在耶路撒冷的辯護

過了十四年,我與巴拿巴一起再次上耶路撒冷,並且帶著提多一起去。 我是照著啟示上去的,向他們陳述了我在外邦人中所傳的福音,不過是單獨地向那些公認是人物的做了陳述,免得我過去或是現在所奔跑的都落了空[a] 與我在一起的提多,雖然是希臘人,也沒有被迫受割禮。 其實提到這件事[b],是因著一些偷偷進來的假弟兄的緣故;他們混進來窺視我們在基督耶穌裡所擁有的自由,為了要奴役我們。 我們對這些人,一刻也沒有屈服妥協,好使福音的真理在你們中間繼續存留。

至於那些公認是人物的——無論他們從前什麼樣,都對我沒有區別;神不以外貌取人。那些公認是人物的並沒有給我增添什麼; 不過他們反而看出來:我受了委託去傳福音給沒有受割禮的人,正如彼得受了委託去傳福音給受割禮的人, 因為在彼得裡面做工、使他做受割禮之人使徒的那一位,也在我裡面做工、使我做外邦人的使徒。 公認是柱石的雅各磯法約翰,既然明白了神所賜給我的恩典,就向巴拿巴和我伸出右手行契合之禮[c],要我們往外邦人那裡去,而他們往受割禮的人那裡去; 10 只是要我們記得窮人,而這一點也正是我一向努力做的。

從律法下得自由

11 不過磯法[d]來到安提阿的時候,我曾當面抵擋他,因為他有該責備的地方。 12 原來,從雅各那裡來的一些人到達之前,磯法與外邦人一起吃飯;可是那些人一到,他因為怕那些割禮派的人[e],就退縮,與外邦人分開了。 13 其餘的猶太人也跟著他裝假,以致連巴拿巴也被他們的偽善引入歧途。 14 但我一看見他們的行為不符合福音的真理,就在大家面前對磯法[f]說:「你身為猶太人,如果像外邦人而不像猶太人那樣生活,怎麼還要強求外邦人像猶太人一樣呢?」

15 我們生來是猶太人,不是「外邦中的罪人」, 16 不過我們知道:人被稱為義不是本於律法上的行為,而是藉著信耶穌基督。於是我們信了基督耶穌,為要因信基督稱義,而不是本於律法上的行為,因為沒有一個人[g]本於律法上的行為會被稱為義。 17 但如果我們自己尋求在基督裡被稱為義,卻被發現還是罪人,那麼,難道基督就成了罪的僕人嗎?絕對不是! 18 因為我如果重建自己以前所拆毀的,就證明我是違犯律法的人。 19 原來藉著律法,我已經向律法死了,使我能向神活著。我已經和基督一起被釘十字架, 20 所以現在活著的不再是我,而是基督在我裡面活著;並且如今我在肉體中活著,是因信神的兒子而活;他愛我,甚至為我捨棄了自己。 21 我不棄絕神的恩典,因為義如果是藉著律法而來的,那麼,基督就白白地死了。

Footnotes

  1. 加拉太書 2:2 免得我過去或是現在所奔跑的都落了空——或譯作「這樣,我過去或是現在就不會白白奔跑了」。
  2. 加拉太書 2:4 提到這件事——輔助詞語。
  3. 加拉太書 2:9 伸出右手行契合之禮——原文直譯「伸出右手的契合」。
  4. 加拉太書 2:11 磯法——有古抄本作「彼得」。
  5. 加拉太書 2:12 割禮派的人——指「那些主張外邦人也必須受割禮的人」;或譯作「受割禮的人」。
  6. 加拉太書 2:14 磯法——有古抄本作「彼得」。
  7. 加拉太書 2:16 人——原文直譯「肉體」。

众使徒接纳保罗

十四年后,我和巴拿巴又去耶路撒冷,并带了提多同去。 我是遵照上帝的启示去的。我私下拜会了那些有名望的教会领袖,陈明我在外族人中间所传的福音,免得我过去或是现在的努力都白费了。 跟我同去的提多虽然是希腊人,但没有人勉强他接受割礼。

事情的缘由是因为有一些假信徒偷偷混了进来,要窥探我们在基督耶稣里享有的自由,想叫我们做律法的奴隶。 但为了叫福音的真理常在你们当中,我们丝毫没有向他们妥协。

至于那些德高望重的教会领袖,他们的地位对我来说无关紧要,因为上帝不以貌取人。他们对我所传的并没有增加什么。 相反,他们都已看到,上帝差遣了我向外族人传福音,就像祂差遣了彼得向犹太人传福音一样。 上帝感动了彼得,呼召他做犹太人的使徒,祂也同样感动了我,呼召我做外族人的使徒。 当时被誉为教会柱石的雅各、彼得和约翰明白了上帝赐给我的恩典之后,就与我和巴拿巴用右手行相交之礼,让我们向外族人传福音,他们向受割礼的人传福音。 10 他们只要求我们照顾那些贫困的人,这正是我一向热衷的事。

保罗面责彼得

11 后来,彼得到了安提阿,因他做错了事,我就当面责备他。 12 从雅各那里来的人还没有抵达之前,彼得和外族的信徒一起吃饭。但那些人抵达以后,彼得因为怕那些坚持行割礼的犹太人批评,就与外族的信徒分开了。 13 其他的犹太基督徒也跟着彼得装假,甚至连巴拿巴也随从了他们的虚伪。 14 我看见他们不照福音的真理行,就当众对彼得说:“你身为犹太人,如果行事为人像外族人,不像犹太人,又怎能强迫外族人按犹太人的规矩生活呢?”

15 我们生来是犹太人,不是外族罪人, 16 但我们知道人被称为义人不是靠遵行律法,而是靠信耶稣基督。所以我们信了基督耶稣,以便因信基督而被称为义人,而不是靠遵行律法,因为无人能够靠遵行律法而被称为义人。 17 如果我们指望在基督里被称为义人,结果却仍是罪人,难道基督助长罪恶吗?当然不是!

18 倘若我重建我所拆毁的东西,就表明我是罪人。 19 事实上,我因无法满足律法的要求而向律法死了,不再受它的束缚,使我可以为上帝而活。 20 我已经与基督一同被钉在十字架上,现在活着的不再是我,而是基督活在我里面。我现在是靠信上帝的儿子而活着,祂爱我,为我舍命。 21 我不废弃上帝的恩典,倘若靠遵行律法可以成为义人,基督的死便毫无意义了。

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.

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

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12 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.

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 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?

15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

16 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.

17 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.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,(A) this time with Barnabas.(B) I took Titus(C) along also. I went in response to a revelation(D) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.(E) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race(F) in vain. Yet not even Titus,(G) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.(H) This matter arose because some false believers(I) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on(J) the freedom(K) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel(L) might be preserved for you.

As for those who were held in high esteem(M)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism(N)—they added nothing to my message.(O) On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task(P) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[a](Q) just as Peter(R) had been to the circumcised.[b] For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle(S) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle(T) to the Gentiles. James,(U) Cephas[c](V) and John, those esteemed as pillars,(W) gave me and Barnabas(X) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.(Y) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,(Z) and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,(AA) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Paul Opposes Cephas

11 When Cephas(AB) came to Antioch,(AC) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James,(AD) he used to eat with the Gentiles.(AE) But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.(AF) 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas(AG) was led astray.

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel,(AH) I said to Cephas(AI) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew.(AJ) How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?(AK)

15 “We who are Jews by birth(AL) and not sinful Gentiles(AM) 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,(AN) but by faith in Jesus Christ.(AO) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[d] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.(AP)

17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners,(AQ) doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!(AR) 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

19 “For through the law I died to the law(AS) so that I might live for God.(AT) 20 I have been crucified with Christ(AU) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(AV) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,(AW) who loved me(AX) and gave himself for me.(AY) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,(AZ) Christ died for nothing!”[e]

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:7 That is, Gentiles
  2. Galatians 2:7 That is, Jews; also in verses 8 and 9
  3. Galatians 2:9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14
  4. Galatians 2:16 Or but through the faithfulness of … justified on the basis of the faithfulness of
  5. Galatians 2:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 14.