It was in obedience to a revelation that I went. I laid before them the good news that I preach to the heathen, presenting it privately to the leaders, for fear my efforts might be or might have been futile.

Why, I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ can do nothing for you.

If we live by the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit.

Let us not in our vanity challenge one another or envy one another.

For everyone will have to carry his own load.

Let us not get tired of doing right, for at the proper time we shall reap, if we do not give out.

So then whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who belong to the family of the faith.

These men who are trying to force you to let yourselves be circumcised want to present a good appearance externally, to save themselves from having to stand persecution for the cross of Jesus the Christ.

Why, even those who let themselves be circumcised do not observe the Law themselves! But they want you to let yourselves be circumcised so that they can boast of that physical fact about you!

Let nobody interfere with me after this, for I bear on my body the scars that mark me as a slave of Jesus.