spirit; to Breath-effect; or: with attitude),
we also can habitually advance orderly in line in regard to, or amidst, elementary principles (or: [observing] rudimentary elements),
in and by spirit (or: for [the] Spirit; by Breath-effect; with attitude; or: = walk in rank following [the footsteps] behind the Spirit). [
cf Rom. 4:12]
26 We can (or: should)
not repeatedly (or: habitually)
come to be (or: Let us stop becoming)
folks with empty glory (or: a vacuous reputation; = to be egotistical or conceited),
continually being those challenging one another [
as to combat]
, constantly envying one another.