⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,^(A) let them be under God’s curse!^{(B) 9} As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,^(C) let them be under God’s curse!

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?^(D) If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul Called by God

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^(E) that the gospel I preached^(F) is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man,^(G) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation^(H) from Jesus Christ.^(I)

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,^(J) how intensely I persecuted the church of God^(K) and tried to destroy it.^{(L) 14} I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous^(M) for the traditions of my fathers.^{(N) 15} But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(O) and called me^(P) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(Q) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(R) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(S)

¹⁸ Then after three years,^(T) I went up to Jerusalem^(U) to get acquainted with Cephas^[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(V) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(W) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(X)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(Y) and Cilicia.^{(Z) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(AA) that are in Christ.^{(AB) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(AC) he once tried to destroy.”^{(AD) 24} And they praised God^(AE) because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,^(AF) this time with Barnabas.^(AG) I took Titus^(AH) along also. ² I went in response to a revelation^(AI) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.^(AJ) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race^(AK) in vain. ³ Yet not even Titus,^(AL) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.^{(AM) 4} This matter arose because some false believers^(AN) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on^(AO) the freedom^(AP) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. ⁵ We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel^(AQ) might be preserved for you.

⁶ As for those who were held in high esteem^(AR)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism^(AS)—they added nothing to my message.^{(AT) 7} On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task^(AU) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,^[b](AV) just as Peter^(AW) had been to the circumcised.^{[c] 8} For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle^(AX) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle^(AY) to the Gentiles. ⁹ James,^(AZ) Cephas^[d](BA) and John, those esteemed as pillars,^(BB) gave me and Barnabas^(BC) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.^(BD) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,^(BE) and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,^(BF) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Paul Opposes Cephas

¹¹ When Cephas^(BG) came to Antioch,^(BH) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James,^(BI) he used to eat with the Gentiles.^(BJ) 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.^{(BK) 13} The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas^(BL) was led astray.

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

¹⁵ “We who are Jews by birth^(BQ) and not sinful Gentiles^{(BR) 16} know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,^(BS) but by faith in Jesus Christ.^(BT) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in^[e] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.^(BU)

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

¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law^(BX) so that I might live for God.^{(BY) 20} I have been crucified with Christ^(BZ) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(CA) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,^(CB) who loved me^(CC) and gave himself for me.^{(CD) 21} I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,^(CE) Christ died for nothing!”^[f]

Faith or Works of the Law

3 You foolish^(CF) Galatians!^(CG) Who has bewitched you?^(CH) Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.^{(CI) 2} I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit^(CJ) by the works of the law,^(CK) or by believing what you heard?^{(CL) 3} Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^{[g] 4} Have you experienced^[h] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles^(CM) among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?^{(CN) 6} So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[i](CO)

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith^(CP) are children of Abraham.^{(CQ) 8} Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”^{[j](CR) 9} So those who rely on faith^(CS) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.^(CT)

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law^(CU) are under a curse,^(CV) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”^{[k](CW) 11} Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,^(CX) because “the righteous will live by faith.”^{[l](CY) 12} The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”^{[m](CZ) 13} Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law^(DA) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”^{[n](DB) 14} He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,^(DC) so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.^(DD)

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters,^(DE) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.^(DF) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[o](DG) meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years^(DH) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;^(DI) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

¹⁹ Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions^(DJ) until the Seed^(DK) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels^(DL) and entrusted to a mediator.^{(DM) 20} A mediator,^(DN) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

²¹ Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!^(DO) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.^{(DP) 22} But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(DQ) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[p] we were held in custody^(DR) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.^{(DS) 24} So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(DT) that we might be justified by faith.^{(DU) 25} Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^(DV)

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God^(DW) through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(DX) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{(DY) 28} There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,^(DZ) nor is there male and female,^(EA) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.^{(EB) 29} If you belong to Christ,^(EC) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(ED) and heirs^(EE) according to the promise.^(EF)

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery^(EG) under the elemental spiritual forces^[q] of the world.^{(EH) 4} But when the set time had fully come,^(EI) God sent his Son,^(EJ) born of a woman,^(EK) born under the law,^{(EL) 5} to redeem^(EM) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(EN) to sonship.^{[r](EO) 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(EP) into our hearts,^(EQ) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[s] Father.”^{(ER) 7} So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.^(ES)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God,^(ET) you were slaves^(EU) to those who by nature are not gods.^{(EV) 9} But now that you know God—or rather are known by God^(EW)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[t]? Do you wish to be enslaved^(EX) by them all over again?^{(EY) 10} You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!^{(EZ) 11} I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.^(FA)

¹² I plead with you, brothers and sisters,^(FB) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. ¹³ As you know, it was because of an illness^(FC) that I first preached the gospel to you, ¹⁴ and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.^{(FD) 15} Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?^(FE)

¹⁷ Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.^{(FF) 18} It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.^{(FG) 19} My dear children,^(FH) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,^{(FI) 20} how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law,^(FJ) are you not aware of what the law says? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman^(FK) and the other by the free woman.^{(FL) 23} His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,^(FM) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.^(FN)

²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above^(FO) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(FQ) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(FR) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(FS) It is the same now.