“Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem
with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. And I went up by revelation;
and I laid before them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but
privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be
running, or had run, in vain. But not even Titus who was with me, being
a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised; and that because of the false
brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty
which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage; to
whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that
the truth of the Gospel might continue with you. But from those who were
reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me:
God accepteth no man’s person)—they, I say, who were of repute, imparted
nothing to me; but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted
with the Gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Gospel of
the circumcision (for He that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of
the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles); and when they
perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John,
they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right
hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto
the circumcision; only they would that we should remember the poor;
which very thing I was also zealous to do.
“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he
stood condemned. For before that certain came from James, he did eat
with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated
himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision. And the rest of the
Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was
carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked
not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Cephas
before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and
not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the
Jews? We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, yet
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, save
through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we
might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law;
because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if,
while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found
sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build up
again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. For
I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God. I have
been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ
liveth in me; and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in
faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
Himself up for me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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