Paul Defends His Gospel at Jerusalem
1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2I went up according to a revelation 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. 3But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.
6Now from those recognized as important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism) — they added nothing to me. 7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised, 8since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9When James, Cephas, and John — those recognized as pillars — 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. 10They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I had made every effort to do.
Freedom from the Law
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 12For 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. 13Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”
15We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19For 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 comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.