I<n id="1" /> was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation,<n id="2" /> and was<n id="3" /> extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.<n id="4" />

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming<n id="1" /> a curse for us (because it is written, &#8220;<b><i>Cursed is everyone who hangs on a treei>b>&#8221;)<n id="2" />

But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless<n id="1" /> basic forces?<n id="2" /> Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?<n id="3" />

These things may be treated as an allegory,<n id="1" /> for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.

I am confident<n id="1" /> in the Lord that you will accept no other view.<n id="2" /> But the one who is confusing<n id="3" /> you will pay the penalty,<n id="4" /> whoever he may be.

envying,<n id="1" /> murder,<n id="2" /> drunkenness, carousing,<n id="3" /> and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!p>

<p class="bodytext">From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.<n id="1" />p>

and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia.

But I saw none of the other apostles<n id="1" /> except James the Lord&#8217;s brother.

I assure you<n id="1" /> that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem<n id="1" /> again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too.

They requested<n id="1" /> only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.p>

But if I build up again those things I once destroyed,<n id="1" /> I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God&#8217;s law.<n id="2" />

Are you so foolish? Although you began<n id="1" /> with<n id="2" /> the Spirit, are you now trying to finish<n id="3" /> by human effort?<n id="4" />

So then those who believe<n id="1" /> are blessed along with Abraham the believer.

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you,

But the Jerusalem above is free,<n id="1" /> and she is our mother.

Therefore, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.p>

Now the works of the flesh<n id="1" /> are obvious:<n id="2" /> sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,