Paul, an apostle sent not from men nor by any man, but by Jesus Christ and by God the Father who raised him from the dead;

I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the mercy of Christ, to some different good news??7 not that there is any other, only that there are some people who are trying to unsettle you and want to turn the good news of the Christ around.

which is really not another [gospel]; but there are [obviously] some [people masquerading as teachers] who are disturbing and confusing you [with a misleading, counterfeit teaching] and want to distort the gospel of Christ [twisting it into something which it absolutely is not].

But even though I myself or an angel from heaven were to preach any gospel other than that which I did preach to you, let him be accursed.

I have said it before, and I now repeat it, if any one is preaching a gospel to you other than that which you have received, let him be accursed.

For I want you to know, believers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept].

for I did not get it from any man; I was not taught it, but I got it through a revelation given by Jesus Christ.

that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not thereupon apply my self to any man;

But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Now [realizing I am] in God's presence, I am not lying about any of these things.

(I went up at that time in obedience to a revelation). And I laid before them the gospel which I am wont to preach among the Gentiles. I did this privately before those in authority, lest by any means I should be running, or should already have run, in vain.

But as for those who were men of real eminency, how considerable soever they were heretofore, it does not any ways affect me; God accepts not the person of any man: for they who were of note, in conference with me, had nothing new to add.

Until some men arrived from James, he was in the habit of eating with the gentiles, but after those men came, he withdrew from the gentiles and would not associate with them any longer, because he was afraid of the circumcision party.

yet we know that a man is not justified [and placed in right standing with God] by works of the Law, but [only] through faith in [God’s beloved Son,] Christ Jesus. And even we [as Jews] have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law no one will ever be justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty].

For if I [or anyone else should] rebuild [through word or by practice] what I once tore down [the belief that observing the Law is essential for salvation], I prove myself to be a transgressor.

Christ ransomed us from the curse pronounced in the Law, by taking the curse on himself for us, for Scripture says--'Cursed is any one who is hanged on a tree.'

Brethren, I speak according to the practice of men; contracts between men, when once ratified, cannot be disannulled or altered afterwards by any man.

Then the Law is contrary to God's Promises? Never! Had there been any law which had the power of producing life, righteousness would really have been due to law,

I am afraid of you - lest by any means, in vain, I should have toiled for you!

Brothers, I beseech you, become as I am, because I also have become as you are. You never did me any wrong;

It is not you that have done me any injury: tho' you knew through what infirmity of the flesh I heretofore preached the gospel to you,

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

For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless woman, who cannot give birth to any children! Break into song and shout, you who feel no pains of childbirth! For the children of the deserted woman are more numerous than the children of the woman who has a husband."

with the freedom for which Christ set us free. Make a firm stand then, do not slip into any yoke of servitude.

I again insist that if any man lets himself be circumcised, he is under obligation to obey the whole law.

Christ has become nothing to any of you who are seeking acceptance with God through the Law: you have fallen away from grace.

because in Christ neither circumcision has any value, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works through love.

I, am persuaded regarding you, in the Lord - that, for nothing else, ye will have any regard; but, he that is troubling you, shall bear the sentence, - whosoever he may be.

Even if any one should be overtaken in a fault, brothers, you that are spiritual ought, in a gentle spirit, to restore such a one, each one of you looking to himself, lest you too be tempted.

For, if any one thinketh he is something, when he is, nothing, he deceiveth himself;

Let each one test his own work, and he will then have something to be proud of by comparing himself with himself, and not with any one else;

But the last thing I want to do is brag [about such things]. For [if I had any bragging to do at all], it would be about [salvation through] the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is through Him that this [sinful] world has been crucified [i.e., died] as far as I am concerned and I have been crucified [i.e., died] as far as it is concerned.

For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus].

From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus branded on my body.