and I pray to God that you may not go wrong ??not to prove I am a success, that is not the point, but that you should come right, even if I seemed to be a failure.

I am glad to be weak if you are strong; mend your ways, that is all I ask.

For this reason I am writing these things while absent from you, so that when I come, I will not need to deal severely [with you], in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be used] for building you up and not for tearing you down.

And now, brothers, good-bye. Aim at perfection; take courage; agree together; live in peace. And then God, the source of all love and peace, will be with you.

To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am astonished and extremely irritated that you are so quickly shifting your allegiance and deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different [even contrary] gospel;

What we have told you in the past I am now telling you again: If anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that person be condemned!

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.

But when it was the good pleasure of God, by whom I was marked out even from my mother's body, through his grace,

(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you as if I were standing before God that I am not lying.)

but I went up according to revelation; and I presented to them the gospel which I am preaching among the Gentiles, but privately to the prominent ones, lest perhaps I am running, or did run, in vain.

There were traitors of false brothers, who had crept in to spy out the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus; they did aim at enslaving us again.

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

but on the contrary, seeing that I am intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, like Peter of the circumcision,

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

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

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.

[In doing this] I am not trying to disregard God's unearned favor, for if a person could become right with God by [perfect obedience to the requirements of] the law of Moses, then Christ died for nothing.

O senseless Galatians, who has bewitched you; to whom, as before your very eyes, Jesus Christ has been portrayed, crucified among you?

This only, am I wishing to learn from you: - by works of law, received ye, the Spirit? or by a believed report?

Brothers, I am speaking according to a human perspective. Nevertheless, [when] the covenant of a man has been ratified, no one declares [it] invalid or adds additional provisions [to it].

Now I am saying this: the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise.

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything.

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have laboured upon you in vain.

I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

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

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

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.

Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, the Messiah will be of no benefit to you.

I am certain about you in the Lord, that you will be of no other mind; but he who is troubling you will have his punishment, whoever he is.

But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.

But, I am saying to you, live in harmony with the Holy Spirit's [desire for you] and [then] you will not [always] be giving in to the wrong desires of your body.

envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, [things] which I am telling you [in advance], just as I said before, that the ones who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

For the rest, annoyances, unto me, let no one be offering; for, I, the brandmarks of Jesus, in my body, am bearing.

so that we would praise His glorious, unearned favor, which was freely given to us through the One whom God loved [i.e., Christ].

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

so to order it in the fulness of the ages that all things in heaven and earth alike should be gathered up in Christ ??11 in the Christ in whom we have had our heritage allotted us (as was decreed in the design of him who carries out everything according to the counsel of his will),

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

I am praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, through an intimate knowledge of himself;

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

in which you once lived in accordance with the spirit of this present world, and the mighty prince of the air, who is always at work in the disobedient, among whom all of us, we Jews as well as you heathen,

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

For he is our peace, who has made the two into one, and by whom the middle wall of division has been broken down,

Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, On whom all the building fitly framed together,

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the 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—

by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ.

of which I am become minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me, according to the working of his power.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

So I ask you not to lose heart at my sufferings on your behalf, for they are your glory and honor.

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

I therefore which am in bonds for the Lord's sake, exhort you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

This, therefore, am I saying and protesting in the Lord: - that, no longer, ye walk even as, the nations, walk - in the vanity of their minds,

Whose thoughts are dark, to whom the life of God is strange because they are without knowledge, and their hearts have been made hard;

[I am] assuming that you have heard Him [i.e., through the Gospel message] and were taught the truth that is in [harmony with] Jesus.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

(This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.)

and for me, that utterance may be given me to open my mouth boldly, and to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador,

For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

But in order that ye also may know what concerns me, how I am getting on, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make all things known to you;

Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

I am giving thanks unto my God, on occasion of all my remembrance of you,

in every petition of mine in your behalf I am offering my prayer with joy for your fellowship in forwarding the gospel,

I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].

It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news [regarding salvation], all of you share in [His matchless] grace with me.

But I would have you know, brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings,

My imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole praetorian (imperial) guard and to everyone else.

the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel;

But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

What then? only that in every way, falsely or truly, the preaching of Christ goes on; and in this I am glad, and will be glad.

for I know [with confidence] that this will turn out for my deliverance and spiritual well-being, through your prayers and the [superabundant] supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ [which upholds me].

If, however, it is to be life here and I am to go on living, this will mean useful and productive service for me; so I do not know which to choose [if I am given that choice].

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.

maintaining, as you do, the same kind of conflict that you once saw in me and which you still hear that I am engaged in.

Let not each aim at their own particular interests, but every man at those of others.

To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God;

So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:

But I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be comforted when I have news of you.

Him then I am hoping to send as quickly as possible, when I am able to see how things will go for me:

and I trust [confidently] in the Lord that soon I also will be coming to you.

But I feel that I must send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-laborer, and fellow-soldier, whom you sent to look after my needs.

Therefore I am sending him with special urgency, in order that [when] you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious.

Well then, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. I am repeating this word 'rejoice' in my letter, but that does not tire me and it is the safe course for you. ??2 Beware of these dogs, these wicked workmen, the incision-party!

though I at least am entitled to rely on them. If anyone thinks he can rely on his physical advantages, still more can I!

Having been circumcised on the eighth day, I am of the nation of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. As far as the Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee.

if zeal is to be regarded, I persecuted the church; if the integrity prescrib'd by the law, I am without reproach;