Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead—

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

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on human thought.

For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

Now I am not lying in what I write to you. God is my witness.

I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain.

But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.

Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism)—they added nothing to me.

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”

know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.

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!

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

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 the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ.

And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God and cancel the promise.

Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one.

Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law.

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,

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

I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me;

You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

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

Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you.

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.

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

Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all.

This persuasion did not come from the One who called you.

I have confidence in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.

I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

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

envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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

But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else.

Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap,

So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.