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PAUL TO THE GALATIANS.

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AUL, an apostle, (not from men, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,) 2 and all the brethren that are with me, to the churches of Galatia: grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory from age to age. Amen.

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"I am astonished that you are so soon turning away from him that called you into the grace of Christ, to another gospel: 'which is nothing else than that there are some who trouble you, and are determined to pervert the gospel of the Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach to you any other gospel than that which we have preached, let him be accursed. As we said before, so even now I say again, if any one preaches to you any other gospel than that which you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For, do I now seek the favor of men, or of God? or do I strive to please men? If, indeed, I would still please men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

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11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which is preached by me, is not according to man: 12 for neither did I receive it from man, nor was it taught me, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former mode of

life in Judaism, that I greatly persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste; 14 and I surpassed in Judaism many of my own age and nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the tradition of my fathers.

15 But when God, who chose me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I at once declined all conference with flesh and blood: 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem, to those who were apostles before me; but I went away into Arabia, and then returned to Damascus.

18 Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem, in order to become personally acquainted with Peter; and I remained with him fifteen days: 19 but of the apostles I saw no other, but James the brother of the Lord. 20 With respect to the things which I now write to you, behold, before God I lie not.

21 Then, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia: 22 but I was not known, in person, to the churches of Judea which are in Christ. 23 They had heard only that he who formerly persecuted us was now preaching the faith which he once destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.

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II. 1Then, fourteen years after, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and I took Titus also with me. And I went up because of a revelation, and communicated to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who are of reputation, lest, by any means, I should run or had run in vain. But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 I acted thus indeed on account of false brethren, stealthily brought in, who stole in to spy out our freedom, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage, to whom we

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yielded in submission, not even for an hour, in order that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

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But from those who were supposed to be something; (what they were is a matter of no importance to me: God does not accept the person of man;) they, indeed, who were supposed to be something, communicated no additional truth to me; but, on the other hand, seeing that I was intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, as Peter was with that of the circumcision, (for he who gave efficiency to Peter, for the apostleship of the circumcision, gave efficiency to me also, as an apostle for the Gentiles,) and knowing the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, but they to the circumcision, 10 requesting only that we would remember the poor, which same thing I have been diligent in doing.

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11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I openly opposed him, because he had incurred blame. 12 For, before certain persons came from James, he ate with the Gentiles: but, when they had come, he withdrew, and separated himself, because he feared those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews, also, acted hypocritically with him, so that even Barnabas was led away by their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter, before them all: If you, being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not after the manner of the Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to observe Jewish customs? 15 We, who are Jews by birth, and not Gentile sinners, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by works of law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed on Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in

Christ, and not by works of law: because, by works of law no flesh shall be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are also found sinners, is Christ, therefore, the minister of sin? It can not be. 18 For if I build again those things which I have destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For, through law, I have died to law, that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live; no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of 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 be through law, then Christ has died in vain.

III. 1O thoughtless Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been plainly set forth crucified? 2 This only I wish to learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so thoughtless? After having begun in Spirit, do you make an end in flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain? if, indeed, it be in vain. He that supplies to you the Spirit, and works mighty deeds among you, does he this by works of law or by the hearing of faith? even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

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7 Know, therefore, that those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham. For the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached beforehand the gospel to Abraham, saying: In you shall all the nations be blessed. So, then, those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written, Cursed is every one that does not continue in all things written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no one is justified by law in the sight of God, is evident for the just by faith shall live. faith shall live. 12 The law, indeed, is not of faith; but he that does these things shall live by them. 13 Christ has bought us off from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us: (for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:) in order that the blessing of Abraham may come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through the faith.

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Brethren, I speak of things common among men: No one sets a covenant aside, or enjoins any thing additional after it is confirmed, though it be a man's covenant. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring; he does not say: And to offsprings, as if he spoke of many; but as of one, And to your offspring, which is Christ. 17 And this I affirm, that the covenant which had been before confirmed by God with respect to Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, could not annul so as to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance be by law, it is no longer by promise: but God bestowed it on Abraham by promise.

19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added on account of transgressions, (till the offspring should come, to whom the promise was made,) having been appointed through the service of angels, in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now, a mediator for one is impossible; but God is one.

21 Is the law, then, against the promises of God? It can not be. For if a law had been given which could have given life, surely righteousness would have been by law. 22 But the scripture has shut up all under sin, that the promise by faith in Christ Jesus may be given to those who believe. 23 But before the faith came, we were kept under law, being shut up to the faith which was to be revealed.

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