PAUL DEFENDS HIS GOSPEL AT JERUSALEM

2 Then after fourteen years I went up againah to Jerusalem with Barnabas,ai taking Titusaj along also. 2 I went up according to a revelationak and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothersal had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the trutham of the gospel would be preserved for you.

6 Now from those recognized as important (what theyG once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritismH,an)—they added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised,ao just as Peterap was for the circumcised, 8 since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James,a Cephas,A,b and Johnc—those recognized as pillarsd—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we would remember the poor,e which I had made every effort to do.

FREEDOM FROM THE LAW

11 But when CephasA came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.B 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jewsf joined his hypocrisy,g so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told CephasA in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentileh and not like a Jew,i how can you compel Gentiles to livej like Jews?”*

15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the lawk but by faith in Jesus Christ,D even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in ChristE and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being willF be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,l is Christ then a promoterG,m of sin? Absolutely not!n 18 If I rebuildo those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.p 19 For through the law I died to the law,q so that I might live for God.r 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.s The life I now live in the body,H I live by faith in the Son of God,t who lovedu mev and gave himselfw for me.x 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,y then Christ diedz for nothing.

JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH

3 You foolishaa Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you,I before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayedJ as crucified?ab 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?* 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 4 Did you experienceL,ac so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miraclesad among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard—6 just like Abraham who believed God,ae and it was credited to him for righteousness?M,af

7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons.ag 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham,ah saying, All the nationsN will be blessed through you.O,ai 9 Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham,aj who had faith.P

LAW AND PROMISE

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,ak because it is written,al Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.Q,am 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will livean by faith.R,ao 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.S,ap 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,aq because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.T,ar 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.as

15 Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.U 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,V,at who is Christ. 17 My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later,au does not invalidate a covenant previously established by GodW and thus cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW

19 Why, then, was the law given?a It was added for the sake of transgressionsA until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angelsb by means of a mediator.c 20 Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one.d 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power,B,e so that the promise might be given on the basis of faithf in Jesus Christ to those who believe.g 23 Before this faithh came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.i 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ,j so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faithk has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.

SONS AND HEIRS

27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.l 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free,m male and female;n since you are all oneo in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirsp according to the promise.q 4 Now I say that as long as the heirr is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owners of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elementsC of the world.t 4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son,u born of a woman,v born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.w 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Sonx into ourD hearts, crying, “Abba,E Father!”y 7 So you are no longer a slavez but a son,aa and if a son, then God has made you an heir.ab

PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE GALATIANS

8 But in the past, since you didn’t know God,ac you were enslaved to thingsF that by nature are not gods. 9 But now, since you know God,ad or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthlessae elements?af Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? 10 You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.ag 11 I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

12 I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have not wronged me; 13 you know* that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh. 14 You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you.H On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.

15 Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?ah 17 They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. 18 But it is always good to be pursuedI in a good manner—and not just when I am with you. 19 My children,ai I am again suffering labor painsaj for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.

SARAH AND HAGAR: TWO COVENANTS

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abrahamak had two sons, one by a slaveal and the other by a free woman. 23 But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. 24 These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinaiam and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.an 25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabiaao and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,ap for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem aboveaq is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,ar

Rejoice, childless woman,as

unable to give birth.

Burst into song and shout,

you who are not in labor,

for the children of the desolate woman will be many,

more numerous than those

of the woman who has a husband.A,a

28 Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac,b are children of promise.c 29 But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit,d so also now.e 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.”B,f 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.g