who are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: grace be to you, and peace from God the father,

from me, who called you by the grace of Christ; this can be

I certify to you, brethren, that the gospel, which has been preached by me, is not the result of human artifice:

you have heard of my former behaviour, whilst I was of the Jewish religion, with what excessive violence I persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste:

and that I made a greater proficiency in Judaism than many my contemporaries of my own nation, being an extraordinary zealot for the traditions of my forefathers.

but when it pleased God, who ordained me from my birth, and called me by his especial favour, to reveal his son to me,

that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not thereupon apply my self to any man;

neither went I up to Jerusalem, to those who were apostles before me: but I went immediately to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

and they glorified God upon my account.

Fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem, with Barnabas, and took Titus also with me:

and I went up according to revelation, and communicated to them that gospel, which I preach among the Gentiles; but privately to those who were of note, lest the pains, that I have already taken, or may hereafter take in the gospel, should be in vain.

however, Titus who was then with me, being a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised:

But as for those who were men of real eminency, how considerable soever they were heretofore, it does not any ways affect me; God accepts not the person of any man: for they who were of note, in conference with me, had nothing new to add.

(for he that had wrought powerfully in Peter with respect to his apostleship among the Jews, had also wrought powerfully in me upon account of the Gentiles:) and when James,

Peter, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, perceived the favour that was bestowed on me, they admitted me and Barnabas into fellowship, and agreed, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

I am crucified with Christ, it is not I that now live, but Christ that liveth in me; the life I have in this body I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain.

It is not you that have done me any injury: tho' you knew through what infirmity of the flesh I heretofore preached the gospel to you,

yet you did not despise me for the trial which attended my person, nor treated me with scorn; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

what benedictions did you then pour out upon me! for I bear you witness, that, had it been practicable, you would have pulled out your very eyes, and given them to me.

they court your affection, but not in a fair way; for they design to exclude me, that you might have the greater esteem for them.

but it is just you should cultivate my affection for you upon all proper occasions, and not only when I am present with you.

my dear children, how am I in pain, till Christ be formed in you?

I wish I could be present this very moment with you, and suit my discourse accordingly, for I stand in doubt what to think of you.

But tell me, you that are so willing to be under the law, why don't you consider the law?

Now we, my brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise.

so then, my brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free-woman, by virtue of that freedom which Christ has procur'd for us.

I have confidence in you, that, through the Lord, you will be of the same mind with me, so that he who troubles you shall fall under the censure he deserves, whoever he be.

as for me, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? for then there would not be so much objection to the doctrine of the cross.

You see how long a letter I have writ to you with my own hand.

for even they who are circumcised, do not themselves observe the law in other respects; but they dedesire to have you circumcised, that they may have matter of glorying upon that account.

but far be it from me that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is as contemptible to me, as I am to the world.

from henceforth let no man give me trouble; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.