Galatians 2–3

Paul Defends His Gospel at Jerusalem

2Then after 14 years I went up again ^pto Jerusalem with Barnabas, ^qtaking Titus ^ralong also. ²I went up according to a revelation ^sand presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain. ³But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴This issue arose because of false brothers ^tsmuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. ⁵But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truth ^uof the gospel would be preserved for you.

⁶Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism ^vw)—they added nothing to me. ⁷On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, ^xjust as Peter ^ywas for the circumcised, ⁸since the One at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. ⁹When James, ^zCephas, ^aand John, ^brecognized as pillars, ^cacknowledged 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. ¹⁰They asked only that we would remember the poor, ^dwhich I made every effort to do.

Freedom from the Law

¹¹But when Cephas ^ecame to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. ^f12For 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. ¹³Then the rest of the Jews ^gjoined his hypocrisy, ^hso that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas ⁱin front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile ^jand not like a Jew, ^khow can you compel Gentiles to live ^llike Jews?” ^m

¹⁵We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” ¹⁶know that no one is justified by the works of the law ⁿbut by faith in Jesus Christ. ^oAnd we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ ^pand not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will ^qbe justified. ¹⁷But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, ^ris Christ then a promoter ^stof sin? Absolutely not! ^u18If I rebuild ^vthe system ^wI tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. ^x19For through the law I have died to the law, ^yso that I might live for God. ^zI have been crucified with Christ ^a20and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. ^bThe life I now live in the body, ^cI live by faith in the Son of God, ^dwho loved ^eme ^fand gave Himself ^gfor me. ^h21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, ⁱthen Christ died ^jfor nothing.

Justification through Faith

3You foolish ^kGalatians! Who has hypnotized you, ^lbefore whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed ^mas crucified? ⁿ²I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? ^o3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh? ^p4Did you suffer ^qso much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? ⁵So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles ^ramong you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? ^s

⁶Just as Abraham believed God, ^tand it was credited to him for righteousness, ^uv7then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons. ^w8Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham, ^xsaying, All the nations will be blessed through you. ^yz9So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, ^awho had faith. ^b

Law and Promise

¹⁰For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, ^cbecause it is written: ^dEveryone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed. ^ef11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live ^gby faith. ^hi12But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. ^jk13Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, ^lbecause it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed. ^mn14The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith. ^o

¹⁵Brothers, I’m using a human illustration. ^pNo one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant ^qthat has been ratified. ¹⁶Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, ^rswho is Christ. ¹⁷And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later, ^tdoes not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God ^uand cancel the promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

The Purpose of the Law

¹⁹Why then was the law given? ^vIt was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels ^wby means of a mediator. ^x20Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. ^y21Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. ²²But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, ^zaso that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ ^bmight be given to those who believe. ^c23Before this faith ^dcame, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. ^e24The law, then, was our guardian ^funtil Christ, ^gso that we could be justified by faith. ²⁵But since that faith ^hhas come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Sons and Heirs

²⁷For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. ⁱ²⁸There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, ^jmale or female; ^kfor you are all one ^lin Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs ^maccording to the promise. ⁿ