Paul
Accepted By the Apostles
Fourteen
years later I went up again to Jerusalem,
This
time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
2 I
WENT IN RESPONSE TO A REVELATION
AND
SET BEFORE THEM THE GOSPEL
THAT
I PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES.
But
I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders,
For
fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
3
Yet 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 had infiltrated our ranks
To
spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus
And
to make us slaves.
5
We did not give in to them for a moment,
So
that the Truth of the Gospel might remain with you.
6
As for those who seemed to be important--
Whatever
they were makes no difference to me;
God
does not judge by external appearance--
Those
men added nothing to my message.
7
On the contrary, they saw that I had been given the task
Of
Preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles,
Just
as Peter had been given the task
Of
Preaching the Gospel to the Jews.
8
For God, Who was at work in the ministry of Peter
As
an Apostle to the Jews,
Was
also at work in my ministry as an Apostle to the Gentiles.
9
James, Peter and John,
Those
reputed to be Pillars, gave me and Barnabas
The
right hand of fellowship
When
they recognized the Grace given to me.
They
agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,
And
they to the Jews.
10
All they asked
Was
that we should continue to remember the poor,
The
very thing I was eager to do.
Paul
Opposes Peter
11
When peter came to Antioch,
I
OPPOSED HIM TO HIS FACE,
Because
he was Wrong.
12
Before certain men came from James,
He
used to eat with the Gentiles.
But
when they arrived,
He
began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles
Because
he was afraid of those
Who
belonged to the Circumcision Group
13
The other Jews joined him in his Hypocrisy
Even
Barnabas was led Astray.
14
When I saw that they were not acting
In
Line with the Truth of the Gospel,
I
said to Peter in front of them all,
'You
are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile
And
not like a Jew.
How
is it, then
That
you Force Gentiles to follow Jewish Customs?
15
'We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile Sinners'
Know
that a man is not Justified by observing the Law,
BUT
BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
So
we, too, have put our Faith in Christ Jesus
And
not by observing the Law,
BECAUSE
BY OBSERVING THE LAW NO ONE WILL BE JUSTIFIED.
17
'If, while we seek to be Justified In Christ,
It
becomes evident that we ourselves are Sinners,
Does
that mean that Christ promotes Sin?
ABSOLUTELY
NOT!
18
If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a Lawbreaker.
19
FOR THROUGH THE LAW I DIED TO THE LAW
SO
THAT I MIGHT LIVE FOR GOD.
20
I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
AND
I NO LONGER LIVE,
BUT
CHRIST LIVES IN ME.
The
Life I live in the body,
I
LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD,
WHO
LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.
21
I do not set aside the Grace of God,
For
if Righteousness could be gained through the Law,
CHRIST
DIED FOR NOTHING!'
(Galatians
2)
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