¹⁷ For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with ^(A)a stewardship.

⁹ For if there was glory in ^(A)the ministry of condemnation, ^(B)the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. ¹⁰ Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹ For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

¹² Since we have such a hope, ^(C)we are very bold, ¹³ not like Moses, ^(D)who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. ¹⁴ But ^(E)their minds were ^(F)hardened. For to this day, ^(G)when they read ^(H)the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. ¹⁶ But when ^(I)one^[a] turns to the Lord, ^(J)the veil is removed. ¹⁷ Now the Lord^[b] is the Spirit, and where ^(K)the Spirit of the Lord is, there is ^(L)freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, with unveiled face, ^(M)beholding ^(N)the glory of the Lord,^{[c] (O)}are being transformed into the same image ^(P)from one degree of glory to another.^[d] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

¹³ Christ ^(A)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ^(B)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged ^(C)on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^(D)come to the Gentiles, so that ^(E)we might receive ^(F)the promised Spirit^[a] through faith.

The Law and the Promise

^15 (G)To give a human example, brothers:^{[b] (H)}even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now ^(I)the promises were made ^(J)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, ^(K)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came ^(L)430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as ^(M)to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but ^(N)God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

¹⁹ Why then the law? ^(O)It was added because of transgressions, ^(P)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ^(Q)put in place through angels ^(R)by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now ^(S)an intermediary implies more than one, but ^(T)God is one.

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For ^(U)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture ^(V)imprisoned everything under sin, so that ^(W)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given ^(X)to those who believe.

²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, ^(Y)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, ^(Z)the law was our ^(AA)guardian until Christ came, ^(AB)in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

¹⁰ as a plan for ^(A)the fullness of time, ^(B)to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

²⁴ Now ^(A)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(B)I am filling up ^(C)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions ^(D)for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ^25 (E)of which I became a minister according to ^(F)the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

¹⁹ (for ^(A)the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, ^(B)a better hope is introduced, through which ^(C)we draw near to God.

² And he seized ^(A)the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and ^(B)bound him for a thousand years, ³ and threw him into ^(C)the pit, and shut it and ^(D)sealed it over him, so that ^(E)he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

⁴ Then I saw ^(F)thrones, and ^(G)seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw ^(H)the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those ^(I)who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. ^(J)They came to life and ^(K)reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. ^6 (L)Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such ^(M)the second death has no power, but they will be ^(N)priests of God and of Christ, and they ^(O)will reign with him for a thousand years.