Galatians 2:11-3:25

New American Standard Bible

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

¹¹ But when ^(A)Cephas came to ^(B)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he ^[a]stood condemned. ¹² For prior to the coming of some men from ^[b](C)James, he used to ^(D)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, ^(E)fearing those from the circumcision. ¹³ The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even ^(F)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they ^(G)were not ^[c]straightforward about ^(H)the truth of the gospel, I said to ^(I)Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, ^(J)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?^[d]

¹⁵ “We are ^(K)Jews by nature and not ^(L)sinners from the Gentiles; ¹⁶ nevertheless, knowing that ^(M)a person is not justified by works of ^[e]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by ^(N)faith in Christ and not by works of ^[f]the Law; since ^(O)by works of ^[g]the Law no ^[h]flesh will be justified. ¹⁷ But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found ^(P)sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? ^[i](Q)Far from it! ¹⁸ For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I ^(R)prove myself to be a wrongdoer. ¹⁹ For through ^[j]the Law I ^(S)died to ^[k]the Law, so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been ^(T)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but ^(U)Christ lives in me; and ^[l]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in ^(V)the Son of God, who ^(W)loved me and ^(X)gave Himself up for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(Y)if righteousness comes through ^[m]the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Faith Brings Righteousness

3 ^[n]You foolish ^(Z)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ ^(AA)was publicly portrayed as crucified? ² This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of ^[o]the Law, or by ^(AB)hearing ^[p]with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun ^[q]by the Spirit, are you now ^[r]being perfected by the flesh? ⁴ Did you ^[s]suffer so many things in vain—^(AC)if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ So then, does He who ^(AD)provides you with the Spirit and ^(AE)works ^[t]miracles among you, do it by works of ^[u]the Law, or by ^(AF)hearing ^[v]with faith?

⁶ Just as ^(AG)Abraham ^(AH)believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ⁷ Therefore, recognize that ^(AI)it is those who are of faith who are ^(AJ)sons of Abraham. ⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God ^[w]would justify the ^[x]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “^(AK)All the nations will be blessed in you.” ⁹ So then, ^(AL)those who are of faith are blessed with ^[y]Abraham, the believer.

¹⁰ For all who are of works of ^[z]the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “^(AM)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” ¹¹ Now, that ^(AN)no one is justified ^[aa]by ^[ab]the Law before God is evident; for, “^[ac](AO)the righteous one will live by faith.” ^12 [ad]However, the Law is not ^[ae]of faith; on the contrary, “^(AP)The person who performs ^[af]them will live by ^[ag]them.” ¹³ Christ ^(AQ)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “^(AR)Cursed is everyone who hangs on ^(AS)a ^[ah]tree”— ¹⁴ in order that ^(AT)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(AU)would receive ^(AV)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

^15 (AW)Brothers and sisters, ^(AX)I speak ^[ai]in terms of human relations: ^(AY)even though it is only a man’s ^[aj]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^[ak]conditions to it. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken ^(AZ)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, “^(BA)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(BB)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For ^(BC)if the inheritance is ^[al]based on law, it is no longer ^[am]based on a promise; but ^(BD)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19 (BE)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the ^[an]violations, having been ^(BF)ordered through angels ^(BG)at the hand of a ^[ao]mediator, until ^(BH)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now ^(BI)a mediator is not ^[ap]for one party only; but God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^[aq](BJ)Far from it! For ^(BK)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[ar]would indeed have been ^[as]based on law. ²² But the Scripture has ^(BL)confined ^[at]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ But before faith came, ^[au]we were kept in custody under the Law, ^(BM)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our ^[av](BN)guardian to lead us to Christ, so that ^(BO)we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^[aw](BP)guardian.