But even though I myself or an angel from heaven were to preach any gospel other than that which I did preach to you, let him be accursed.

Think you that I am now trying to conciliate men or God? Or am I "seeking to please men"? If I were still seeking to please men, I should not be a slave of Christ.

And I make known to you, brethren, the good news that were proclaimed by me, that it is not according to man,

and prevailed in the Jews' law, above many of my companions, which were of mine own nation, and was a much more fervent maintainer of the traditions of the elders.

And I went not up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; but I went away into Arabia, and again I came back to Damascus.

(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you as if I were standing before God that I am not lying.)

And the churches of Judaea which were in Christ still had no knowledge of my face or person:

Only they were hearing - He that was persecuting us formerly, now, is announcing the glad-message of the faith which he formerly laid waste;

And they were giving glory to God on my account.

And I went up by revelation; and I put before them the good news which I was preaching among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were of good name, so that the work which I was or had been doing might not be without effect.

Also Titus which was with me, though he were a Greek, yet was not compelled to be circumcised;

Yet there were false brethren who had crept in to spy out the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us again.

But we refused to yield for a single instant to their claims; we were determined that the truth of the gospel should hold good for you.

But those in authority??hat they once were makes no difference to me; God is no respecter of persons??hose I say who were in authority had no additions to make my message.

but, on the contrary, seeing that the glad tidings of the uncircumcision were confided to me, even as to Peter that of the circumcision,

And when they perceived the favour which had been given unto me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave, the right hand of fellowship, unto me and Barnabas, in order that, we, should go unto the nations, and, they, unto the circumcision: -

Only, we were to remember the poor, and that I have taken pains to do.

For before certain men came from James, he did take food with the Gentiles: but when they came, he went back and made himself separate, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

And the other Jews were guilty of the same dissimulation with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

But when I saw that they were not walking a straight path, in the presence of the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all. "If you, although you are a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you try to compel the Gentiles to become Jews?

But if, while we were desiring to get righteousness through Christ, we ourselves were seen to be sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? In no way!

Now it was to Abraham that the promises were spoken, and to his offspring. God did not say, "offsprings" as if speaking of many, but "and to your offspring," as of one; and this is Christ.

For if the inheritance were by law, it is no more by promise: but God gave it to Abraham through the promise.

Why then was the Law given? It was imposed later on for the sake of defining sin, until the seed should come to whom God had made the promise; and its details were laid down by a mediator with the help of angels.

Is then the law against the promises of God? Far be the thought. For if a law had been given able to quicken, then indeed righteousness were on the principle of law;

Before the Faith came we were perpetual prisoners under the Law, in preparation for the destined faith about to be revealed.

But when faith was come, we were no longer under a paedagogue.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with Christ.

So we Jews also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the empty externalities of the world.

That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons.

But once, when you Gentiles had no knowledge of God, you were slaves to gods which have no real being.

Brethren, I beseech you, be ye as I am; for I also am as ye were: ye have not injured me at all.

and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself!

How happy were ye then? For I bear you record that if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

My little children, of whom I do as it were travail in birth again,

I would I were with you now, and could change my voice, for I stand in a doubt of you.

these things have an allegorical meaning: the two women signify the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, which is represented by Agar, whose children were born in a state of servitude.

ye were freed from the Christ, ye who in law are declared righteous; from the grace ye fell away;

You were running your race nobly. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

But, brothers, if I were still preaching [that a person had] to be circumcised, why am I being persecuted? [Note: Paul's argument seems to be "I must not be preaching circumcision since I am being persecuted by those who believe in it"]. [If I preached that a person had to be circumcised] then my preaching that Christ died on the cross would not be such an offense [to those who believe in it].

I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

For you, brothers, were called for freedom; only do not make your freedom an excuse for self-indulgence, but in love enslave yourselves to one another.