I do not declare invalid the grace of God, for if righteousness [is] through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who does not abide by all [the things] that are written in the book of the law to do them."

But the law is not from faith, but "the one who does these [things] will live by them."

Now to Abraham and to his descendant the promises were spoken. It does not say, "and to descendants," as concerning many, but as concerning one, "and to your descendant," who is Christ.

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.

Now the mediator is not for one, but God is one.

But at that time [when you] did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods.

And you did not despise or disdain [what was] a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus.

They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they want to exclude you, in order that you may seek them [zealously].

But [it is] good to be sought zealously in good at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

Tell me, [you] who are wanting to be under the law, do you not understand the law?

For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to [children]; burst out and shout, [you] who do not have birth pains, because many [are] the children of the desolate [woman], even more than [those of] the one who has a husband."

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

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

This persuasion [is] not from the one who calls you!

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not let your freedom [become] an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out [that] you are not consumed by one another.

For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are in opposition to one another, so that whatever you want, you may not do these [things].

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

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.

We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in someone else.

Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked, for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap,

And let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, [if we] do not give up.

As many as are wanting to make a good showing in the flesh, these are attempting to compel you to be circumcised, only so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For not even those who are circumcised observe the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised in order that they may boast in your flesh.

do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention in my prayers,

above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this age but also in the coming one,

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this [is] not from yourselves, [it is] the gift of God;

[it is] not from works, so that no one can boast.

that you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world.

(which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit):

Therefore I ask [you] not to be discouraged at my afflictions on behalf of you, which are your glory.

But you did not learn Christ in this way,

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger,

The one who steals must steal no longer, but instead must labor, working with his own hands [what is] good, so that he may have [something] to share with the one who has need.

{No rotten word must proceed} from your mouth, but only something good for the building up of the need, in order that it may give grace to those who hear,

and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or greediness, must not even be named among you (as is fitting for saints),

and obscenity, and foolish talk, or coarse jesting (which [are] not proper), but rather thanksgiving.

For this you know {for certain}, that every sexually immoral [person], or unclean [person], or greedy [person] (who is an idolater), does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Therefore do not be sharers with them,

And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even expose [them].

Therefore, consider carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise,

Because of this do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord [is].

And do not be drunk with wine (in which is dissipation), but be filled by the Spirit,

in order that he might present to himself the church glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such [thing], but that she may be holy and blameless.

And fathers, do not make your children angry, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

not {while being watched}, as people pleasers, but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart,

serving with goodwill as to the Lord and not to people,

because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction in my imprisonment.

But if [it is] to live in the flesh, this [is] fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer [I do] not know.

and not letting yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God,

because to you has been graciously granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on behalf of him,

each of you not looking out for {your own interests}, but also each of you [for] {the interests} of others.

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped,

Therefore my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

holding fast to the word of life, for a source of pride to me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

For they all seek {their own interests}, not those of Jesus Christ.

But I considered [it] necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and servant of my need,

For indeed he was sick, coming near to death, but God had mercy on him and not [on] him only, but also [on] me, so that I would not have grief upon grief.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same [things] to you [is] not troublesome to me, but [is] a safeguard for you.

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

and may be found in him, not having my righteousness [which is] from the law, but [which is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,

Not that I have already received [this], or [have] already been made perfect, but I press on if indeed I may lay hold of [that] for which also I was laid hold of by Christ.

Brothers, I do not consider myself to have laid hold of [it]. But [I do] one [thing], forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead,

Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever [circumstances] I am.

because even in Thessalonica {on more than one occasion} you sent for my need.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek for the profit that increases to your account.

And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Because of this also we, from the day we heard about [it], did not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled [with] the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight,

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and steadfast and not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on behalf of you, and those in Laodicea, and all those who have not seen my face {in person},

Beware lest {anyone take you captive} through philosophy and empty deceit, according to {human tradition}, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ,

in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with reference to eating or drinking or participation in a feast or a new moon or a Sabbath,

and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by the ligaments and sinews, grows with the growth of God.

"Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,"

which [things] {although they have}, to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, {do not have any value} against the indulgence of the flesh.

Set your mind on the things above, not [on] the things on earth.

Do not lie to one another, [because you] have taken off the old man together with his deeds,

Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

Slaves, obey your {human} masters in everything, not {while being watched}, as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Whatever you do, accomplish [it] from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to people,

because our gospel did not come to you with word only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, just as you know what sort of [people] we became among you for your sake.

for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

For [you] yourselves know, brothers, our reception with you, that it was not in vain,

For our exhortation [is] not from error or from impurity or with deceit,

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts.

Longing for you in this way, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

And because of this we also give thanks to God constantly, that [when you] received God's word {that you heard} from us, you accepted [it] not [as the] word of men, but as [it] truly is, [the] word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.

who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecuted us, and [who are] not pleasing to God and [are] opposed to all people,

But [when] we were made orphans by separation from you, brothers, for {a short time} (in face, not in heart), [we were] even more eager with great desire to see your face,

For who [is] our hope or joy or crown of boasting? [Is it] not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming?

night and day praying beyond all measure that [we] may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?

not in lustful passion, just as also the Gentiles who do not know God;

not to transgress and to exploit his brother in the matter, because the Lord [is] the one who avenges concerning all these [things], just as also we told you beforehand and testified solemnly.