From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!

For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; instead I received it by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

But when the one who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased

to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and get information from him, and I stayed with him fifteen days.

But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people) -- those influential leaders added nothing to my message.

Until certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this and separated himself because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.

The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?

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")

Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.

These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.

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

You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace!

You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?

This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you!

because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

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