who gave himself for our sins in order to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

For am I now making an appeal to people or [to] God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

For I make known to you, brothers, the gospel that has been proclaimed by me, that it is not {of human origin}.

For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught [it], but [I received it] through a revelation of Jesus 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,

and was progressing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my nation, [because] I was a far more zealous adherent of the traditions handed down by my forefathers.

to whom not even for an hour did we yield in subjection, in order that the truth of the gospel might remain continually with you.

But from those {who were influential} (whatever they were, [it makes] no difference to me, {God does not show partiality})--for those who were influential added nothing to me.

(for the one who was at work through Peter for [his] apostleship to the circumcision was at work also through me for the Gentiles),

For before certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, [because he] was afraid of those [who were] of the circumcision,

For if I build up again these [things] which I destroyed, I show myself [to be] a transgressor.

For through the law I died to the law, in order that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ,

and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and that [life] I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not declare invalid the grace of God, for if righteousness [is] through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.

Have you suffered so many [things] for nothing--if indeed also [it was] for nothing?

Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,

For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who does not abide by all [the things] that are written in the book of the law to do them."

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law [by] becoming a curse for us, because it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree,"

Now I am saying this: the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise.

For if the inheritance [is] from the law, [it is] no longer from the promise, but God graciously gave [it] to Abraham through the promise.

Now the mediator is not for one, but God is one.

Therefore [is] the law opposed to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, certainly righteousness would have been from the law.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

for as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Now I say, for as long a time [as] the heir is a child, [he is] no different from a slave, [although he] is master of everything,

I am afraid [for] you, lest perhaps I have labored for you in vain!

And you did not despise or disdain [what was] a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus.

So where [is] your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes [and] given [them] to me!

My children, for whom I am having birth pains again, until Christ is formed in you!

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

But the one by the female slave was born according to human descent, and the one by the free woman through the promise,

which [things] are spoken allegorically, for these [women] are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing [children] for slavery, who is Hagar.

Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children.

But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.

For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to [children]; burst out and shout, [you] who do not have birth pains, because many [are] the children of the desolate [woman], even more than [those of] the one who has a husband."

But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son" of the free woman.

Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female slave but of the free woman.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

For through the Spirit by faith we eagerly await the hope of righteousness.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not let your freedom [become] an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are in opposition to one another, so that whatever you want, you may not do these [things].

Brothers, even if a person is caught in some trespass, you [who are] spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of humility, looking out for yourself, lest you also be tempted.

For if anyone thinks he is something [although he] is nothing, he is deceiving himself.

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in someone else.

For each one will carry his own burden.

Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked, for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap,

And let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, [if we] do not give up.

As many as are wanting to make a good showing in the flesh, these are attempting to compel you to be circumcised, only so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For not even those who are circumcised observe the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised in order that they may boast in your flesh.

But [as] for me, may it never be [that I] boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I carry on my body the marks of Jesus.