THE ORIGIN OF PAUL’S GOSPEL

11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelationo of Jesus Christ.p

13 For you have heard about my former way of lifeq in Judaism:r I intensely persecuteds God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.t 15 But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and calledu me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Sonv in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.D 17 I did not go up to Jerusalemw to those who had become apostlesx before me; instead I went to Arabiay and came back to Damascus.z

18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalemaa to get to know Cephas,E,ab and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James,ac the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

21 Afterward, I went to the regions of Syriaad and Cilicia.ae 22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. 23 They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecutedaf us now preaches the faithag he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.F

PAUL DEFENDS HIS GOSPEL AT JERUSALEM

2 Then after fourteen years I went up againah to Jerusalem with Barnabas,ai taking Titusaj along also. 2 I went up according to a revelationak and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothersal had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the trutham of the gospel would be preserved for you.

6 Now from those recognized as important (what theyG once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritismH,an)—they added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised,ao just as Peterap was for the circumcised, 8 since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James,a Cephas,A,b and Johnc—those recognized as pillarsd—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we would remember the poor,e which I had made every effort to do.

FREEDOM FROM THE LAW

11 But when CephasA came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.B 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jewsf joined his hypocrisy,g so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told CephasA in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentileh and not like a Jew,i how can you compel Gentiles to livej like Jews?”*

15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the lawk but by faith in Jesus Christ,D even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in ChristE and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being willF be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,l is Christ then a promoterG,m of sin? Absolutely not!n 18 If I rebuildo those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.p 19 For through the law I died to the law,q so that I might live for God.r 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.s The life I now live in the body,H I live by faith in the Son of God,t who lovedu mev and gave himselfw for me.x 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,y then Christ diedz for nothing.