They know, ¹  because they have known ²  me from time past, ³  if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party ⁴  of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. ⁵ 

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

Rather they had several points of disagreement ¹  with him about their own religion ²  and about a man named Jesus ³  who was dead, whom Paul claimed ⁴  to be alive.

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.

They will maintain the outward appearance ¹  of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. ² 

For you have heard of my former way of life ¹  in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it.

I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying.

I ¹  was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, ²  and was ³  extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. ⁴ 

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love. ¹ 

But reject those myths ¹  fit only for the godless and gullible, ²  and train yourself for godliness.

Even though they have the appearance of wisdom ¹  with their self-imposed worship and false humility ²  achieved by an ³  unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence. ⁴ 

And we all agree, ¹  our religion contains amazing revelation: ²  He ³  was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, ⁴  seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

For the religion ¹  of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools. ² 

and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness ¹  is a way of making a profit.

But you even break off ¹  piety, ²  and hinder ³  meditation ⁴  before God.

I hate those who serve worthless idols, ¹  but I trust in the Lord.

ס (Samek) I hate people with divided loyalties, ¹  but I love your law.

Then ¹  some of the experts in the law ²  said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” ³ 

I ¹  tell you that something greater than the temple is here.

Then Pharisees ¹  and experts in the law ²  came from Jerusalem ³  to Jesus and said, ⁴