| Chapter 2 1
Thereupon, after the lapse of fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
taking Titus also along with me.
2 Now I went up in accord with a revelation, and
submitted to them the evangel which I am heralding among the nations, yet privately to
those of repute, lest somehow I should be racing or ran for naught.
3 But not even Titus, who is with me, being a Greek, is
compelled to be circumcised.
4 Yet, it was because of the false brethren who were
smuggled in, who came in by the way to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus,
that they shall be enslaving us-
5 to whom, not even for an hour do we simulate by
subjection, that the truth of the evangel should be continuing with you.
6 Now from those reputed to be somewhat-what kind they
once were is of no consequence to me (God is not taking up the human aspect)-for to me
those of repute submitted nothing.
7 But, on the contrary, preceiving that I have been
entrusted with the evangel of the Uncircumcision,
8 according as Peter of the Circumcision (for He Who
operates in Peter for the apostleship of the Circumcision operates in me also for the
nations),
9 and, knowing the grace which is being given to me,
James and Cephas and John, who are supposed to be pillars, give to me and Barnabas the
right hand of fellowship, that we, indeed, are to be for the nations, yet they for the
Circumcision-
10 only that we may be remembering the poor, which same
thing I endeavor also to do.
11 Now when Cephas came to Antioch, I withstood him to
the face, for he was self-censured.
12 For, before the coming of some from James, he ate
together with those of the nations. Yet when they came, he shrank back, and severed
himself, fearing those of the Circumcision.
13 And the rest of the Jews also play the hypocrite with
him, so that Barnabas also was led away with their hypocrisy.
14 But when I perceived that they are not correct in
their attitude toward the truth of the evangel, I said to Cephas in front of all, "If
you, being inherently a Jew, are living as the nations, and not as the Jews, how are you
compelling the nations to be judaizing?"
15 We, who by nature are Jews, and not sinners of the
nations,
16 having perceived that a man is not being justified by
works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ
Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of law, seeing that
by works of law shall no flesh at all be justified.
17 Now if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we
ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ, consequently, a dispenser of sin? May it not
be coming to that!
18 For if I am building again these things which I
demolish, I am commending myself as a transgressor.
19 For I, through law, died to law, that I should be
living to God.
20 With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no
longer I, but living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living
in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me.
21 I am not repudiating the grace of God, for if
righteousness is through law, consequently Christ died gratuitously. |