Galatians 2

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

Justified by Faith

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;16 yet we know that a person is not justifiedt by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousnesst were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Galatians 2

Confirmation from the Jerusalem Apostles

1 Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalems again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too.2 I went theret because oft a revelation and presentedt to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did sot only in a private meeting with the influential people,t to make sure that I was not running – or had not runt – in vain.3 Yett not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek.4 Now this matter aroset because of the false brothers with false pretensest who slipped in unnoticed to spy ont our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.t

5 Butt we did not surrender to themt even for a moment,t in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.s
6 But from those who were influentialt (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between peoplet) – those influential leaderst addedt nothing to my message.t7 On the contrary, when they sawt that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcisedt just as Peter was to the circumcisedt8 (for he who empoweredt Peter for his apostleshipt to the circumcisedt also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles)t9 and when James, Cephas,s and John, who had a reputation ast pillars,s recognizedt the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and met the right hand of fellowship, agreeingt that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.t

10 They requestedt only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.

Paul Rebukes Peter

11 But when Cephass came to Antioch,s I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong.t12 Untilt certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing thist and separated himselft because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.t13 And the rest of the Jews also joined with him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray with themt by their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephass in front of them all, “If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to forcet the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Jews and Gentiles are Justified by Faith

15 We are Jews by birtht and not Gentile sinners,t16 yet we knowt that no onet is justified by the works of the laws but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.ts Andt we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christt and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no onet will be justified.17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encouragest sin? Absolutely not!18 But if I build up again those things I once destroyed,t I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law.t19 For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.20 I have been crucified with Christ,t and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Sot the life I now live in the body,t I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God,sts who loved me and gave himself for me.

21 I do not set asidet God’s grace, because if righteousnesst could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!t