Galatians 2
Christian Standard Bible
Paul Defends His Gospel at Jerusalem
2 Then after fourteen years I went up again(A) to Jerusalem with Barnabas,(B) taking Titus(C) along also. 2 I went up according to a revelation(D) and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers(E) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the truth(F) of the gospel would be preserved for you.
6 Now from those recognized as important (what they[a] once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism[b](G))—they added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised,(H) just as Peter(I) was for the circumcised, 8 since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James,(J) Cephas,[c](K) and John(L)—those recognized as pillars(M)—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we would remember the poor,(N) which I had made every effort to do.
Freedom from the Law
11 But when Cephas[d] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.[e] 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews(O) joined his hypocrisy,(P) so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas[f] in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile(Q) and not like a Jew,(R) how can you compel Gentiles to live(S) like Jews?” [g]
15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law(T) but by faith in Jesus Christ,[h] even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ[i] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will[j] be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,(U) is Christ then a promoter[k](V) of sin? Absolutely not!(W) 18 If I rebuild(X) those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.(Y) 19 For through the law I died to the law,(Z) so that I might live for God.(AA) 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(AB) The life I now live in the body,[l] I live by faith in the Son of God,(AC) who loved(AD) me(AE) and gave himself(AF) for me.(AG) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,(AH) then Christ died(AI) for nothing.
Footnotes
- 2:6 Lit the recognized ones
- 2:6 Or God is not a respecter of persons; lit God does not receive the face of man
- 2:9 Other mss read Peter
- 2:11 Other mss read Peter
- 2:11 Or he was in the wrong
- 2:14 Other mss read Peter
- 2:14 Some translations continue the quotation through v. 16 or v. 21.
- 2:16 Or by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
- 2:16 Or by the faithfulness of Christ
- 2:16 Lit law all flesh will not
- 2:17 Or servant
- 2:20 Lit flesh
Galatians 2
New King James Version
Defending the Gospel(A)
2 Then after fourteen years (B)I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up [a]by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but (C)privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means (D)I might run, or had run, in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of (E)false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our (F)liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, (G)that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that (H)the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But from those (I)who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; (J)God [b]shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something (K)added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, (L)when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised (M)had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the (N)circumcised (O)also (P)worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, [c]Cephas, and John, who seemed to be (Q)pillars, perceived (R)the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, (S)that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, (T)the very thing which I also was eager to do.
No Return to the Law
11 (U)Now when [d]Peter had come to Antioch, I [e]withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, (V)he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing [f]those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about (W)the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter (X)before them all, (Y)“If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, [g]why do you compel Gentiles to live as [h]Jews? 15 (Z)We who are Jews by nature, and not (AA)sinners of the Gentiles, 16 (AB)knowing that a man is not [i]justified by the works of the law but (AC)by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not (AD)by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found (AE)sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I (AF)through the law (AG)died to the law that I might (AH)live to God. 20 I have been (AI)crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (AJ)I live by faith in the Son of God, (AK)who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for (AL)if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died [j]in vain.”
Footnotes
- Galatians 2:2 because of
- Galatians 2:6 Lit. does not receive the face of a man
- Galatians 2:9 Peter
- Galatians 2:11 NU Cephas
- Galatians 2:11 opposed
- Galatians 2:12 Jewish Christians
- Galatians 2:14 NU how can you
- Galatians 2:14 Some interpreters stop the quotation here.
- Galatians 2:16 declared righteous
- Galatians 2:21 for nothing
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
