Galater 5
1 Zur Freiheit hat Christus uns frei gemacht. Stehet also fest und laßt euch nicht wieder in das Joch der Knechtschaft spannen!
It is in order that we might live without (being obliged [to/having to]) [obey all the Jewish rituals] that Christ freed us [from God condemning us because of our disobeying those rituals]. So, firmly [reject the false teaching that someone must circumcise you, and] do not [live like] slaves again [MET] [by letting others force you to obey those rules and rituals again].
2 Seht, ich, Paulus, erkläre euch: Wenn ihr euch beschneiden laßt, so wird Christus euch nichts mehr nützen.
Consider very carefully what I, Paul, [an apostle], now tell you: If, [to fulfill Jewish ritual laws], you are permitting yourself to be circumcised {someone to circumcise you}, what Christ [has done for you] will not benefit you at all.
3 Nochmals bezeuge ich es einem jeden, der sich beschneiden läßt: er ist damit zur Beobachtung des ganzen Gesetzes verpflichtet.
Instead, I solemnly declare again to every man who is circumcised {has someone circumcise him} [in order for God to accept him], that you must [perfectly] obey all of the laws [that God gave Moses, in order for God to save you].
4 Aus der Verbindung mit Christus seid ihr ausgeschieden, wenn ihr durch das Gesetz gerechtfertigt werden wollt: ihr seid dann aus der Gnade herausgefallen;
Those of you who are sure that God will erase the record of your sins because you obey the laws [that God gave to Moses], you have separated yourselves from Christ. You have abandoned/rejected [God’s true method of saving you, which was] by kindly erasing the record of your sins, in a way that you did not deserve.
5 denn wir erwarten durch den Geist das Hoffnungsgut der Gerechtigkeit aufgrund des Glaubens.
But we who have a relationship with Christ and who trust in Christ are eagerly waiting to receive what God’s Spirit assures us that we can expect. We can expect to receive it because God has erased the record of our sins.
6 Denn in Christus Jesus hat weder die Beschneidung noch das Unbeschnittensein irgendwelche Bedeutung, sondern nur der Glaube, der sich durch Liebe betätigt.
As for us who have a relationship with Christ Jesus, God is not concerned whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. Instead, God is concerned about whether we trust [in] Christ, with the result that we love [other people].
7 Ihr hattet einen so schönen Anlauf genommen: wer hat euch aufgehalten, daß ihr der Wahrheit nicht mehr gehorchen wollt?
You were progressing well [spiritually] [MET]. You should not have let someone influence you so that [now you] are not believing the true [message about Christ] [RHQ]!
8 Der Antrieb dazu kommt nicht von dem her, der euch beruft.
[God], the one who chose you, is not the one who is persuading you to think like this!
9 Schon ein wenig Sauerteig macht den ganzen Teig sauer.
[Remember that this false doctrine that someone is teaching you will affect all of you, just like] [MET] a little yeast causes all of the dough to swell up.
10 Ich für meine Person habe das Vertrauen zu euch im Herrn, daß ihr eure Gesinnung nicht ändern werdet; wer euch aber irre macht: er wird sein Strafurteil zu tragen haben, er sei, wer er wolle.
[Nevertheless], because of my relationship with the Lord, I am certain that you will think only as I do [about forcing people to obey rules and rituals]. Furthermore, [God] will punish anyone who is confusing you [by teaching this false message], even if he is an important person.
11 Was mich aber betrifft, liebe Brüder: wenn ich wirklich noch die Beschneidung predige, warum verfolgt man mich da noch? Dann ist ja das Ärgernis des Kreuzes aus der Welt geschafft!
But, my fellow believers, [although someone claims that I am proclaiming that men must be circumcised, I certainly am not still proclaiming that. Remember that the Jews are still] ([persecuting me/causing me to suffer]). If I were still proclaiming that men must be circumcised [in order for God to accept them], (the Jews would not be persecuting me./why would the Jews be persecuting me?) [RHQ] [They would] [RHQ] not be [persecuting me]/causing me to suffer [because] then [the Jews] would no longer be offended. [They] ([are offended/do not want to accept what I teach]) [because I proclaim that Christ, the Messiah, died on] the cross [MTY].
12 Möchten doch die Leute, die euch aufwiegeln, sich sogar verschneiden lassen!
I [would even] wish that those who are disturbing you [by insisting that men be circumcised] would also emasculate [EUP] themselves, [with the result that they would be expelled from your congregations]!
13 Ihr seid ja doch zur Freiheit berufen, liebe Brüder; nur mißbraucht die Freiheit nicht als einen willkommenen Anlaß für das Fleisch, sondern dienet einander durch die Liebe!
My fellow believers, [God] chose you in order that [you might live] without having to [obey rules and rituals]. But [do not assume that because] you are free [from having to obey rules and rituals], [God] permits you to [do whatever your] self-directed nature [desires]. Instead, constantly, as you love [each other], serve each other.
14 Denn das ganze Gesetz findet seine Erfüllung in dem einen Gebot: »Du sollst deinen Nächsten lieben wie dich selbst!«
Keep in mind that we can sum up all of the laws [that God has] given us in one law, which is: “You must love each person you come in contact with, just like [you love] yourself.”
15 Wenn ihr euch aber untereinander beißt und freßt, so sehet zu, daß ihr nicht voneinander verschlungen werdet!
Since you are attacking and injuring [MET] each other [by the things that you say] [MET], I warn you that [if you continue doing that], you will totally ruin each other [spiritually].
16 Ich meine aber so: Wandelt im Geist, dann werdet ihr sicherlich das Gelüst des Fleisches nicht vollführen.
[So] I tell you this: Constantly let [God’s] Spirit direct you. [If you do that], you will certainly not do the things that your self-directed nature wants [you to do].
17 Denn das Fleisch widerstrebt mit seinem Begehren dem Geist und ebenso der Geist dem Fleisch; denn diese beiden liegen im Streit miteinander (und dulden nicht), daß ihr das tut, was ihr tun möchtet.
Your self-directed nature (opposes [God’s] Spirit/does not [want you to do what] God’s Spirit [wants you to do]), but also his Spirit opposes your self-directed nature. These two are always (fighting with/opposing) each other. The result is that you do not [constantly] do the [good] deeds that you truly desire [to do].
18 Laßt ihr euch aber vom Geist leiten, so steht ihr nicht (mehr) unter dem Gesetz.
But when you are led by God’s Spirit {when God’s Spirit directs you}, you [can do what pleases God], now that you are no longer obligated [to obey all] the laws [that God gave Moses].
19 Offenbar aber sind die Werke des Fleisches, nämlich Unzucht, Unsittlichkeit, Ausschweifung,
[You already know] how [people think and] act [PRS] because of their self-directed nature. These are [some of the things that they do: People] are sexually immoral. [People] commit unnatural sexual acts. [People] act indecently.
20 Götzendienst, Zauberei, Feindseligkeiten, Zank, Eifersucht, Zerwürfnisse, gemeine Selbstsucht, Zwietracht, Parteiungen,
[People] worship false gods [and] things [that] represent those gods. [People] perform (rituals in order that evil spirits might act for them/sorcery). [People] are hostile [to others. People] quarrel [with each other. People] are (jealous/resent other people’s status). [People] behave angrily. [People] try (to get others to think highly of them/to exalt themselves) and (do not consider what others want/act selfishly). People do not associate [with others. People] associate only with those who agree [with them].
21 Neid, Trunksucht, Schwelgerei und so weiter. Von diesen (Sünden) habe ich euch schon früher gesagt und wiederhole es jetzt, daß, wer derartiges verübt, das Reich Gottes nicht erben wird.
[People] want what others have. [People] get drunk. [People] (revel/participate in wild parties). And [people do other] things like these. I warn you [now], just like I warned [you previously], that the ones [who constantly] act [and think] like that will not receive [what] God [has for his own people when he begins] to rule over us.
22 Die Frucht des Geistes dagegen besteht in Liebe, Freude, Friede, Geduld, Freundlichkeit, Gütigkeit, Treue,
But [God’s] Spirit causes [us to do these things]: We love [others]. We are joyful. We are peaceful. We are patient. We are kind. We are good. We are [ones whom] others can trust.
23 Sanftmut, Beständigkeit; gegen derartige (Geistesfrüchte) kann das Gesetz keine Anklage erheben.
We are gentle. We control our behavior. There is no law that says people should not [think and act in such ways].
24 Die aber Christus Jesus angehören, haben ihr Fleisch samt seinen Leidenschaften und Begierden gekreuzigt.
Furthermore, we who belong to Christ Jesus have [stopped obeying] our self-directed nature and [stopped doing] all the evil things that we desire to do [MET]. [It is as though] [MET] we nailed them to the cross!
25 Wenn wir nun im Geiste leben, so laßt uns im Geiste auch wandeln!
Since [God’s] Spirit has caused us to [be spiritually] alive, we should [conduct our lives the way the] Spirit [directs us].
26 Laßt uns nicht nach eitler Ehre begierig sein, einander nicht (zum Streit) herausfordern, einander nicht beneiden! –
We should not be saying how great we are. We should not be making ourselves more important than others. We should not envy each other.
