005:001 Christ having made us gloriously free--stand fast and do not
again be hampered with the yoke of slavery.
005:002 Remember that it is I Paul who tell you that if you receive
circumcision Christ will avail you nothing.
005:003 I once more protest to every man who receives circumcision
that he is under obligation to obey the whole Law of Moses.
005:004 Christ has become nothing to any of you who are seeking acceptance
with God through the Law: you have fallen away from grace.
005:005 *We* have not, for through the Spirit we wait with longing hope
for an acceptance with God which is to come through faith.
005:006 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
is of any importance; but only faith working through love.
005:007 You were running the race nobly! Who has interfered and caused
you to swerve from the truth?
005:008 No such teaching ever proceeded from Him who is calling you.
005:009 A little yeast corrupts the whole of the dough.
005:010 For my part I have strong confidence in you in the Lord
that you will adopt my view of the matter. But the man--
be he who he may--who is troubling you, will have to bear
the full weight of the judgement to be pronounced on him.
005:011 As for me, brethren, if I am still a preacher of circumcision,
how is it that I am still suffering persecution?
In that case the Cross has ceased to be a stumbling-block!
005:012 Would to God that those who are unsettling your faith would
even mutilate themselves.
005:013 You however, brethren, were called to freedom. Only do not turn
your freedom into an excuse for giving way to your lower natures;
but become bondservants to one another in a spirit of love.
005:014 For the entire Law has been obeyed when you have kept
the single precept, which says, "You are to love your fellow