Introduction

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Distortion of the Gospel

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel,

which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Paul Defends His Ministry

For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is not of human invention.

But when He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace was pleased

to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,

Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days.

But I did not see another one of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ;

It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that somehow I might be running, or had run, in vain.

Yet it was a concern because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

But from those who were of considerable repute (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me.

But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised

and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

For prior to the coming of some men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, fearing those from the circumcision.

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

“We are Jews by nature and not sinners from the Gentiles;

nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.