Because I say to you, my brothers, that the good news of which I was the preacher is not man's.

I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

And they glorified God because of me.

I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain.

And that because of the false brothers let in secretly, who came searching out our free condition which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might make servants of us;

To whom we gave no room - no, not for the space of a hour - as concerning to be brought into subjection: and that because that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

On the contrary, because they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news for the heathen, just as Peter had been entrusted with it for the Jews --

(Because he who was working in Peter as the Apostle of the circumcision was working no less in me among the Gentiles);

and because they recognized the favor God had shown me, James, Cephas, and John, the so-called pillar apostles, gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, with the understanding that we should go to the heathen and they to the Jews.

But when Cephas came to Antioch I resisted him to his face, because he stood self-condemned.

For until certain men came from James he used to eat with the Gentile Christians, but when they came, he began to draw back and to separate himself, because he was afraid of the circumcision party.

"yet because we know that no man is justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we ourselves also have put our faith in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law; for "By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not make the grace of God of no effect: because if righteousness is through the law, then Christ was put to death for nothing.

Answer me this one question, "Is it on the ground of your obedience to the Law that you received the Spirit, or is it because, when you heard, you believed?"

Does he then who supplies you with his Spirit and works miracles among you, do it because you do what the law commands of because you believe the message heard?

[An example of this is] Abraham, who believed God's [promise] and [because of such faith] he was considered right with God.

Because the Scripture foresaw that God would bring the heathen into right standing with Himself on condition of faith, He beforehand proclaimed the good news to Abraham in the promise, "It is through you that all the heathen will be blessed."

For all who are of the works of the law are under a curse: because it is said in the Writings, A curse is on everyone who does not keep on doing all the things which are ordered in the book of the law.

And it is manifest that by the Law no man is justified in the sight of God. because The just shall live by faith,

Christ has made us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: because it is said in the Writings, A curse on everyone who is put to death by hanging on a tree:

Because if the heritage is by the law, it is no longer dependent on the word of God; but God gave it to Abraham by his word.

What then is the law? It was an addition made because of sin, till the coming of the seed to whom the undertaking had been given; and it was ordered through angels by the hand of a go-between.

Is the law then against the words of God? in no way; because if there had been a law which was able to give life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given -- because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ -- to those who believe.

Because you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

There is no Jew or Greek, servant or free, male or female: because you are all one in Jesus Christ.

And because you are sons, God sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Dear, dear Father!"

So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir because of what God did.

But, then, because you knew not God, you were enslaved to those who, by nature, are not gods:

But now, [because you] have come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

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

But you know that because of an illness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time.

And you did not have a poor opinion of me because of the trouble in my flesh, or put shame on it; but you took me to your hearts as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Where then is that happy condition of yours? because I give you witness, that, if possible, you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me.

Am I then become your enemy, because I am telling you the truth?

I could wish, however, to be present with you, even now, and to change my voice, - because I am perplexed regarding you.

Because it is in the Writings, that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman, and one by the free woman.

Which things have a secret sense; because these women are the two agreements; one from the mountain of Sinai, giving birth to servants, which is Hagar.

Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children.

For it is written - Be gladdened, O barren one! that wast not giving birth, break forth and shout, thou that wast not in birth-pains, - because, more, are the children of the deserted one, than of her that had the husband.

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

Because you, brothers, were marked out to be free; only do not make use of your free condition to give the flesh its chance, but through love be servants one to another.

For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; because these are opposite the one to the other; so that you may not do the things which you have a mind to do.

Because every man is responsible for his part of the work.

Because he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Look at how large these letters are because I am writing with my own hand!

Those who have the desire to seem important in the flesh, put force on you to undergo circumcision; only that they may not be attacked because of the cross of Christ.

Because even those who undergo circumcision do not themselves keep the law; but they would have you undergo circumcision, so that they may have glory in your flesh.

From this time on let no man be a trouble to me; because my body is marked with the marks of Jesus.