But even if we, or an angel from heaven, were to be a preacher to you of good news other than that which we have given you, let there be a curse on him.

Preach I man's doctrine or God's? Other go I about to please men? If I studied to please men, I were not the servant 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.

neither returned to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but went my ways into Arabia, and came again unto 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 was unknown, as touching my person, unto the congregations of Jewry, which were in Christ.

and only they were hearing, that 'he who is persecuting us then, doth now proclaim good news -- the faith that then he was wasting;'

and they were glorifying God in me.

Yea, and I went up by revelation, and commended with them of the gospel, which I preach among the gentiles - but between ourselves with them which were counted chief, lest it should have been thought that I should run, or had run in vain.

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

However, false brothers were secretly brought in. They slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in the Messiah Jesus so that they might enslave us.

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.

Of them which seemed to be great - what they were in time passed it maketh no matter to me: God looketh on no man's person - nevertheless they seemed great, added nothing to me:

but on the contrary seeing that I was intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, as Peter was of the circumcision,??8 for he that operated in Peter for the apostleship of the circumcision, operated also in me for the gentiles,??9 and knowing the grace given me, James and Cephas and John, who were manifest pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship that we should go to the gentiles and they to the circumcision;

and having known the grace that was given to me, James, and Cephas, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, a right hand of fellowship they did give to me, and to Barnabas, that we to the nations, and they to the circumcision may go,

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

For yer that certain came from James, he ate with the gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which 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 living up to the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas, and that before them all, "If you are living like a heathen and not like a Jew, although you are a Jew yourself, why do you try to make the heathen live like Jews?"

And if, seeking to be declared righteous in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is then Christ a ministrant of sin? let it not be!

To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, "in the seeds," as in many: But, "in thy seed," as in one, which 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 that faith came, we were kept and shut up under the law, unto the faith which should afterward be declared.

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

for as many as to Christ were baptized did put on Christ;

Even so we, as long as we were children, were in bondage under the ordinances of the world:

to redeem them which were under the law: that we through election might receive the inheritance that belongeth unto the natural sons.

Notwithstanding, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them, which by nature were no gods:

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

Even though my condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or as if I were the Messiah Jesus.

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 beautifully! Who was it that cut into your way and kept 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 to God they were separated from you, which trouble you.

Brethren, ye were called into liberty, only let not your liberty be an occasion unto the flesh but in love serve one another.