²⁹ “^(A)The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but ^(B)the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, so that we may ^[a]follow all the words of this Law.

¹⁷ For ^(A)the Law was given through Moses; ^(B)grace and ^(C)truth ^[a]were realized through Jesus Christ.

¹⁷ For if I do this voluntarily, I have a ^(A)reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a ^(B)commission nonetheless.

⁷ But if the ^(A)ministry of death, engraved ^(B)in letters on stones, came ^[a]with glory ^(C)so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? ⁹ For if ^(D)the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ^(E)ministry of righteousness excel in glory. ¹⁰ For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹ For if that which fades away was ^[b]with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

^12 (F)Therefore, having such a hope, ^(G)we use great boldness in our speech, ¹³ and we are not like Moses, ^(H)who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away. ¹⁴ But their minds were ^(I)hardened; for until this very day at the ^(J)reading of ^(K)the old covenant the same veil ^[c]remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. ¹⁵ But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; ^16 (L)but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

¹³ Christ ^(A)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “^(B)Cursed is everyone who hangs on ^(C)a ^[a]tree”— ¹⁴ in order that ^(D)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(E)would receive ^(F)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

^15 (G)Brothers and sisters, ^(H)I speak ^[b]in terms of human relations: ^(I)even though it is only a man’s ^[c]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^[d]conditions to it. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken ^(J)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “^(K)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(L)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For ^(M)if the inheritance is ^[e]based on law, it is no longer ^[f]based on a promise; but ^(N)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19 (O)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the ^[g]violations, having been ^(P)ordered through angels ^(Q)at the hand of a ^[h]mediator, until ^(R)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now ^(S)a mediator is not ^[i]for one party only; but God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^[j](T)Far from it! For ^(U)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[k]would indeed have been ^[l]based on law. ²² But the Scripture has ^(V)confined ^[m]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ But before faith came, ^[n]we were kept in custody under the Law, ^(W)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our ^[o](X)guardian to lead us to Christ, so that ^(Y)we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^[p](Z)guardian.

¹⁰ regarding His plan of ^(A)the fullness of the times, ^(B)to bring all things together in Christ, things ^[a]in the heavens and things on the earth.

Paul’s Stewardship

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(A)the prisoner of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^(C)for the sake of you ^(D)Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^(E)administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (F)that ^(G)by revelation there was ^(H)made known to me ^(I)the mystery, ^(J)as I wrote before briefly. ^4 [a]By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(K)my insight ^[b]into the ^(L)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to ^[c]mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(M)apostles and prophets ^[d]in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(N)fellow heirs and ^(O)fellow members of the body, and ^(P)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(Q)Christ Jesus through the gospel,

^24 (A)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(B)I am supplementing what is lacking ^[a]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of ^(C)His body, which is the church.

² To the ^[a](A)saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: ^(B)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.