Study Desk

For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

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,

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

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.

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

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;

and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.

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

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.

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

(for He who was at work for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles),

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.

"For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a wrongdoer.

"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM."

Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH."

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"—