Study Desk

Then after an interval of fourteen years I ^(a)went up again to Jerusalem with ^(b)Barnabas, taking ^(c)Titus along also.

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

But not even ^(g)Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was ^(h)compelled to be circumcised.

But it was because of the ⁽ⁱ⁾false brethren secretly brought in, who ^(j)had sneaked in to spy out our ^(k)liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to ^(l)bring us into bondage.

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

But from those who ^[b]were of high ⁽ⁿ⁾reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; ^(o)God ^[c]shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.

But on the contrary, seeing that I had been ^(p)entrusted with the ^(q)gospel ^[d]to the uncircumcised, just as ^(r)Peter had been ^[e]to the circumcised

(for He who effectually worked for Peter in his ^(s)apostleship ^[f]to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),

and recognizing ^(t)the grace that had been given to me, ^[g](u)James and ^(v)Cephas and John, who were ^(w)reputed to be ^(x)pillars, gave to me and ^(y)Barnabas the ^(z)right ^[h]hand of fellowship, so that we might ^(aa)go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

They only asked us to remember the poor—^(ab)the very thing I also was eager to do.

But when ^(ac)Cephas came to ^(ad)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he ^[i]stood condemned.

For prior to the coming of certain men from ^[j](ae)James, he used to ^(af)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, ^(ag)fearing ^[k]the party of the circumcision.

The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even ^(ah)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

But when I saw that they ^(ai)were not ^[l]straightforward about ^(aj)the truth of the gospel, I said to ^(ak)Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, ^(al)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? ^[m]

"We are ^(am)Jews by nature and not ^(an)sinners from among the Gentiles;

nevertheless knowing that ^(ao)a man is not justified by the works of ^[n]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by ^(ap)faith in Christ and not by the works of ^[o]the Law; since ^(aq)by the works of ^[p]the Law no ^[q]flesh will be justified.

But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found ^(ar)sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? ^(as)May it never be!

For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I ^(at)prove myself to be a transgressor.

For through ^[r]the Law I ^(au)died to ^[s]the Law, so that I might live to God.

I have been ^(av)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but ^(aw)Christ lives in me; and ^[t]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in ^(ax)the Son of God, who ^(ay)loved me and ^(az)gave Himself up for me.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(ba)if righteousness comes through ^[u]the Law, then Christ died needlessly."