Galatians 2:11-21
(Paul speaking)

Paul rebukes Peter for wrong teaching about justification;
and, since justification is only by grace through faith [faithfulness of Christ],
salvation...once accepted...cannot be lost!

King James Bible: "11But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12   For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13   And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14   But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15   We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16   Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith [faithfulness of] of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of [faithfulness of] Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17   But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18   For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19   For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20   I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth 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 frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

NIV Bible: "11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
15We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
17If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am 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 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 could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

NAS Bible: "11But when Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12   For prior to the coming of certain men from  James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof,  fearing the party of the circumcision.
13   The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even  Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
14   But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas [Peter] in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
15   "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;
16   nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
17   "But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!
18   "For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I  prove myself to be a transgressor.
19   "For through the Law I  died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
20   "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
21   "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

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(posted 2006; adjustment 27 May 2007)