For am I now making an appeal to people or [to] God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

to reveal his Son in me in order that I would proclaim the gospel [about] him among the Gentiles, immediately I did not consult with flesh and blood,

But only they had heard that he who persecuted us before, now preacheth the faith which he formerly would have destroyed.

[It was] in response to [a divine] revelation that I went [there] and explained to them [I. e., the apostles and elders] the Gospel [message] that I had been preaching among the Gentiles. Then [later on I presented it] privately before those who were highly regarded [i.e., the three apostles, verse 9] so [they would have verification that] my running [i.e., ministry] had not been, nor was now, in vain.

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.

and when James, Cephas, and John, who had a reputation as pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Until some men arrived from James, he was in the habit of eating with the gentiles, but after those men came, he withdrew from the gentiles and would not associate with them any longer, because he was afraid of the circumcision party.

If, while seeking to be pronounced righteous through union with Christ, we were ourselves seen to be outcasts, would that make Christ an agent of sin? Heaven forbid!

For if I try to build up again what I had already destroyed [i.e., by returning to depend on compliance with the law of Moses to become right with God, after having rejected this system by trusting in Christ to save me], I would certainly be guilty of sin.

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are ye so unwise, that after ye have begun in the spirit, ye would now end in the flesh?

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Brothers, as men would say, even a man's agreement, when it has been made certain, may not be put on one side, or have additions made to it.

For if the inheritance [of the promise depends on observing] the Law [as these false teachers would like you to believe], it no longer [depends] on the promise; however, God gave it to Abraham [as a free gift solely] by virtue of His promise.

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.

Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed.

Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

Would that I were with you now and could coax you vocally, for I am fearful and perplexed about you!

Tell me, ye that would be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.

But, brothers, if I were still preaching [that a person had] to be circumcised, why am I being persecuted? [Note: Paul's argument seems to be "I must not be preaching circumcision since I am being persecuted by those who believe in it"]. [If I preached that a person had to be circumcised] then my preaching that Christ died on the cross would not be such an offense [to those who believe in it].

I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Those who want to make a good impression and a fine show in the flesh would try to compel you to receive circumcision, simply so that they may escape being persecuted for allegiance to the cross of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

For these very men do not really keep the Law of Moses, but they would have you receive circumcision in order that they may glory in *your* bodies.

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;

so that we would praise his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One.

so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of him,

not of works, that no one would boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

Wherefore I desire that ye would not be discouraged at my afflictions on your account, which is your glory.

which is father over all that is called father in heaven and in earth, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory,

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

and that the Messiah would make his home in your hearts through faith. Then, having been rooted and grounded in love,

The one who went down is the same one who went up above all the heavens so that all things would be fulfilled.

Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray.

But immorality or any form of vice or greed must not be so much as mentioned among you; that would not be becoming in God's people.

Wives, you should submit to your own husbands, as you would to the Lord.

that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Slaves, you should obey those who are your earthly masters, out of reverence and eagerness to please them, with a sincere heart, as you would [obey] Christ.

Render your service wholeheartedly, as you would to the Lord, and not [just] to people,

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

For life to me is Christ, and if I die, it would be gain.

Now if I continue living, fruitful labor is the result, so I do not know which I would prefer.

So, I am in a dilemma between the two choices. [On the one hand] I have the desire to depart [from this life] and be with Christ [in heaven], which would be far better.

Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

For I have no one but him to send--no one of kindred spirit who would take the same genuine interest in your welfare.

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.

and that I may be found in him, not having my righteousness, which would be on the principle of law, but that which is by faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God through faith,

I would know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, with my nature transformed to die as he died,

Let us therefore, as many as would be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

I am suffering now on your behalf, but I rejoice in that; I would make up the full sum of all that Christ has to suffer in my person on behalf of the church, his Body;

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

You fathers [Note: By implication, this would include both parents] should not stir up your children [i.e., irritate or exasperate them], so that they do not become discouraged.

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

but have been gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse would cherish her own children.

Seeing that we were thus drawn affectionately towards you, it would have been a joy to us to have imparted to you not only God's Good News, but to have given our very lives also, because you had become very dear to us.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For they would prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles with a view to their Salvation, and thus are always 'filling up the measure of their iniquity.' But the Wrath of God has come upon them to the full!

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

[so that] no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For [you] yourselves know that we are appointed for this,

For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know.

For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief.

and come to be glorified by his saints, and to be the object of admiration to all who believed, that the testimony we gave you, would be justified in that day.

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

you would not by any pretended revelation, by any discourse or epistle ascrib'd to us, be immediately perplex'd in your minds, or under any concern for the approach of the day of the Lord.

and with every unrighteous deception against those who are perishing, in place of which they did not accept the love of the truth, so that they would be saved.

And this is the reason that God sends them a strong delusion [to influence them]: It is so that they would believe the lie,

In order that should be judged who would not believe in the truth, but were well-pleased with the unrighteousness.

With this purpose in mind, he called you through our proclamation of the gospel so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.

we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and struggled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

And yet do not consider him to be an enemy, but warn him as [you would] a [Christian] brother.

because they would be doctors of the scripture, and yet understand not what they speak, neither whereof they affirm.

But I obtained mercy for the reason that in me, as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might show forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and patience for an example to [encourage] those who would thereafter believe on Him for [the gaining of] eternal life.

Among these people are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered over to Satan [Note: This probably refers to withdrawing fellowship from them. See I Cor. 5:1-5], so that they would learn not to speak against God [anymore].

who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

So then I would have the men everywhere pray, lifting to God holy hands which are unstained with anger or strife;

and I would have the women dress becomingly, with modesty and self-control, not with plaited hair or gold or pearls or costly clothes,

This is a trustworthy saying: The one who would an elder be, a noble task desires he.

Do not sharply censure or rebuke an older man, but entreat and plead with him as [you would with] a father. Treat younger men like brothers;

[to] older women as [you would to] mothers; [to] the younger women as [you would to] your sisters, in a [morally] pure way.

So I would have younger [widows] marry, bear children, guide the household, [and] not give opponents of the faith occasion for slander or reproach.

Do not be in a hurry to lay hands on anyone [i.e., to appoint them to office. See 4:14], and do not participate in the sins of other people. [Note: If Timothy failed to carefully determine the qualifications of a prospective elder before appointing him, it would make him partially responsible for any wrongdoing by that elder]. Keep yourself pure [i.e., of involvement in anyone's sins].

When I recall the tears you shed when we parted, I long by night and day to see you again. That would fill me with joy,

That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [ with those of the elders at your ordination].