Galatians 2 Later, after a period of fourteen years, I again walked up into Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus, also, along with me.

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Later, after a period of fourteen years, I again walked up into Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus, also, along with me. ² Now I walked up (or: made the ascent) [there] corresponding to and as directed by (or: in accord with and in the sphere of; down from and following the bidding of), an unveiling (or: a disclosure; a revelation), and I put up to them (set back again for them; = submitted to them) the message of goodness, ease and well-being, which I am habitually proclaiming as a public message within the multitudes (or: among the nations and ethnic groups – non-Jews; Gentiles) – yet [I did so] privately, to those continuing to be disposed to thinking and imagination (or: for those being supposed to continue with a reputation; or: to ones yet forming opinions), lest somehow I am progressively rushing forward and running, or had run, into emptiness (or: for an empty thing; into something without content; = to no purpose; or: = in vain). ³ However, not even Titus – the one with me – was compelled or even strongly urged to be circumcised, although being a Greek! ⁴ Yet, through the led-in-at-the-side (or: smuggled-in) false brothers (or: = deceitful or lying fellow believers; or: = imitation members) – folks who entered alongside to spy out (to attentively look down and around, observe and take note of) our freedom which we continuously possess (constantly have and hold) within Christ Jesus, to the end that they will utterly enslave us (or: with a purpose that they shall bring us down into slavery) – ⁵ to whom (or: for whom), now, we did (or: do) not for even an hour give place to, make a way for, or simulate by humble alignment, subordination, submission or subjection, so that the reality (the Truth) of the message of goodness may abide throughout (or: thoroughly remain; fully dwell; be permanent in continuing) focused toward, and be face to face with, you folks! ⁶ Now from those continuing to be disposed to thinking and imagination (or: from those being supposed to continue with a reputation; or: from the folks yet forming opinions) – whatever sort of men they formerly (or: once) were being matters nothing (makes no difference; carries nothing through) to me (or: for me) [because] God is not in the habit of receiving a person's face (= taking people at face value; or: responding to man's outward appearance or presentation). So you see, those continuing to be disposed to thinking and imagination (or: those being supposed to continue with a reputation; those yet forming opinions) of themselves put nothing new forward for me (or: from themselves placed forward [as a suggestion] nothing back in me; = contributed or added nothing to me). ⁷ But rather, on the contrary, seeing that I had been persuaded by and convinced of (or: perceiving that I had been entrusted with) the message of goodness, ease and well-being concerning (or: with reference to; in consideration of; pertaining to; separated for; belonging to; having characteristics and qualities suited to; for the context of; relative to; as it relates to) the Uncircumcision (= those not of the Jewish religion, being from pagan religions or Hellenistic culture), correspondingly as Peter, concerning (or: with reference to; in consideration of; pertaining to; separated for; belonging to; having characteristics and qualities suited to; for the context of; relative to; as it relates to) the Circumcision (= the Jews, or those of the Jewish religion and culture) – ⁸ for you see, the One working within (being active in; operating within; energizing) Peter unto a sending for a mission concerning (in reference to; or: which is) the Circumcision, also by me inwardly works (energizes; is inwardly active and operative) unto the multitudes (into the midst of the nations – the non-Jewish ethnic groups; the Gentiles) – ⁹ then Jacob (or: James), Cephas and John – those continuing to be disposed to thinking and imagination (or: those yet forming opinions) and seeming, by reputation, to be pillars (or: supportive columns [note: a figure of a living temple]) – recognizing (or: coming to know) by intimate experience the grace and favor being given by me (or: to me; in me; for me), gave to me and to Barnabas [the] right [hands] of common partnership, from common participation, in regard to common existence/situation and which signified equal belonging in fellowship, community and sharing, to the end that we [would continue] into the nations (multitudes; ethnic groups; Gentiles; non-Jews) – yet they, into the Circumcision – ¹⁰ [the] only [concern being] that we would habitually be mindful of the poor ones (or: should keep on remembering the destitute folks), which very thing, also, I was eager and made every effort to do. ¹¹ Now when Cephas came into Antioch, I stood in opposition to him in relation to the appearance of the external situation (or: I resisted him face to face; or: I stood face to face with him, on his behalf), because he was continuing in a state of having been discovered to be down [over an issue] (or: he was now one having condemned himself from a negative experience; or: was being found at fault), ¹² for you see, prior to the coming of some from Jacob (or: James), he had been habitually eating together with those of the multitudes (the nations; the non-Jewish ethnic groups; the Gentiles). Yet when they came, he began steadily withdrawing, and continued separating by marking off boundaries for himself, constantly fearing those from among [the] Circumcision (= the Jewish culture and religion). ¹³ And so the rest of the Jews also, as a group, came under the decision to separate with (or: to) him, so that even Barnabas was jointly brought along (or: led away together) by their [Law]-based separation (or: their perverse judgment which ended in a base decision; or: = legalistic behavior). ¹⁴ But then, when I saw that they did not continue walking straight (having a straight foot [print]; walking an upright course) toward the Truth (or: face to face with the reality) of message of goodness and ease, I said to Cephas, in front of everyone (or: all),"If you, being inherently a Jew, are now habitually living as the ethnic multitudes (like the nations; as a Gentile), and not like a Jew, how is it [that] you are continuing to compel (to strongly urge) the multitudes (the nations; the non-Jewish ethnic groups; the Gentiles) to be now Judaizing (progressively living according to Jewish custom and religion)? ¹⁵ We – Jews by (or: in) nature, and not outcasts (ones who miss the target or deviate from the goal; failures; sinners) from out of the multitudes (herds; nations; ethnic groups; Gentiles) – ¹⁶ having seen and thus knowing that humanity (or: mankind; or: a person) is not normally being put in right relationship made fair and equitable; made free from guilt and set into the Way pointed out; rightwised and made to be a just one; = being presently brought into covenant) from out of works of Law (or: forth from a law's deeds or actions from custom), but instead through Jesus Christ's faith (or: faith that belongs to and originates in Christ Jesus), even we ourselves trusted and believed into Christ Jesus, to the end that we would be put in right relationship made to be just, fair and equitable; be released from guilt; be rightwised and placed into the Way pointed out; also = be made a member of the covenant) from out of the midst of Christ's faith, as a source and sphere (or: forth from trust and conviction, which are Christ),– NOT from out of the midst of works of Law, as a source and sphere, because from out of the midst of works of Law (or: forth from a law's deeds or actions corresponding to custom; or: out of works which comprise [the] Law) "no flesh (= person or human) at all will be put in right relationship made to be just, fair and equitable; be freed from guilt; be rightwised or turned in the right direction from being placed into the Way pointed out; = put in covenant)." [Ps. 143:2] ¹⁷ Now since (or: if) we, in habitually seeking to be put in right relationship (placed into the Way pointed out; made to be just, fair and turned aright; also = made to be participants in the covenant; or: seeking to be freed from guilt) within Christ (or: in union with [the] Anointed One), were ourselves also found to be failures (ones who miss the target; those who deviate; sinners; outcasts), [is] Christ, consequently, an attending servant of failure (sin's servant; a dispenser of error; a minister to the missing of the target)? May it not happen (or: come to be)! ¹⁸ For if I should continue building up again (or: would repeatedly reconstruct) these things which I loosed down and demolished, I myself continue standing together with a transgressor (or: I proceed to exhibit myself as one who steps out of the Way and to the side). ¹⁹ You see, I myself through [the] Law died by [the] Law (or: to [the] Law; in [the] Law; with [the] Law), to the end that I could and would live by God, in God, for God, to God and with God! ²⁰ I was crucified together with Christ [= the Messiah], and thus it remains (or: I have been jointly put on the execution stake in [the] Anointed One, and continue in this state), yet I continue living! [It is] no longer I, but it is Christ continuously living and alive within me! (or: No longer an "I" – now Christ constantly lives in the midst of, and in union with, me). Now that which I, at the present moment, continue living within flesh (= a physical body), I am constantly living within faith, trust and confidence – in and by that [faith] which is the Son of God (or: in union with the trust and confidence that is from God’s Son [with other MSS: in the confidence belonging to God and Christ]), the One loving me and giving Himself over to another for the sake of me (or: even transmitting Himself, over my [situation and condition]; or: also passing Himself along for me). ²¹ I make it no habit to displace (shove aside; upset; thus: reject; thwart; repudiate; nullify) God's grace and favor! For if justice, equity and freedom from guilt with right relationship within the Way pointed out (= covenant inclusion) [is] through Law (= by legalism or religious works), then as a consequence Christ died as a mere gratuity (= for nothing; to no purpose).