For even if I also should boast somewhat more abundantly about our authority (which the Lord gave us for building up, and not for tearing you down), I will not be shamed,

so that I would not seem as if to terrify you by the letters.

For we dare not classify or compare ourselves to some of those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, do not understand.

But we will not boast in things immeasurable, but according to the measure of the standard that God apportioned to us, of a measure to reach even as far as you.

For it is not as not reaching for you. We overextend ourselves. For we even reached as far as you in the good-news of the Christ,

not boasting in things immeasurable, in other men's labors, but having hope of your faith growing in you to be enlarged according to our measure for abundance,

in order to preach the good-news beyond you, not to boast in another measure, in things prepared.

For he who commends himself, that man is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.

For indeed if a man who comes, preaches another Jesus whom we did not preach, or ye receive another spirit that ye did not receive, or another good-news that ye did not accept, ye well tolerated it.

But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet not in knowledge, but in everything made known in all things to you.

And being present with you, and when needy, I was a burden to no man. For the brothers who came from Macedonia, they supplied my need. And in everything I kept, and I will keep myself non-burdensome to you.

The truth of Christ is in me that this pride in me will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows.

I say again, let not any man think me to be foolish, but if otherwise--even if as foolish--accept me, so that I also may boast some a little.

What I speak, I speak not according to Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of the boast.

Thrice I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I was shipwrecked, I have done a night and a day in the depth,

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I am not made fiery?

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed into the ages, knows that I do not lie.

(Really, to me boasting is not helpful.) For I will come to visions and revelations of Lord.

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in body, I know not, or whether outside the body, I know not, God knows) such a man was caught up as far as the third heaven.

And I know such a man (whether in body, or whether outside the body, I know not, God knows)

that he was caught up into the paradise, and heard inexpressible sayings that are not permitted for a man to utter.

For such a man I will boast, but for myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

For if I should want to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will speak the truth. But I refrain lest any man should reckon to me above what he sees of me or hears anything from me.

And so that I might not be over exalted by the extraordinariness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, an agent of Satan so that he would buffet me, so that I would not be over exalted.

For what is there which ye were inferior to the other congregations? Except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

Behold, a third time I fare readily to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you, for I seek not the things of you, but you. For the children ought not lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

But let it be. I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being clever, I caught you with bait.

I encouraged Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in anything? Did we not walk in the same spirit, not in the same steps?

For I fear lest somehow, having come, I may find you not such as I want, and I may be found by you such as ye do not want, lest somehow there be strifes, envyings, wraths, selfish ambitions, slanderings, whisperings, puffings up, t

lest having come again my God will make me low toward you, and I will bewail many of those who have sinned previously, and who did not repent from the trash and fornication and licentiousness that they committed.

I have told you before, and I say in advance, as present the second time, and now absent, I write to those who have previously sinned, and to all the others, that if I come to it again, I will not spare,

since ye seek proof of the Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but is mighty in you.

Examine yourselves whether ye are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or know ye not yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless ye are test-failing something.

But I hope that ye will know that we are not test-failing.

Now I pray to God, to do you nothing harmful, not that we would appear test-passing, but that ye would do right, even like we might be test-failing.

For we do not have any power against the truth, but for the truth.

Because of this I write these things while absent, so that I may not act harshly when present, according to the authority that the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead),

which is not another, except there are some who confuse you, and who want to pervert the good-news of the Christ.

For do I now trust men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I were still pleasing men I would not be a bondman of Christ.

For I make known to you, brothers, the good-news that was preached by me, that it is not according to man.

to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not straightaway confer with flesh and blood,

But I did not see another of the apostles except James the Lord's brother.

Now what I write to you, behold before God, I do not lie.

But not even Titus with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

to whom we yielded in subjection not even for an hour, so that the truth of the good-news might continue with you.

But from those who were reputed to be something (what kind they were formerly, it makes no difference to me, God does not accept a personage of man), for those who were of repute added nothing to me,

But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly toward the truth of the good-news, I said to Peter before all, If thou being a Jew, live as a Gentile and not as a Jew, why do thou compel the Gentiles to live as Jews?

We are Jews by nature and not sinful men of the Gentiles,

knowing that a man is not made righteous from works of law, instead through faith of Jesus Christ. And we believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made righteous from faith of Christ, and not from works of law, because no fles

But if, while seeking to be made righteous in Christ, we ourselves were also found sinful, then is Christ an aide of sin? May it not happen!

I do not disregard the grace of God, for if righteousness is through law, then Christ died in vain.

O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was earlier described among you, crucified?

For as many as are from works of law are under a curse, for it is written, Cursed is every man who does not continue in all things written in the book of the law, to do them.

And the law is not from faith, but the man who does them will live in them.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, And to the seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, who is Christ.

And I say this, a covenant previously confirmed by God in Christ, the law, which happened four hundred and thirty years after, does not annul in order to make the promise useless.

Now a mediator is not of one, but God is one.

Is the law therefore against the promises of God? May it not happen! For if a law was given that could make alive, truly righteousness would be from law.

But of course not knowing God then, ye were in bondage to those in nature who are not gods,

And ye did not disdain, nor did ye reject my trial in my flesh, but ye received me as an agent of God, as Christ Jesus.

They are zealous for you but not honorably. They want to exclude you, so that ye may be zealous for them.

But to be zealous of is always good in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

Tell me those desiring to be under law, do ye not hear the law?

For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren woman not giving birth. Burst forth and shout, thou not suffering birth pains, because many more are the children of the desolate than of her who has the husband.

Nevertheless, what does the scripture say? Send away the servant girl and her son, for the son of the servant girl will, no, not inherit with the son of the freewoman.

So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant girl, but of the freewoman.

Stand firm therefore in the liberty in which Christ freed us, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

Ye were running well. Who hindered you, not to obey the truth?

This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

For ye, brothers, were called to liberty, only not liberty for an opportunity to the flesh, but be servants to each other through love.

But if ye bite and devour each other, watch out that ye be not consumed by each other.

But I say, walk in Spirit and ye will, no, not fulfill a lust of flesh.

For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit is against the flesh. For these are hostile to each other, so that whatever these things are ye may want, ye may not do.

But if ye are led by Spirit ye are not under law.

envyings, murders, intoxications, revelings, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, as I also did forewarn, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Let us not become conceited, provoking each other, envying each other.

But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have the boast in himself alone and not in the other man.

Be not misled, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows this he will also reap.

And let us not be weary doing good, for in our own time we will reap, not desponding.

As many as desire to make a good impression in flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only so that they may not be persecuted for the cross of the Christ.

For not even those who have been circumcised themselves keep law, but they want you to be circumcised, so that they may boast in thy flesh.

But may it not be from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

I cease not expressing thanks for you, making remembrance of you in my prayers.

far above every principle office, and position of authority, and power, and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is coming.

For ye are saved by grace through faith, and this a gift of God, not from you,

not from works, so that not any man may boast.

which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.

Therefore I ask that ye not become discouraged at my tribulations on your behalf, which is your glory.

But ye did not so learn the Christ,

Be ye angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath,

Let the man who steals steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the good, so that he may have to give to him who has need.

Let no corrupt speech go out of your mouth, rather if there is any good word for edification of a need, so that it may give grace to those who hear.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in which ye are sealed for a day of redemption.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or greed, shall not even be named among you as befits the sanctified,

also indecency, and foolish talking or jesting, things not befitting, but thankfulness instead.

Do not become ye therefore partakers with them.

And do not associate with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even rebuke them.

Therefore watch carefully how ye walk, not as unwise but as wise,