Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead—

To whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!

As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on human thought.

For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

But when God, who from my birth set me apart and called me by His grace, was pleased

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.

But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners”

know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.

But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not!

If I rebuild the system I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.

and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?

So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?

Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.

But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.

And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God and cancel the promise.

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law.

But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.

Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father.

But in the past, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.

But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

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.

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.

Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law?

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman.

But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.

For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

I have confidence in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.

Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.

For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap,

Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

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

May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God!

Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.