< Galatians 2 >
1 Then, after fourteen years again I went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, having taken with me also Titus;
Later still, after an interval of fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem in company with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
2 and I went up by revelation, and did submit to them the good news that I preach among the nations, and privately to those esteemed, lest in vain I might run or did run;
I went up in obedience to a revelation of God's will; and I explained to them the Good News which I proclaim among the Gentiles. To the leaders of the Church this explanation was made in private, lest by any means I should be running, or should already have run, in vain.
3 but not even Titus, who [is] with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised —
But although my companion Titus was a Greek they did not insist upon even his being circumcised.
4 and [that] because of the false brethren brought in unawares, who did come in privily to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, that us they might bring under bondage,
Yet there was danger of this through the false brethren secretly introduced into the Church, who had stolen in to spy out the freedom which is ours in Christ Jesus, in order to rob us of it.
5 to whom not even for an hour we gave place by subjection, that the truth of the good news might remain to you.
But not for an hour did we give way and submit to them; in order that the Good News might continue with you in its integrity.
6 And from those who were esteemed to be something — whatever they were then, it maketh no difference to me — the face of man God accepteth not, for — to me those esteemed did add nothing,
From those leaders I gained nothing new. Whether they were men of importance or not, matters nothing to me--God recognizes no external distinctions. To me, at any rate, the leaders imparted nothing new.
7 but, on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted with the good news of the uncircumcision, as Peter with [that] of the circumcision,
Indeed, when they saw that I was entrusted with the preaching of the Good News to the Gentiles as Peter had been with that to the Jews--
8 for He who did work with Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, did work also in me in regard to the nations,
for He who had been at work within Peter with a view to his Apostleship to the Jews had also been at work within me with a view to my Apostleship to the Gentiles--
9 and having known the grace that was given to me, James, and Cephas, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, a right hand of fellowship they did give to me, and to Barnabas, that we to the nations, and they to the circumcision [may go],
and when they perceived the mission which was graciously entrusted to me, they (that is to say, James, Peter, and John, who were considered to be the pillars of the Church) welcomed Barnabas and me to their fellowship on the understanding that we were to go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews.
10 only, of the poor that we should be mindful, which also I was diligent — this very thing — to do.
Only they urged that we should remember their poor--a thing which was uppermost in my own mind.
11 And when Peter came to Antioch, to the face I stood up against him, because he was blameworthy,
Now when Peter visited Antioch, I remonstrated with him to his face, because he had incurred just censure.
12 for before the coming of certain from James, with the nations he was eating, and when they came, he was withdrawing and separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision,
For until certain persons came from James he had been accustomed to eat with Gentiles; but as soon as these persons came, he withdrew and separated himself for fear of the Circumcision party.
13 and dissemble with him also did the other Jews, so that also Barnabas was carried away by their dissimulation.
And along with him the other Jews also concealed their real opinions, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their lack of straightforwardness.
14 But when I saw that they are not walking uprightly to the truth of the good news, I said to Peter before all, 'If thou, being a Jew, in the manner of the nations dost live, and not in the manner of the Jews, how the nations dost thou compel to Judaize?
As soon as I saw that they were not walking uprightly in the spirit of the Good News, I said to Peter, before them all, "If you, though you are a Jew, live as a Gentile does, and not as a Jew, how can you make the Gentiles follow Jewish customs?
15 we by nature Jews, and not sinners of the nations,
You and I, though we are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners,
16 having known also that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, if not through the faith of Jesus Christ, also we in Christ Jesus did believe, that we might be declared righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by works of law, wherefore declared righteous by works of law shall be no flesh.'
know that it is not through obedience to Law that a man can be declared free from guilt, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. We have therefore believed in Christ Jesus, for the purpose of being declared free from guilt, through faith in Christ and not through obedience to Law. For through obedience to Law no human being shall be declared free from guilt.
17 And if, seeking to be declared righteous in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, [is] then Christ a ministrant of sin? let it not be!
But if while we are seeking in Christ acquittal from guilt we ourselves are convicted of sin, Christ then encourages us to sin! No, indeed.
18 for if the things I threw down, these again I build up, a transgressor I set myself forth;
Why, if I am now rebuilding that structure of sin which I had demolished, I am thereby constituting myself a transgressor;
19 for I through law, did die, that to God I may live;
for it is by the Law that I have died to the Law, in order that I may live to God.
20 with Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in me; and that which I now live in the flesh — in the faith I live of the Son of God, who did love me and did give himself for me;
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me; and the life which I now live in the body I live through faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up to death on my behalf.
21 I do not make void the grace of God, for if righteousness [be] through law — then Christ died in vain.
I do not nullify the grace of God; for if acquittal from guilt is obtainable through the Law, then Christ has died in vain."