Then fourteen years after I went up again to
Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
And I went up by revelation, and communicated
unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but
privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I
should run, or had run, in vain.
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a
Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
And that because of false brethren unawares
brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we
have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not
for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with
you.
But of these who seemed to be somewhat,
(whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no
man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference
added nothing to me:
But contrariwise, when they saw that the
gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel
of the circumcision was unto Peter;
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to
the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me
toward the Gentiles:)
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed
to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they
gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we
should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Only they would that we should remember the
poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I
withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he
did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and
separated himself, fearing them which were of the
circumcision.
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with
him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their
dissimulation.
But when I saw that they walked not
uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter
before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of
Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles
to live as do the Jews?
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners
of the Gentiles,
Knowing that a man is not justified by the
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith
of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the
law shall no flesh be justified.
But if, while we seek to be justified by
Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ
the minister of sin? God forbid.
For if I build again the things which I
destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
For I through the law am dead to the law,
that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if
righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,
that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ
hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
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 foolish? having begun in the
Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if
it be yet in vain.
He therefore that ministereth to you the
Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of
the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was
accounted to him for righteousness.
Know ye therefore that they which are of
faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
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.
So then they which be of faith are blessed
with faithful Abraham.
For as many as are of the works of the law
are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the
law to do them.
But that no man is justified by the law in
the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by
faith.
And the law is not of faith: but, The man
that doeth them shall live in them.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that hangeth on a tree:
That the blessing of Abraham might come on
the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith.
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;
Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man
disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the
promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of
one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
And this I say, that the covenant, that was
confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred
and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the
promise of none effect.
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is
no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added
because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the
promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a
mediator.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but
God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God?
God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have
given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under
sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to
them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under
the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be
revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to
bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no
longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith
in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized
into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are
all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a
child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of
all;
But is under tutors and governors until the
time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in
bondage under the elements of the world:
But when the fulness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that
we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a
son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did
service unto them which by nature are no gods.
But now, after that ye have known God, or
rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and
years.
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed
upon you labour in vain.
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I
am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I
preached the gospel unto you at the first.
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye
despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God,
even as Christ Jesus.
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.
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I
tell you the truth?
They zealously affect you, but not well;
yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
But it is good to be zealously affected
always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with
you.
My little children, of whom I travail in
birth again until Christ be formed in you,
I desire to be present with you now, and to
change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law,
do ye not hear the law?
For it is written, that Abraham had two
sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born
after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Which things are an allegory: for these are
the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to
bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and
answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her
children.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which
is the mother of us all.
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that
bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the
desolate hath many more children than she which hath an
husband.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the
children of promise.
But as then he that was born after the flesh
persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is
now.
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast
out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall
not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
So then, brethren, we are not children of
the bondwoman, but of the free.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith
Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke
of bondage.
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
For I testify again to every man that is
circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Christ is become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from
grace.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope
of righteousness by faith.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by
love.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye
should not obey the truth?
This persuasion cometh not of him that
calleth you.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump.
I have confidence in you through the Lord,
that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you
shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
And I, brethren, if I yet preach
circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence
of the cross ceased.
I would they were even cut off which trouble
you.
For, brethren, ye have been called unto
liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by
love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take
heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye
shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
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.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not
under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told
you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified
the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk
in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory,
provoking one another, envying one another.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,
ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil
the law of Christ.
For if a man think himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
But let every man prove his own work, and
then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in
another.
For every man shall bear his own burden.
Let him that is taught in the word
communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the
flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of
the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in
due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith.
Ye see how large a letter I have written
unto you with mine own hand.
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the
flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should
suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
For neither they themselves who are
circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that
they may glory in your flesh.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
And as many as walk according to this rule,
peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I
bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with your spirit. Amen.