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

Am I now trying to win men's favor, or God's? Or, am I trying to be pleasing to men? If I were still trying to be pleasing to men, I would not be a slave of Christ at all.

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.

because we know that a man does not come into right standing with God by doing what the law commands, but by simple trust in Christ, we too have trusted in Christ Jesus, in order to come into right standing with God by simple trust in Christ and not by doing what the law commands, because by doing what the law commands no man can come into right standing with God.

I have been crucified with Christ, and I myself no longer live, but Christ is living in me; the life I now live as a mortal man I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.

So you see, it is the men of faith who are the real descendants of Abraham.

So the men of faith are blessed as partners with trusting Abraham.

Now it is evident that through the law no man is brought into right standing with God, for "The man in right standing with God will live by faith,"

and the law has nothing to do with faith, but it says, "It is the man who does these things that will live by doing them."

I mean this: The law which was given four hundred and thirty years later could not annul the contract which had already been ratified by God, so as to cancel the promise.

I mean this: As long as the heir is under age he is not a whit better off than a slave, although he is heir of all the property,

And yet you know that it was because of an illness of mine that I preached the good news to you the first time,

These men are paying you special attention, but not sincerely. They want to shut you off from me, so that you may keep on paying them special attention.

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

By our union with the Lord I have confidence in you that you will take no other view of the matter. The man who is unsettling you will certainly pay the penalty for it, no matter who it turns out to be.

I almost wish that these men who are upsetting you would go all the way, and have themselves mutilated.

I mean this: Practice living by the Spirit and then by no means will you gratify the cravings of your lower nature.

Those who are taught the truth should share all their goods with the man who teaches them.

These men who are trying to force you to let yourselves be circumcised simply want to make a fine outward show, only to keep you from being persecuted for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Indeed, the very men who let themselves be circumcised do not themselves observe the law. But they simply want you to let yourselves be circumcised, so that they can boast of you as members of their party.

But may it never be mine to boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world!