To what purpose, then, was the Law? It was imposed later for the sake of transgressions, until the "Offspring" should come to whom the promise had been made. It was arranged through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Now the mediator or go-between [in a transaction] is not [needed] for just one party; whereas God is only one [and was the only One giving the promise to Abraham, but the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity depended on both].

Is the law then against the words of God? in no way; because if there had been a law which was able to give life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

But the Scripture has captured everything by means of sin's net, so that what was promised by the faithfulness of the Messiah might be granted to those who believe.

But before faith came, we were kept in prison under the law, waiting for the revelation of the faith which was to come.

The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.

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

And if you belong to Christ, then you are [truly] Abraham's seed [i.e., his spiritual descendants] and thereby [you will] inherit what was promised to him [i.e., God's blessings].

even so we, whilst we were children, were in a state of servitude to the elements of the world. but when the time appointed was accomplished,

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

I begin to be afraid that perhaps the labor I spent on you was wasted.

Become ye as, I, because, I also, was as, ye, - brethren, I entreat you. Not at all, have ye wronged me.

on the contrary, you know that although it was illness which brought about my preaching the gospel to you at my first visit,

and although my bodily affliction was a trial to you, you did not scoff at it nor spurn me, but welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus himself.

what then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me;

and I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.

For it is written in the law about Abraham's two sons [Gen. 16]; one [was] by his slave woman [Hagar] and the other by the free woman, [his wife, Sarah].

but while the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, the son by the free woman was born in fulfilment of a promise.

Now these facts are about to be used [by me] as an allegory [that is, I will illustrate by using them]: for these women can represent two covenants: one [covenant originated] from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] that bears children [destined] for slavery; she is Hagar.

For it is written - Be gladdened, O barren one! that wast not giving birth, break forth and shout, thou that wast not in birth-pains, - because, more, are the children of the deserted one, than of her that had the husband.

Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of the undertaking of God.

But as in those days he who had birth after the flesh was cruel to him who had birth after the Spirit, even so it is now.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

You were going on well; who was the cause of your not giving ear to what is true?

[Your] being persuaded [to do this] was not motivated by God, who called you [into His fellowship].

[This letter is from] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to God's will, [and is being sent] to the saints [i.e., God's holy people] at Ephesus [Note: This was a major city in the western province of Asia Minor, and now a part of Turkey. The words "at Ephesus" are omitted in some manuscripts, suggesting it was a circular letter], and the faithful ones in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus [everywhere else ?].

according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love.

He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—

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

It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace,

when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in the Messiah

when the full time of the dispensation was come, to reduce all things both in heaven and on earth, under one head in Christ.

It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:

The end [i.e., of being so predetermined] was that we [Jewish Christians], who had previously placed our hope in Christ, should bring about the praise of God's splendor.

by whom you also have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: and having believed in him, ye were mark'd with the seal of the holy spirit, which was promised:

The same mighty power was exerted upon the Christ, when he raised the Christ from the dead and 'caused him to sit at his right hand' on high, exalting him above all Angels and Archangels of every rank,

Among whom we all at one time were living in the pleasures of our flesh, giving way to the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest.

then it was that God, who is rich in mercy, thro' his great love, wherewith he loved us,

This was so that, to future ages [of people on earth and in heaven], God could demonstrate the tremendous abundance of His unearned favor, expressed by His kindness to us in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus.

For you have been saved by God's unearned favor, through [your] faith, and that [salvation] was not the result of your own doing; it was the gift from God.

It was not the result of your own [good] deeds [See Titus 3:5], so that no one could boast [about it].

For he is our peace, which hath made of both one, and hath broken down the wall in the midst, that was a stop between us,

by abolishing in His fleshly body the [entire Jewish] law of commandments contained in decrees. [This was] so that He could create in [unity with] Himself one new person [i.e., the church] out of the two peoples [i.e., Jews and Gentiles], thereby bringing about peace [between them].

that he might reconcile both in one body unto God by the cross, wherefore he destroyed the enmity that was between them:

Which was built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner,

This is why I, Paul, whom Jesus the Christ has made a prisoner for the sake of you heathen??2 if at least you have heard how I dealt with the mercy of God that was given me for you,

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was entrusted to me [to share with you] for your benefit;

How that, by way of revelation, was made known unto me the sacred secret, - even as I before wrote in brief, -

by reading which you can understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ,??5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

which in other generations was not disclosed to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit;

The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised by the Messiah Jesus through the gospel.

Of which I was made a minister, according to the free-gift of the favour of God which was given unto me, according to the energy of his power:

Unto me - the less than least of all saints, was given this favour, unto the nations, to announce the glad-message of the untraceable riches of the Christ,

And to let all men see, what is the fellowship of the mystery, which was hidden from the beginning of the world by God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

This was done so that now God's many-sided wisdom could be made known through the church, to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms [Note: "Heavenly realms" here refers to the world around us, where these angelic beings (good or bad) view the unfolding of God's wonderful plan],

This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

There is but one Body and one Spirit, just as there was but one hope set before you when you received your Call.

Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.

It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

[and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];

For this was not the teaching of Christ which was given to you;

You have learned to lay aside, with your former manner of living, the old self who was on his way to ruin, as he followed the desires which deceive;

and to put on the new man according to God, the man who was created in righteousness and piety of the truth.

Let him who was a thief be so no longer, but let him do good work with his hands, so that he may have something to give to him who is in need.

And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit; for it was through that Spirit that God sealed you as his, against the Day of Redemption.

There was a time when you were nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light itself.

no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church:

for we are members of his body, as if taken out of his flesh, and of his bones, as Eve was out of Adam's.

serve them with affection, as if it was to the Lord,

For I am certain of this very thing, that he by whom the good work was started in you will make it complete till the day of Jesus Christ:

So that it became clear through all the Praetorium, and to all the rest, that I was a prisoner on account of Christ;

Because to you it was granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

being engag'd in the same conflict, in which you saw I was formerly, and hear that I am at present engag'd.

Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],

who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it];

but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].

Because He was recognized as a man, in reality as well as in outward form, He finally humiliated Himself in obedience so as to die, even to die on a cross.

[This was] so that, in [honor of] the name of Jesus, everyone's knee in heaven, on earth and under the earth [i.e., all rational creatures] should bow [i.e., before God],

Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obey'd the gospel, not only when I was with you, but much more now while I am absent, continue the work of your own salvation, whatever persecutions you apprehend:

Offering the word of life; so that I may have glory in you in the day of Christ, because my running was not for nothing and my work was not without effect.

But his quality is clear to you; how, as a child is to its father, so he was a help to me in the work of the good news.

Still I think it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you now, for he is my brother, fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, and he was also your messenger to help me in my need.

For he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

He certainly was sick and close to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me [which distance prevented you from rendering personally].

circumcised when I was eight days old, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews [an exemplary Hebrew]; as to the [observance of the] Law, a Pharisee;

as to my zeal [for Jewish tradition], a persecutor of the church; and as to righteousness [supposed right living] which [my fellow Jews believe] is in the Law, I proved myself blameless.

But whatever was gain to me, these things I regarded loss because of the Christ.

and be found in him, not having my own righteousness which was by law, but the righteousness which is by faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith,

Not that I have already obtained or have already been fully perfected, but I press forward, if also I might seize upon that for which also I was seized by Christ Jesus.

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now at last you have renewed your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned about me before, but you had no opportunity to show it.

Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.

Nevertheless, it was right of you to share [with me] in my difficulties.

And you Philippians yourselves know that immediately after the good news was first preached to you, when I left Macedonia, no church but yours went into partnership with me to open an account of credits and debits.

For even while I was still in Thessalonica, you sent once and again for my needs.

I received all, and have plenty. I was even filled after that I have received of Epaphroditus, that which came from you, an odor that smelleth sweet, a sacrifice accepted and pleasant to God.

Through the hope which is in store for you in heaven; knowledge of which was given to you before in the true word of the good news,

As it was given to you by Epaphras, our well-loved helper, who is a true servant of Christ for us,

He is the likeness of the unseen God, born first before all the creation ??16 for it was by him that all things were created both in heaven and on earth, both the seen and the unseen, including Thrones, angelic Lords, celestial Powers and Rulers; all things have been created by him and for him;

For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.