As ye reade. Actu.xv. howe certayne came from Hierusalem to Antioche ∧ vexed the discypses there, affirmynge that they coulde not be saued excepte they were circumcysed. Euen so after Paule had conuerted the Galathians and coupled them to Christ, to trust in hym onelye for the remissyon of synne, and hope of grace and saluacyon, and was departed: there came false Apostles vnto them (as vnto the Corinthyans, ∧ vnto all places, where Paule had preached) and that in the name of Peter, Iames and Iohn, whom they called the hye Apostles, and preached circumcisy&obar; and the kepynge of the lawe, to be saued by, ∧ mynyshed Pauls authoritye.

To the confoundynge of those, Paule magnyfyeth hys offyce and Apostleshyp in the two fyrst Chapters and maketh hym selfe equall vnto the hyghe Apostles and concluded that euery man must be iustifyed withoute deseruynges, without workes, and without help of the lawe, but alone by Christe.

And in the thyrd ∧ fourth, he proueth the same with scrypture, examples and similytudes, and sheweth that the lawe is cause of more synne, and bryngeth the curse of GOD vpon vs, and iustifyeth vs not:

but that iustifiynge cometh by grace promysed vs of God thorowe the deseruynge of Christe, by whom (yf we beleue) we are iustifyed wythoute healpe of the workes of the lawe.

And in the .v. and .vi. he exhorteth vnto the workes of loue whiche folowe fayth and iustifiynge. So that in all hys Epistle he obserueth thys ordre. Fyrste he preacheth the dampnacyon of the lawe: then the iustifiynge of fayth, and thyrdly the workes of loue. For on that condicyon that we loue and worke, is the mercye geuen vs. The Epistle of Saynct Paule vnto the Galathyans. The fyrste Chapter. ¶ Paule rebuketh them because they were fallen fr&obar; the Gospell, sheweth hys owne conuersacyon, magnifyeth hys offyse and Apostleshyppe, and declareth him selfe to be equall with the hyghe Apostles.

A   Paul an Apostle, not05Q1467 of men, neyther by man, but by Iesus christ and by God the father, which raysed hym from death: and all the brethr&ebar; whiche are with me. Vnto the congregacyons of Galacia.

Grace be with you and peace from God the father, and from our Lorde Iesus Christ, whiche gaue hym selfe for oure synnes, to delyuer vs from thys present euyll worlde, thorow the wyll of God our father, to whom be prayse for euer and euer. Amen.

B   I maruayle that ye are so sone turned fr&obar; hym that called you in the grace of Christ, vnto an other Gospell: whiche is nothynge els, but that there be some which trouble you, and entende to peruert the Gospell of Christe. Neuerthelesse thoughe we oure selues, or an Angell from heauen, preache any other Gospell vnto you then that whiche we haue preached vnto you, holde hym as accurssed. As I haue sayed before, so saye I nowe agayne, yf anye man preache any other thynge vnto you, then that you haue receyued, holde hym accursed. Preache I mans doctryne or Goddes? Eyther go I aboute to please men? Yf I studyed to please men, I were not the seruauat of Christe.

C   &cross2; I certifye you brethren, that the Gospell which was preached of me, was, not after the maner of men, neyther receyued I it of man, neyther was I taughte it, but receyued it by the reuelacyon of Iesus Christ. For ye haue hearde of my conuersacyon in tyme paste, in the Iewes wayes, howe that beyonde measure I persecuted the congregacyon of God, ∧ spoyled it, and preuayled in the Iewes lawe, aboue many of my companyons, which were of myne own nacyon, ∧ was a much more feruent mayntayner of the tradici&obar;s of þe; elders. ^note&rhand; But when it pleased God (whiche separated me from my mothers wombe, D   and called me by hys grace, for to declare hys sonne by me) that I shoulde preache hym amonge the heathen immediatly I communed not of the matter with05Q1468 fleshe and bloude, neyther returned to Hierusalem to them whiche were Apostles before me, but went my wayes into Arabia, and came agayne to Damasco. Th&ebar; after .iij. yere I returned to Ierusalem to se Peter and abode with hym .xv. dayes, no nother of the Apostles sawe I, saue Iames the Lordes brother. The thynges which I wryte beholde God knoweth I lye not.

After that I went into the costes of Syria, and Cilicia, and was knowen as touchynge my person vnto the congregacy&obar;s of Iewry, whiche were in Christe, But they hearde onlye that he which persecuted vs in tyme past nowe preacheth the fayth which before he destroyed. And they gloryfyed God on my be halfe. &cross3; ^{note note} The .ij. Chapter. He withstandeth Peter in the face, and proueth that the lawe and circumcysyon are not necessarye to saluacyon.

A    ^noteThen .xiiij. yeares after that, I went vp agayne to Hierusalem with Barnabas, and toke with me Titus also. Yea and I w&ebar;te vp by reuelacion, and c&obar;muned with them of the Gospell which I preache amonge the gentyls: but a part with th&ebar; which were counted chiefe, lest it shoulde haue bene thought, that I should runne or had runne in vayne. Also Tytus which was &wt; me, though he were a Greke, yet was not compelled to be circumcysed, and that because of incommers beynge false brethren which came in amonge other to spye out our lybertye which we haue in Christe Iesus, that they myghte brynge vs into bondage. ^noteTo whom we gaue no roume, no not for the space of an houre, as concernynge to be brought into subieccion, ∧ that because that the truth of þe; Gospel might contynue with you.

B    ^note&rhand; Of them whiche seme to be great (what they were in time passed, it maketh no matter to me (God loketh on no mans person) neuerthelesse

they which seme great, added nothing to me. ^noteBut contrary wyse, when they sawe þt; the Gospel ouer þt; vncirc&ubar;cysyon was c&obar;mitted vnto me, as the gospell ouer þe; circ&ubar;cisyon ^note was vnto Peter: for he þt; was mighty in Peter in the Apostleshyppe ouer the circumcisy&obar; the same was myghty in me amonge the Gentyls, and therfore when they perceyued the grace that was geuen vnto me, then Iames, Cephas, and Iohn, whiche semed to be pyllars, gaue to me ∧ Barnabas the ryght handes, ∧ agreed with vs, that we should preach amonge the Heathen, and they amonge the Iewes, warnyng onely, that we should rem&ebar;bre the pore. Whiche thyng also I was dylygently to do. ^note C   And when Peter was come to Antioche, I withstode hym in the face, for he was worthy to be blamed. For yer that certayne came from Iames, he eate with the G&ebar;tyls. But when they were come, he withdrue and separated hym selfe, fearyng them which were of the circumcysyon. And the other Iewes dissembled lykewyse, in so muche þt; Barnabas was brought into theyr simulacyon also. But when I sawe, that they went not the ryghte waye after the truth of the Gospell, I sayde vnto Peter before all men, yf thou beynge a Iew, lyuest after the maner of the G&ebar;tyls, and not as do the Iewes: why causeste þu; the Gentyls to lyue as do the Iewes? We whiche are Iewes by nature, and not sinners of the Gentyls, knowe that a man is not iustifyed by the05Q1469 dedes of the lawe, but by the fayth of Iesus Christe. And therfore we haue beleued on Iesus Christe that we myghte be iustifyed by the fayth of Christe, and not by the dedes of the lawe, because that by the dedes of the lawe no fleshe can be iustifyed.

D   Yf then whyle we seke to be made ryghtuousnes by Christe, we our selues are founde synners, is not then Christe the mynister of synne? God forbyd, For yf I buylde agayne that whiche I destroyed, then make I myself a treaspaser. But I thorowe the lawe, am05Q1470 dead to the law: that I myght lyue vnto God I am crucyfyed with Christ. I lyue verelye: yet now not I, but Christe lyueth in me. For the lyfe which I now lyue in the, flesh I lyue by the faythe of the sonne of God whiche loued me, and gaue hym selfe for me. I despyse not the grace of God. For yf ryghteousnes come of the lawe, then Christ dyed in vayne ^{note note} The .iij. Chapter. He rebuketh the vnstedfastnes of the Galathi&abar;s, shewyng the vnperfectnes of the lawe, and declareth neuertheles, that it was not geuen for nought.

A   O folyshe Galathyans: who hath wytched you, that ye should not beleue the truthe? To whom Iesus Christ was descrybed before the eyes, and among you crucyfyed. Thys onelye woulde I learne of you, receyued ye the spyryte by the dedes of the law, or els by preachynge of the faith? Are ye so vnwyse that after ye haue begonne in the spyryte, ye woulde nowe ende in the fleshe? So many thinges then ye haue suffered in vaine, yf that be vayne. Which ^note mynistred to you the spyryte, and worketh myracles am&obar;g you, doth he it thorowe the dedes of that lawe or by preachynge of the fayth? ^noteEuer as Abrah&abar; beleued God, and it was ascrybed to hym for ryghtuousnes. Vnderstande therfore, that they whiche are of fayth, the same are the chyldren of Abraham.

B   &rhand; For þe; scripture sawe afore hand, that God woulde iustifye the heathen thorow fayth, ∧ therfore shewed before hand glad tydynges vnto Abraham. ^noteIn the shall all nacyons be blessed. So then they whiche be of faythe are blessed with faythful Abraham. ^noteFor as many as are vnder the dedes of the lawe, are vnder malediccyon. For it is wrytten: cursed is euery man that contynueth not in all thynges, whiche are wrytten in the boke of the law, to fulfyll them. That no man is iustifyed by the lawe in the syght of God, is euydente. For þe; iuste shall lyue by fayth. The lawe is not of fayth: but the man that fulfylleth the thinges contayned in the lawe, shall lyue in them. But Christ hath delyuered vs from the curse of þe; lawe, and was made ^note accursed for vs. For it is wrytten: cursed is euery one that hangeth on tre, that the blessyng of Abraham myghte come on the Gentyles thorowe Iesus Christ and that we myght receyue the promes of the spyryte thorow fayth.

C    ^noteBrethren I wyll speake after the maner of men. Thoughe it be but a mans testamente, yet no man despyseth it, or addeth any thyng there to when it is once alowed. &cross2; To Abraham and hys seede were the promyses made. He sayth not in the sedes as in manye: but in thy sede as in one, whiche is Christe. Thys I saye, that the lawe which beganne afterward beyonde: iiij.C. and .xxx. yeares doth not disanull

the testam&ebar;t, that was confyrmed afore of God vnto Christe warde, to make the promes of none effecte. For yf the inherytaunce come of the lawe, it commeth not of promes. But God gaue it vnto Abraham by promes

^noteWherfore then serueth the lawe? The law was added because of transgressyon (tyll the sede came to whiche the promes was made, ∧ D   it was ordeyned by angels in the hande of a mediator, he is not a mediator of one. But God is one. Is the lawe then agaynst the promes of God? God forbyd. ^noteHowbeit yf there had bene a lawe geuen whiche could haue geuen lyfe: then no doubt ryghteousnes should haue come by the lawe. ^noteBut the scrypture concluded all thynges vnder synne that the promes by the fayth of Iesus Christe shoulde be geuen vnto them that beleue. &cross3; Before that fayth came, we were kept and shut vp vnder the lawe, to the fayth which shuld afterward be declared. Wherfore the lawe was our scholemaster to the tyme of Christ, that we might be made ryghtuouse by fayth. But after that fayth is come, nowe are we no lenger vnder a scholemayster. For ye are al the05Q1471 sonnes of God, by the fayth whiche is in Christe Iesus. For al ye þt; are baptysed, haue put on Christ. ^noteNowe is there no Iewe neyther gentyle, ther is neyther bonde nor free: there is neyther m&abar; nor woman, but ye are all one thyng in christ Iesu. Yf ye be Christes, then are ye Abrah&abar;s seede and heyres by promes. ^note The .iiij. Chapter. ¶ Paule sheweth that thorowe Christ we be delyuered from the lawe, and rebuketh the vnthankefulnes of the Galathyans.

A   And I say that the heyre as l&obar;ge as he is a chylde, differeth not from a seruaunt thoughe he be Lorde of all, but is vnder tutours and gouernours, vntyll the tyme appoynted of the father. Euen so we as longe as we were chyldren, were in bondage vnder the ordinaunces of the world. But when the05Q1472 tyme was full come, God sente hys sonne made ^note of a wom&abar;, and made b&obar;de vnto the lawe, to redeme them which were vnder the lawe: that we thorowe eleccy&obar; myght receyue the enheritaunce that belongeth vnto the naturall sonnes. Because ye are sonnes, God hath sent the spyryte of hys sonne into our hertes, whiche cryeth Abba father. Wherfore now thou art not a seruaunt but a sonne. Yf thou be the sonne, thou arte also the heyre of God thorowe Christe. &cross3;

&rhand; Notwithstandynge when ye knewe not God ye dyd seruyce vnto them, which by nature were no Goddes. ^note B   But nowe seynge, ye knowe God (yea rather are knowen of God) how is it that ye turne agayne to the weake ∧ beggerly ceremonies, wherevnto agayne ye desyre a freshe to be in bondage? Ye obserue dayes, and monethes, and tymes, and yeares. I am in feare of you lest I haue bestowed on you laboure in vayne.

^note&rhand; Brethren I beseche you, be ye as I am, for I am as ye are. Ye haue not hurte me at all. Ye knowe howe thorowe infyrmytye of the fleshe, I preached the Gospell vnto you at the fyrste. And my temptacion whiche I suffered by reas&obar; of my flesh, ye dispysed not, neyther abhorred, but receyued me as an Angell of God: yea as Christe Iesu. How happye were ye then? for I beare you recorde that yf it had bene possyble, ye woulde haue plucked oute youre owne eyes, and haue geuen th&ebar; to me. Am I therfore become your enemye, because I tell you the truth?

They are gelous ouer you amysse. Yea, they intende to exclude you, that ye should be feru&ebar;t to th&ebar; ward. C   It is good alwayes to be feruent, so it be in a good thinge, and not onelye when I am presente with you.

My lytle chyldren (of whome I trauayle in byrth agayne vntyll Christe be fashyoned in you I) woulde I were with you now, and coulde chaunge my voyce, for I stande in a doubte of you.

Tell me ye that desyre to be vnder the law haue ye not heard of the law? &cross2; ^noteFor it is writen, that Abraham had two sonnes, the one by a bonde mayd the other by a fre woman. Yea and he whiche was of the bond woman, was borne after the fleshe: but he whiche was of þe; fre woman, was borne by promes. Whiche thynges betoken misterye. For these women are two testamentes the one from the mounte Syna, whiche gendreth to bondage whiche is Agar. For mounte Syna is called Agar in Arabia, and bordreth vpon the citie, which is nowe Hierusalem, and is in bondage with her chyldren.

D   But Hierusalem, whiche is aboue, is fre, whiche is the mother of vs all. For it is written: Reioyce thou baren, that bearest no chyldren: breake forth and crye, thou that trauaylest not. For the desolate hath many more children then she whiche hath an husband. ^noteBrethren we are after the maner of Isaac childr&ebar; of promes. But as then he that was borne spirytuallye. Euen so is it nowe. Neuerthelesse what sayth the scripture: ^note put awaye the bond woman and her sonne. For the sonne of þe; b&obar;d woman shall not be heyre with the sonne of þe; fre woman. So then brethren we are not chyldren of the bonde woman, but of the fre woman. &cross3;

^note The .v. Chapter. ¶ He laboureth to drawe them awaye from circumcysyon, sheweth the battell betwene the spyryte and the fleshe, and the fruytes of them both.

A    ^{note note}Stande fast therfore in the lybertye wherewith Christ hath made vs free and wrappe not your selues againe in the yoke of bondage. Beholde I Paule saye vnto you, that yf ye be circumcysed Christe shall profyte you nothynge at all. I testifye agayne to euery man whiche is circumcysed that he is bounde to kepe the whole lawe. Ye are gone quyte from Christe as manye as are iustifyed by the law, and are fallen from grace. We loke for, and hope in the spiryte, to be iustifyed thorow fayth. For in Iesu Christ nether is circumcysi&obar; any thing worth, neyther yet vncirc&ubar;cysyon, but ^note fayth which by loue is myghtye in operacyon. Ye dyd runne wel: who was a let to you, that ye shoulde not obeye the trueth? Euen that counsell that is not of hym that called you. A lytell leuen doeth leuen the whole lumpe of dowe. B   &cross2; I haue trust towarde you in the Lorde, that ye wyll be none otherwyse mynded. He that troubleth you, shall beare hys iudgemente, whatsoeuer he be. Brethren, yf I yet preache circumcysyon: why do I yet suffer persecutyon? For then had the offence whiche the crosse geueth, ceased. I woulde to God they were separated from you, whiche trouble you. ^noteBrethren ye were called into lybertye onelye let not youre lybertye be an occasyon vnto the fleshe, but in loue serue one another. For all the lawe is fulfylled in one worde: whiche is thys: ^note thou shalte loue thyne neyghboure as thy selfe. Yf ye byte and deuour one another: take hede leaste ye be consumed one of another.

C    ^{note note}&cross2; I saye: walke in the spyryte, and fulfyl not the lustes of the fleshe. For the flesh lusteth c&obar;trarye to the spirite, and the spirite contrarye to the fleshe. These are contrarye one to the other, so that ye c&abar;not do that which ye would. But and yf ye be led of the spyryte, then are ye not vnder the lawe. ^noteThe dedes of the flesh are manyfeste, which are these aduoutrye, fornicacyon, vncleannes, wantonnes, Idolatrye wytchecrafte, hatred, varyaunce, zele, wrathe stryfe, sedityon, sectes, enuiynge, murther, drounkennes, glottonye, and suche lyke: of the whiche I tell you before, as I haue tolde you in tymes past, that they whiche c&obar;mytte suche D   thynges shall not enheryte the kingdome of God. But ^note the frute of þe; spiryte, is loue, ioye peace, longe sufferynge, gentylnes, goodnes, faithfulnes, mekenes, temperauncye. Against suche there is no lawe. They that are Christes haue crucyfyed the fleshe with the appetytes and lustes. &cross3; &cross2; If we lyue in the spyryte: let vs walke in the spyryte. Let vs not be vayne gloryouse, prouokynge one another, and enuyinge one another. The .vi. Chapter. He exhorteth them to brotherlye loue, and one to beare with another. In the ende he warneth them to beware of circumcysyon.

A    ^noteBrethren, yf any man be fallen by chaunce into any faute: ye which are spyrytuall helpe to amende hym, in the spyryte of mekenes, consyderynge thy selfe leste thou also be tempted. Beare ye one anothers burthen, and so fulfyl the lawe of christ. Yf anye man seme to hym selfe, that he is somwhat, when in dede he is nothynge the same deceyueth hym selfe in hys ymaginacyon. ^{note note}Let euerye man proue hys owne worke, and then shall he haue reioysynge in hys owne selfe, ∧ not in another. For euery man shal beare his owne burthen.

Let hym that is taughte in the worde, mynyster vnto him that teacheth hym, in al good thynges. Be not deceyued, God is not mocked. B   For what soeuer a man soweth, that shal he reape. He that soweth in hys fleshe: shall of the fleshe reape corrupci&obar;. But he that soweth in the spyryte, shall of the spyryte reape lyfe euerlastynge. ^noteLet vs not be werye, of wel doynge. For when the tyme is come, we shall reape withoute werynes. Whyle we haue therfore tyme, let vs do good vnto all men, and specially vnto them which are of the houshold of faythe. &cross3;

C   Beholde how large a letter I haue writen vnto you with myne owne hande. As manye as desyre with vtwarde apperaunce to please carnallye, they coustrayne you to be circumcysed, onelye because they woulde not suffer persecucyon with the crosse of Ch.iste. For they them selues which are circumcysed kepe not the lawe: but desyre to haue you circumcysed that they myght reioyce in your fleshe.

D   &rhand; God forbyd that I shoulde reioyce but in the crosse of oure Lorde Iesu Christe, wherby the worlde is crucifyed as touchyng me, and I as concernynge the worlde. For in Christe Iesu neyther circumcisyon auayleth any th&ibar;g at all, nor vncircumcysyon but ^note a newe creature. And as many as walke accordynge to thys rule peace be on them, and mercye, and vpon Israel þt; pertayneth to God. Fr&obar; hence forthe let no man put me to busynes. For I bare in my bodye the markes of the Lord Iesu. Brethren the grace of oure Lorde Iesu Christe be with youre spyryte. Amen. Vnto the Galathyans written from Rome.

Previous section

Next section