Let your ¹  beauty ²  not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry ³  or fine clothes –

They served only for matters of food and drink ¹  and various washings; they are external regulations ²  imposed until the new order came. ³ 

For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh,

Do not judge according to external appearance, ¹  but judge with proper ²  judgment.”

You people ¹  judge by outward appearances; ²  I do not judge anyone. ³ 

But from those who were influential ¹  (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people ² ) – those influential leaders ³  added ⁴  nothing to my message. ⁵ 

As for the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were given responsibilities outside the temple ¹  as officers and judges over Israel.

Shabbethai and Jozabad, leaders ¹  of the Levites, were in charge of the external work for the temple of God;

Fairness will produce peace ¹  and result in lasting security. ² 

Apart from other things, ¹  there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern ²  for all the churches.

So also we, when we were minors, ¹  were enslaved under the basic forces ²  of the world.

For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh. ¹ 

For we are the circumcision, ¹  the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, ²  exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials ³ 

If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

Do not be conformed ¹  to this present world, ²  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve ³  what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Those who want to make a good showing in external matters ¹  are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so ²  only to avoid being persecuted ³  for the cross of Christ.

Slaves, ¹  obey your earthly ²  masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.

Pure and undefiled religion before ¹  God the Father ²  is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the Lord and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me, ¹  people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. If you do not, ²  my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you that no one will be able to extinguish. That will happen because of the evil you have done.”

When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality ¹  but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ²  Is it right ³  to pay taxes ⁴  to Caesar ⁵  or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”