1Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.2I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.4This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.6As for those who were held in high esteem – whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favouritism – they added nothing to my message.7On the contrary, they recognised that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[1] just as Peter had been to the circumcised.[2]8For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.9James, Cephas[3] and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognised the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.10All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
Paul opposes Cephas
11When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.12For 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.13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas 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 sinful Gentiles16know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[4] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no-one will be justified.17‘But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!18If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a law-breaker.19‘For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!’[5]
Galatians 2
English Standard Version
Paul Accepted by the Apostles
1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.2I 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. (Ga 2:6; Ga 2:9; Ga 4:11; Php 2:16; 1Th 3:5; 1Ti 3:16)3But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. (Ac 16:3)4Yet 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— (Ac 15:24; Ro 8:15; 2Co 11:20; 2Co 11:26; Ga 4:3; Ga 4:9; Ga 4:24; Ga 5:1; Ga 5:12; 2Pe 2:1; Jud 1:4)5to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (Ga 2:14; Ga 4:16; Ga 5:7; Tit 1:14; 2Jo 1:1)6And 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. (De 10:17; Ac 5:36; 1Co 3:7; 2Co 11:5; 2Co 12:11; Ga 2:2; Ga 2:9; Ga 6:3)7On 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 circumcised (Ac 9:15; 1Co 9:17; Ga 1:16; 1Th 2:4; 1Ti 1:11)8(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),9and 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. (Jer 1:18; Ro 1:5; Ga 2:6; 2Pe 3:15; Re 3:12)10Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. (Ac 24:17)
Paul Opposes Peter
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. (Job 21:31; Ac 15:1; Ac 15:35)12For 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.[1] (Lu 15:2; Ac 10:28; Ac 11:2; Ac 11:3; Ga 2:14)13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.14But 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?” (Ga 2:5; Ga 2:12; 1Ti 5:20; Heb 12:13)
Justified by Faith
15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; (Ga 2:17; Eph 2:3; Eph 2:12)16yet we know that a person is not justified[2] 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. (Ps 143:2; Ac 13:39; Ro 3:20; Ro 9:30; Ga 3:11)17But 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! (Ga 2:15)18For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (Lu 20:38; Ro 6:2; Ro 6:11; Ro 7:4; Ro 14:7; 2Co 5:15; 1Th 5:10; Heb 9:14; 1Pe 4:2)20I 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. (Joh 17:23; Ro 6:6; Ro 8:37; Ga 1:4; Ga 5:24; Ga 6:14)21I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness[3] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Ga 3:21; Ga 5:4; Heb 7:11)