For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.

And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain.

But from those who were reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man's person)-- they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me:

and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;

For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.

But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid.

Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:

that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:

Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?

For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.