whom be glory for ever and ever. amen. I wonder you have so soon deserted unto another gospel,

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

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

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

but, on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted with the good news of the uncircumcision, as Peter with that of the circumcision,

For until certain persons came from James he had been accustomed to eat with Gentiles; but as soon as these persons came, he withdrew and separated himself for fear of the Circumcision party.

But when I saw that they were not being straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas (Peter) in front of everyone, “If you, being a Jew, live [as you have been living] like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how is it that you are [now virtually] forcing the Gentiles to live like Jews [if they want to eat with you]?”

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Why, if I am now rebuilding that structure of sin which I had demolished, I am thereby constituting myself a transgressor;

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added [after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin], and [the Law] was ordained through angels and delivered to Israel by the hand of a mediator [Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect] until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Before this faith came, we Jews were perpetual prisoners under the Law, living under restraints and limitations in preparation for the faith which was soon to be revealed.

For all of you are children of God through your faith in Christ Jesus [as God's only Son].

But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all;

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Howbeit the'son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the'son by the freewoman is born through promise.

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

Now, brothers, you [Christians] are children of the promise [made to Abraham. See 3:29] just like Isaac, [Abraham's son] was.

But just as then the son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now.

Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will not be of another mind; but he that troubles you shall bear his sin, whoever he is.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.