But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.

We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;

we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.

For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.

since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.

Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.

For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections.

And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:

I will dwell among them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be My people.

I don’t say this to condemn you, for I have already said that you are in our hearts, to live together and to die together.

We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us.

For we are making provision for what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men.

As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are behaving in an unspiritual way.

For though we live in the body, we do not wage war in an unspiritual way,

since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments

And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience has been confirmed.

For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his public speaking is despicable.”

Such a person should consider this: What we are in the words of our letters when absent, we will be in actions when present.

We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you.

For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ.

We are not bragging beyond measure about other people’s labors. But we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged,

so that we may proclaim the good news to the regions beyond you, not boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry.

But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!

Are they Hebrews? So am I.
Are they Israelites? So am I.
Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

Are they servants of Christ?
I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one:
with far more labors,
many more imprisonments,
far worse beatings, near death many times.

Now I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you. No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God’s power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God’s power.

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.

And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test.

For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature.

and all the brothers who are with me:

To the churches of Galatia.

I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the good news about the Messiah.

But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”

We who 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 foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?

then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons.

So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed.

But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

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And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

But in the past, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.

They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.

These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.

For it is written:

Rejoice, childless woman,
who does not give birth.
Burst into song and shout,
you who are not in labor,
for the children of the desolate are many,
more numerous than those
of the woman who has a husband.

Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.

I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!

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 flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.

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

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,

Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.

Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

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,

made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—

For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,

You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah.

The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.

They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.

you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds;

Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.

Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—

making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

since we are members of His body.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.

It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel.

Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel,

so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—

so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.

For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—

Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.

Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things,

Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Those brothers who are with me greet you.