Now God is witness that the things which I am writing to you are true.

and was unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea, that are in Christ,

It was in obedience to a revelation that I went; and I laid before the Apostles the Good News that I am proclaiming among the Gentiles. I did this privately before those who are thought highly of, for fear that I might possibly be taking, or might have already taken, a course which would prove useless.

These apostles, who were highly regarded (although it really does not matter to me what they are, for God does not show partiality to any particular person); these men, I say, provided me with nothing [concerning the Gospel message].

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?

"We are Jews by birth, and not 'Gentile sinners';

But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not!

Are you so without sense? After beginning with the Spirit, will you now end with the flesh?

Notice then that the true sons of Abraham are children of faith.

So then they who are children of faith are blessed with Abraham the faithful;

For all who are of the works of the law are under a curse: because it is said in the Writings, A curse is on everyone who does not keep on doing all the things which are ordered in the book of the law.

But the Law is not based on faith; no, its words are--'Those who practice these precepts will find Life through them.'

But Scripture has shown that all mankind are the prisoners of sin, in order that the promised blessing, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ, may be given to those who believe.

but now that the Faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor-slave.

You are all sons of God through your faith in Jesus Christ.

For all ye that are baptised, have put on Christ.

In him there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

And because you are sons, God sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Dear, dear Father!"

So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then the heritage of God is yours.

But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no gods:

Now, however, when you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are beginning to turn back to those weak and beggarly externalities, eager to be in bondage to them again?

You are scrupulous, are you, in observing "days" and "months" and "seasons" and "years"?

Brothers, I beseech you, become as I am, because I also have become as you are. You never did me any wrong;

But you are aware [I am sure] that when I first came preaching the Gospel [message] to you, I had a physical handicap.

Now where are those good feelings you had for me? For I can [honestly] testify that [at one time] you would have even gouged out your eyes and given them to me [for sight] if that had been possible.

These men are courting your favor to no good purpose. They want to isolate you, so that you will be courting their favor.

Now it is always pleasant to be eagerly sought after [provided that it is] for a good purpose, and not just when I am with you [seeking you myself—but beware of the others doing it].

Tell me! ye who, under law, are wishing to be: The law, do ye not hear?

Now all this is an allegory, for these women are the two covenants; one from Mount Sinai, which is Hagar bearing children into bondage

(The word Hagar meaning in Arabia Mount Sinai) and it ranks with the Jerusalem of to-day, for she and her children are in slavery.

For it is written, Rejoice, O thou barren one who dost never bear, Break forth in joy, thou that dost not travail; For the children of the desolate woman are many. Yea, more than hers who has a husband.

But you, brothers, are like Isaac, children of the promise;

So, brothers, we are the children of no slave woman, but of free woman. For freedom did not Christ set us free;

Christ set us free [from condemnation under the law of Moses], so we could stay free! Remain where you are then, and do not get tangled up again in the enslaving harness [of the law of Moses].

Listen to me! I, Paul, declare to you that if you are to continue to follow the rite of circumcision, Christ will be no profit to you.

If you are being justified by law, you are cut off from Christ; you are fallen away from grace.

But we are not, for we through the Spirit are eagerly waiting by faith for a hope of righteousness (a hope well founded);

Because in Christ Jesus, having circumcision or not having circumcision are equally of no profit; but only faith working through love.

Ye were running well: - who hath hindered you, that, by truth, ye are not to be persuaded?

Would to God that those who are trying to unsettle you would even have themselves mutilated.

For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.

For the entire Law has been obeyed when you have kept the single precept, which says, "You are to love your fellow man equally with yourself."

But if you are always biting and devouring one another, take heed lest you be utterly consumed one by another.

For the desire of the flesh is against that of the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit is against that of the flesh, for they two are antagonistic, so that you may not do those things that you wish.

But if you are habitually led by the Spirit you are not under law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest; such, for instance, as fornication, impurity, indecency,

hard drinking, riotous feasting, and the like. And as to these I forewarn you, as I have already forewarned you, that those who are guilty of such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God.

And those who are Christ's have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires.

If we are living by the Spirit, let us also keep step in the Spirit.

Even if any one should be overtaken in a fault, brothers, you that are spiritual ought, in a gentle spirit, to restore such a one, each one of you looking to himself, lest you too be tempted.

Those who are taught the truth should share all their goods with the man who teaches them.

So then, as we have opportunity, let is do good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Look at how large the letters are that I am using in writing this, and I am writing them myself.

Those who are trying to compel you to be circumcised are such as wish to make a fair show in the flesh, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Even those who are being circumcised, are not themselves keeping the Law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may glory in your flesh.

And on all who are guided by this rule be peace and mercy, and on the Israel of God.

Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice],

To the saints (God’s people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:

Even before the creation of the world God chose us, who are in [fellowship with] Christ, to be dedicated [to Him] and to be without just blame in His sight. Out of love

for the government of the fulness of the ages, that all things in heaven and earth are alike should be gathered up in Christ, as Head.

in whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will:

You [Gentiles] also, who are in Christ, after having heard the message of truth, the good news about your salvation, and [after] believing in Him, were sealed [i.e., as evidence of ownership] with the promised Holy Spirit. [or, "the Holy Spirit who brings promises"].

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, until the redemption of those who are God's possessionto the praise of his glory.

I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,

and what the exceeding greatness of His power to us who are believing, according to the working of the power of His might,

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.

Which is his body, the full measure of him in whom all things are made complete.

You practiced such things when you lived according to the evil ways of this world, and according to the ruler of the [spiritual] powers of the air. [Note: This refers to Satan, whose influence permeates life around us]. He is the [evil] spirit who is now at work in people who are disobedient [to God].

but God who is rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,??5 even when we were dead in sins he made us alive with Christ,??y grace are you saved,

even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).

So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;

that He might show, in the ages that are coming, the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus,

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

for we are his workmanship,

His, in fact we are - his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus upon a footing of good works, which God prepared beforehand, that, therein, we might walk.

Wherefore, keep in remembrance - that, at one time, ye, the nations in flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by the so-called Circumcision in flesh, made by hand,

At that time you were living apart from Christ, estranged from the Commonwealth of Israel, with no share by birth in the Covenants which are based on the Promises, and you had no hope and no God, in all the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who at one time were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.

For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.

Hence, then - no longer, are ye strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens of the saints, and members of the household of God, -

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone,

In whom, ye also, are being builded together, into a habitation of God in Spirit.

For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

in regard to which ye are able, reading it, to understand my knowledge in the secret of the Christ,

That they who are of the nations should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through means of the glad-message, -

by whom we are bold to draw nigh in that trust, which we have by faith on him.

So I beg you not to lose heart over my tribulations in your behalf; they are your glory.

For this reason [grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ] I bow my knees [in reverence] before the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ],

from whom the whole family in heaven and earth are denominated his children:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God's Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah.

So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.

But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him [with reference to] all [things], who is the head, Christ,

From Him all [members of] the body are properly joined together by every supporting ligament, as each part contributes to the growth of the body and builds itself up through [mutual] love.

This I say, then, and give witness in the Lord, that you are to go no longer in the way of the Gentiles whose minds are turned to that which has no profit,

for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.

Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

But these are not the lessons which you have learned from Christ;

If so be ye have heard of him, and are taught in him, even as the truth is in Jesus: