To the Galatians (Version 0.1)

The Divine Feminine Version (DFV) of the New Testament is made publicly available through the Creative Commons License – Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike 3.0 United States. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us for full details.

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Chapter One

Paul, an apostle – not sent from women or men nor by human authority, but by Jesus Christ and Godde the Mother, who raised him from the dead – ²and all the sisters and brothers who are with me, to the communities in Galatia: ³Grace to you and peace from Godde our Mother and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present wicked age, according to the will of our Godde and Mother, ⁵to whom be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
          ⁶I’m surprised that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace [of Christ] to a different “good news.” ⁷It isn’t really “good news,” but some people who are troubling you want to pervert the Good News of Christ. ⁸But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach [to you] any “good news” other than what we preached to you, let them be ostracized! ⁹As we have already said, I now repeat: if anyone preaches to you any “good news” other than what you received, let them be ostracized!
          ¹⁰Does it sound as if I’m looking for human approval, or Godde’s approval? Or am I trying to be a people-pleaser? If I were still a people-pleaser, I wouldn’t be a bondservant of Christ.
          ¹¹I want you to know, sisters and brothers, that the Good News I preached is not from human beings. ¹²I didn’t receive it from human beings, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
          ¹³You’ve heard of my earlier life in Judaism, how violently I harassed the community of Godde and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴I advanced in Judaism beyond many people of my generation, being much more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. ¹⁵But when [Godde,] the one who chose me from my mother’s womb and called me through her grace, was pleased ¹⁶to reveal her Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t consult with flesh and blood right away, ¹⁷nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia, then returned to Damascus.
          ¹⁸Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹But I didn’t see any other apostle except James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰Now about what I write to you, as Godde is my witness, I’m not lying! ²¹Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²²The communities of Judea that are in Christ didn’t know my face. ²³They only heard: “The one who used to harass us is now preaching the faith that he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴And they glorified Godde because of me.

Chapter Two

Fourteen years later I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too. ²I went up because of a revelation and presented to them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did it in a private meeting with those who were respected in order to be sure that I was not running, or had been running, the race in vain. ³But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised – even though he was a Greek! ⁴This was because of the false sisters and brothers who were secretly brought in. They crept in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us. ⁵We did not submit to them even for one hour, so that the truth of the Good News might continue with you. ⁶But those who were respected (I don’t really care what they were because Godde doesn’t show favoritism) — they had nothing for me to add. ⁷On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, just as Peter had been with the Good News for the circumcision, ⁸because she who sent Peter as an apostle to the circumcised also sent me to the Gentiles. ⁹When they recognized the grace that was given to me, James, Cephas, and John, who were seen as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of partnership so that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰The only thing they asked us to do was to remember those who are poor — the very thing I was already eager to do!
          ¹¹But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he was clearly wrong. ¹²Before certain people came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself because he was afraid of those who advocate circumcision. ¹³And the other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴But when I saw that they weren’t walking in the truth of the Good News, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you – a Jew – live like the Gentiles and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
          ¹⁵We’re Jews by nature, not Gentile outsiders, ¹⁶yet we know that no one is justified by deeds of Torah but through the trust of Jesus Christ. And we believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by the trust of Christ, not by deeds of Torah, because no one will be justified by deeds of Torah. ¹⁷But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be outsiders too, is Christ then a minister of exclusion? Certainly not! ¹⁸Because if I build back up what I tore down, I prove that I’m a wrongdoer. ¹⁹For through Torah I died to Torah so that I might live to Godde. I have been crucified with Christ, ²⁰and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the trust of the Son of Godde, who loved me and gave himself up for me. ²¹I don’t set aside the grace of Godde, because if justice comes through Torah, then Christ died for nothing!

Chapter Three

You oblivious Galatians! Who has you spellbound? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified! ²Just tell me this: Did you receive the Spirit by deeds of Torah, or by the preaching that leads to trust? ³Are you so oblivious? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? ⁴Did you go through so much for nothing? Surely it meant something! ⁵Does Godde give you the Spirit and do mighty deeds among you by deeds of Torah, or by the message of trust?
          ⁶Just as Sarah and Abraham “trusted Godde and were counted as just,” ⁷so you should know that those who trust are children of Sarah and Abraham. ⁸Foreseeing that Godde would justify the Gentiles by trust, the Scripture preached the Good News beforehand to Sarah and Abraham: “All the Gentiles will be blessed in you.” ⁹So those who trust are blessed with Sarah and Abraham, who trusted.
          ¹⁰Those who rely on deeds of Torah are condemned, because it is written, “Everyone who doesn’t continue to do all the things that are written in the book of the Torah are condemned.” ¹¹Now it’s obvious that no one is justified by Torah before Godde, because “The just will live by trust.” ¹²The Torah is not based on trust; rather, “Whoever does these things will live by them.” ¹³Christ redeemed us from the condemnation of the Torah, being condemned for us – because it is written, “Everyone who hangs on a tree is condemned” – ¹⁴in order that the blessing of Sarah and Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through trust.
          ¹⁵Sisters and brothers, speaking in human terms, when someone’s covenant has been confirmed, no one voids it or adds to it. ¹⁶Now the promises were made to Sarah and Abraham and their offspring. Scripture doesn’t say, “To offsprings,” as in many people, but “To your offspring,” as in one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷Here’s my point: Torah, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant ratified beforehand by Godde, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸Because if the inheritance is based on Torah, it is no longer based on a promise; but Godde has granted it to Sarah and Abraham by a promise.
          ¹⁹Why then the Torah? It was provided because of wrongdoing, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made. The Torah was given by angels through a mediator. ²⁰Now a mediator is not needed for just one party, but Godde is one. ²¹Is the Torah then against the promises of Godde? Certainly not! Because if a torah had been provided which could give life, then justice really would have come through Torah. ²²But the Scripture confined all things under sin so that what was promised by the trust of Jesus Christ might be given to those who trust.
          ²³Before trust came, we were kept in custody under Torah, confined for the trust which would later be revealed. ²⁴So the Torah was our custodian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by trust. ²⁵But now that trust has come, we are no longer under a custodian, ²⁶because in Christ Jesus you are all children of Godde through trust. ²⁷For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸There is no longer Jew nor Greek, no longer bondservant nor free, no longer male and female, because you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹If you belong to Christ, then you are Sarah and Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

Chapter Four

I’m saying that as long as the heir is a child, they’re no different from a bondservant, even though they’re owner of all; ²but they’re under guardians and stewards until the time designated by their parent. ³In the same way, when we were children, we were detained by the elemental powers of the world. ⁴But when the time was right, Godde sent her Son, born of a woman, born under the Torah, ⁵in order to redeem those who were under the Torah, so that we might be adopted as children. ⁶And because you are children, Godde sent the Spirit of her Son into our hearts, crying, “Amma, Mother!” ⁷So you are no longer a bondservant, but a child; and if a child, then an heir of Godde through Christ.
          ⁸Since you did not know Godde at that time, you were detained by those who are not by nature goddesses and gods. ⁹But now that you have come to know Godde – or, rather, to be known by Godde – why are you turning again to the weak and worthless elemental powers? Do you want to be detained all over again? ¹⁰You observe days, months, seasons, and years. ¹¹I’m afraid for you, that maybe my work for you has been for nothing.
          ¹²I beg you, sisters and brothers, become like me, because I became like you. You have done me no wrong, ¹³but you know that it was because of my illness that I preached the Good News to you the first time. ¹⁴Though my condition was a trial to you, you didn’t despise or reject me, but you welcomed me as an angel of Godde, even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵What has happened to your blessings? I’m sure that, if it were possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me! ¹⁶Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? ¹⁷They are zealous for you, but for no good. What they want to do is to alienate you so you will be zealous for them. ¹⁸It’s fine to be zealous for a good cause, and not only when I’m there with you. ¹⁹My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you—²⁰how I wish I were there with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
          ²¹Tell me, you who want to be under the Torah, don’t you listen to the Torah? ²²It is written that Abraham had two sons, one by Hagar, the maidservant, and one by Sarah, the free woman. ²³However, Hagar’s son was born according to the flesh, but Sarah’s son was born as a result of the promise. ²⁴This is an allegory. There are two covenants: Hagar represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage. ²⁵Now Sinai is a mountain in Arabia which corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in bondage with her children. ²⁶But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother, ²⁷because it is written:    

          “Rejoice, you barren who don’t have children!
          Break out and shout, you who don’t feel the pains of childbirth,
          because the deserted woman will have more children than the
                    woman who has a husband.”         

          ²⁸Now you, sisters and brothers, are children of promise, like Isaac. ²⁹At that time the one who was born according to the flesh harassed the one who was born according to the Spirit, as it is now. ³⁰But what does the Scripture say? “Throw out Hagar and her son, because he will not share the inheritance with Sarah’s son.” ³¹So then, sisters and brothers, we are not Hagar’s children, but Sarah’s children.

Chapter Five

Christ freed us for this freedom, so stand firm and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ²Listen, I, Paul, am telling you that if you are circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you. ³I assure you again that everyone who is circumcised is obliged to do the whole Torah. ⁴Those of you who are being justified by the Torah are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace. ⁵But by trust we wait eagerly through the Spirit for the hope of justice, ⁶because in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, only trust working through love.
          ⁷You were running a great race! Who kept you from being persuaded by the truth? ⁸Such persuasion isn’t from the one who calls you. ⁹A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. ¹⁰I’m confident about you in the Lady that you will not think otherwise. But whoever is troubling you will be judged, whoever they are. ¹¹But sisters and brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still being harassed? Then the offense of the cross has been abolished. ¹²I wish that those who trouble you would castrate themselves!
          ¹³You, sisters and brothers, were called to freedom. Only don’t use your freedom to indulge the flesh, but to serve each other through love. ¹⁴For the whole Torah is summed up in one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵But if you bite and devour each other, watch out that you don’t destroy each other.
          ¹⁶Walk by the Spirit, I’m saying, and you won’t gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For what the flesh desires is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh; they oppose each other to keep you from doing what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Torah. ¹⁹Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious: promiscuity, corruption, lewdness, ²⁰idolatry, drug abuse, hatred, strife, jealousy, rage, rivalries, divisions, schisms, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I’m warning you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Reign of Godde.
          ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trust, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let’s walk by the Spirit too. ²⁶Let’s not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Chapter Six

Sisters and brothers, if anyone is found to be at fault, you who are spiritual should restore them in a spirit of gentleness, watching out so that you aren’t tempted too. ²Bear one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the Torah of Christ. ³Because if anyone thinks they’re something when they’re nothing, they deceive themselves. ⁴But let everyone test their own work, and then they can take pride in themselves without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵because everyone will bear their own burden. ⁶But let the one who is taught the message share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷Don’t be deceived: Godde is not mocked, because a person will reap whatever they sow. ⁸The one who sows to their own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹Let’s not become weary of doing good, because we’ll reap at harvest time if we don’t give up. ¹⁰So as often as we have the chance, let’s do good to everyone, especially to the family of the faith.
          ¹¹See what large letters I use when I write to you with my own hand! ¹²Those who want to look good in the flesh compel you to be circumcised just so that they may not be harassed for the cross of Christ, ¹³because even those who are circumcised don’t keep Torah themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴But far be it from me to boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation is everything! ¹⁶Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, and to the Israel of Godde. ¹⁷From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, because I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
          ¹⁸May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, sisters and brothers. Amen.

The Divine Feminine Version Study Bible Version 0.3 is made available through the Creative Commons License – Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works 3.0 United States. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us for full details.

1:13: “My earlier life in Judaism.” Often translated “my former life in Judaism,” this phrase need not necessarily mean that Paul had rejected Judaism (cf. Pamela Eisenbaum, Paul Was Not a Christian: The Original Message of a Misunderstood Apostle [HarperOne], 2009, pp. 134ff).

1:15: “The one who chose me from my mother’s womb.” Cf. Jer. 1:15; Paul describes himself in terms of a prophet (cf. Krister Stendahl, Paul Among Jews and Gentiles [Philadelphia: Fortress Press], 1977, p. 8).

1:16: “Among the Gentiles.” Paul’s calling to bear prophetic witness to the Gentiles suggests that he understood his divine commissioning as a prophetic call, not a religious conversion from Judaism to Christianity (cf. Stendahl, op cit., pp. 7-11).

2:10: “Remember those who are poor.” It is widely assumed that the “poor” here is a reference to the Jerusalem poor and that this request is the basis of Paul’s collection among the communities of the Gentile Jesus-followers, but there is little evidence to suggest that the request is so specific. On the contrary, there is ample evidence that alleviating the suffering of the poor was a central concern for Jews and Gentile Jesus-followers alike. (cf. Bruce W. Longenecker, Remember the Poor: Paul, Poverty, and the Greco-Roman World [Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.], 2010).

2:14: “I said to Cephas in front of them all.” Significantly, Paul declines to disclose who actually won the argument. The fact that the arguments of Paul’s opponents had spread from Antioch to Galatia by this point (cf. 3:1) suggests that Paul actually lost the argument in Antioch (cf. James D.G. Dunn, Jesus, Paul, and the Law: Studies in Mark and Galatians [Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press], 1980, pp. 160,161).

2:16: “Deeds of Torah.” Not “good deeds” in general, but specific requirements of Torah including circumcision (2:3-10), food laws (2:11-14), and holy days (4:10). Cf. James D.G. Dunn, The New Perspective on Paul (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdans Pub. Co.), 2005, p. 111; N.T. Wright, What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.), 1997, p. 132.

3:3: “Ending with the flesh.” Possibly a reference to circumcision.

3:13: “Christ redeemed us from the condemnation of the Torah.” Christ was condemned “in order that the blessing of Sarah and Abraham might come to the Gentiles” (v. 14). Paul’s argument therefore is about the inclusion of the Gentiles rather than the question of divine sovereignty and human inability, as in some later Christian traditions.

4:22: “Hagar … Sarah.” Though 4:22-31 repeatedly refers to these two matriarchs as “the maidservant” and “the free woman,” they deserve the dignity of being identified primarily by name. In the original text Hagar is named only twice and Sarah isn’t named at all.

4:30: “Throw out Hagar and her son.” In Genesis 16:10-13, Hagar is blessed and honored as much as Sarah; Paul’s unfortunate allegory serves only to underscore the importance of Jesus’ challenge to be inclusive (cf. “Galatians,” Women’s Bible Commentary, p. 336).

5:3: “Everyone who is circumcised is obligated to do the whole Torah.” Galatians who undergo circumcision will be compelled “to live like Jews” (cf. 2:14).

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