not that another one really exists. To be sure, there are certain people who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel about the Messiah.

Preach I man's doctrine or God's? Other go I about to please men? If I studied to please men, I were not the servant of Christ.

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism, that to an extraordinary degree I was persecuting the church of God, and trying to destroy it,

to reveal his Son in me in order that I would proclaim the gospel [about] him among the Gentiles, immediately I did not consult with flesh and blood,

then, after three years I went up to Jerusalem to enquire about Peter, and remained with him fifteen days,

Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I'm not lying.

They had only heard it said about me, "This person, who had once persecuted us [Christians], is now preaching the faith he once made havoc of."

But when Cephas came to Antioch [of Syria], I confronted him personally [about a matter] for which he deserved to be condemned.

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

I do not misapply God's grace, for if righteousness comes about by doing what the Law requires, then the Messiah died for nothing.

In order that, unto the nations, the blessing of Abraham, might come about in Jesus Christ, - in order that, the promise of the Spirit, we might receive through means of the faith.

For if the inheritance comes about through the Law, it no longer comes about through the promise. But it was through a promise that God so graciously gave it to Abraham.

Why, then, was the Law added? Because of transgressions, until the descendant came about whom the promise pertained. It was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

But before faith came, we were guarded under law, shut up to faith which was about to be revealed.

But now that faith has come about, we are no longer under a guardian.

I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [to the point of exhaustion] over you in vain.

on the contrary, you know that although it was illness which brought about my preaching the gospel to you at my first visit,

Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!

So then, have I [now] become your enemy because I have told you the truth [about your condition]?

They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.

Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you.

but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.

For it is written in the law about Abraham's two sons [Gen. 16]; one [was] by his slave woman [Hagar] and the other by the free woman, [his wife, Sarah].

What does the Scripture say about this matter? [It says, Gen. 21:10-12], "Get rid of the slave woman [Hagar], with her son [Ishmael]; for the son of the slave woman [Ishmael] will not inherit [what God promised to Abraham and his descendants], along with the son of the free woman [i.e., Isaac]."

I am certain about you in the Lord, that you will be of no other mind; but he who is troubling you will have his punishment, whoever he is.

And I say, Walk about in the Spirit, and do not perfect the lust of carnality.

envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Each person must examine his own actions, and then he can boast about his own accomplishments and not about someone else.

For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.

But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.

From now on no one should harass me [about such matters] for I carry around on my body the scars [left there in my service] for Christ.