For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force.

We, however, will not give way to unlimited boasting, but will confine ourselves to the limits of the sphere to which God limited us, when he permitted us to come as far as Corinth.

It is no strain for me to do this, as it might be for people who had never got so far, for I was the first to come all the way to you with the good news of the Christ.

But I have a fear, that in some way, as Eve was tricked by the deceit of the snake, your minds may be turned away from their simple and holy love for Christ.

Yet I consider myself in no way inferior to the [so-called] super-apostles.

But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.

And when I was with you and ran short [financially], I did not burden any of you; for what I needed was fully supplied by the brothers (Silas and Timothy) who came from Macedonia (the church at Philippi). So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

Again I say, no one should think I am foolish, but if you do, [then] accept me that way, so that I too can boast a little bit.

What I say in this confident boasting, I say not as the Lord would [with His authority], but foolishly.

Since many people boast in a fleshly way, I will do it, too.

You put up with it, though they make slaves of you, live on you, seize your property, lord it over you, even strike you in the face, in the way of degradation!

I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

I have become a fool! You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for [I am] in no way inferior to the preeminent apostles, even if I am nothing.

So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

I gave orders to Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus make any profit out of you? were we not guided by the same Spirit, in the same ways?

For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don't desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;

And that when I come again, my God may put me to shame among you, and I may have grief for those who have done wrong before and have had no regret for their unclean ways, and for the evil desires of the flesh to which they have given way.

Now we pray to God that you not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even [though] we are [seen] as though unqualified.

I am glad to be weak if you are strong; mend your ways, that is all I ask.

Now brothers, goodbye; mend your ways, listen to what I have told you, live in harmony, keep the peace; then the God of love and peace will be with you.

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism, that to an extraordinary degree I was persecuting the church of God, and trying to destroy it,

neither returned to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but went my ways into Arabia, and came again unto Damascus.

and I went up according to revelation, and I laid before them the glad tidings which I preach among the nations, but privately to those conspicuous among them, lest in any way I run or had run in vain;

to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

But as for those who were men of real eminency, how considerable soever they were heretofore, it does not any ways affect me; God accepts not the person of any man: for they who were of note, in conference with me, had nothing new to add.

And the rest of the Jews went after him, so that even Barnabas was overcome by their false ways.

But when I saw that they went not the right way after the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter, before all men, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the gentiles, and not as do the Jews: why causest thou the gentiles to live as do the Jews?"

But if, while we were desiring to get righteousness through Christ, we ourselves were seen to be sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? In no way!

I do not annul God's grace; but if righteousness comes by way of the Law, then indeed Christ's death was useless.

In the same way, Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Brothers, I will use an illustration from the way people deal with each other: Even though an agreement is made between people, once it is finally settled, no one can cancel it or include additional provisions to it.

For if the inheritance is of Law, it is no more of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by way of promise.

Is the law then against the words of God? in no way; because if there had been a law which was able to give life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

So the Law has been our attendant on our way to Christ, so that we might be made upright through faith.

Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.

In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world.

They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.

I wish I could be with you now, and use a different tone with you, for I do not know which way to turn about you.

But, just as it was then --- the son born in the ordinary way [i.e., Ishmael] persecuting the one born according to the Holy Spirit's [leading, i.e., Isaac] --- so it is now [i.e., Jews urging compliance with the requirements of the law of Moses persecuting those who refuse to return to dependance on that law for salvation. See 3:1-3].

But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave-woman and her son; for in no way shall the son of the slave-woman inherit with the son of the free woman."

You people, whoever you are among you, who try to get into right standing with God, through law have cut yourselves off from Christ, you have missed the way of God's favor.

For in [our relationship with] Christ neither the practice of circumcision nor refraining from its practice matters in any way; but [all that really matters is having a genuine] faith [in Christ] that causes us to work [for Him] out of a genuine love [for Him and others].

You were running beautifully! Who was it that cut into your way and kept you from obeying the truth?

I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

I wish that those who are troubling you [by teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation] would even [go all the way and] castrate themselves!

You however, brethren, were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an excuse for giving way to your lower natures; but become bondservants to one another in a spirit of love.

For the whole law of Moses can be fulfilled by [obeying this] one requirement [Lev. 19:18]: "You should love your neighbor the way you love yourself."

But I say, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall no way fulfil flesh's lust.

If we live by the [guidance of the] Holy Spirit, we should also walk in [the ways of] the Holy Spirit.

Brothers, if any one of you is overwhelmed by a [particular] sin, those of you who are spiritually minded should [attempt to] restore such a person [to faithfulness]. But do it in a gentle way, being very careful that you yourself do not become tempted [to get involved in any sin].

Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].

And let us not get tired of well-doing; for at the right time we will get in the grain, if we do not give way to weariness.

which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all [things] in every [way].

which were once habitual to you while you walked in the ways of this world and obeyed the Prince of the powers of the air, the spirits that are now at work in the hearts of the sons of disobedience--to you God has given Life.

Among whom we all at one time were living in the pleasures of our flesh, giving way to the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest.

For we are God's masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.

For through him we both have an open way in, in one spirit unto the father.

How that, by way of revelation, was made known unto me the sacred secret, - even as I before wrote in brief, -

And to make clear what is God's way of working out that hidden purpose which from the first has been concealed in the mind of the Creator of all things;

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live in a way that is worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Live in a humble, gentle and patient way, showing tolerance [for the weaknesses] of one another out of love [for them].

Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.

So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error;

But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.

Out of whom all the body - fitly framing itself together, and connecting itself, through means of every joint of supply, by way of energising in the measure of each single part - secureth the growing of the body, unto an upbuilding of itself in love.

This I say, then, and give witness in the Lord, that you are to go no longer in the way of the Gentiles whose minds are turned to that which has no profit,

But you did not learn Christ in this way,

[that] you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires,

And put on the new man, to which God has given life, in righteousness and a true and holy way of living.

And do not give way to the Evil One.

Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you.

Live in a loving way, just like Christ loved us and gave Himself up [to die] for us as an offering and fragrant smelling sacrifice to God.

Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Do not be turned from the right way by foolish words; for because of these things the punishment of God comes on those who do not put themselves under him.

Be very careful, then, about the way you live. Do not act thoughtlessly, but like sensible men,

In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

However, each of you men individually should also love his own wife the way he loves himself. And the wife should respect her husband.

not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news [regarding salvation], all of you share in [His matchless] grace with me.

in this way it has become well known throughout the Imperial Guard and to all the rest here that I am a prisoner in the service of Christ,

What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

But what if the life here in the body--if this brings me fruit from my labors? Then which to choose I cannot tell! I am sorely perplexed either way!

Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your deliverance—and this is from God.

fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

Nothing by way of faction, nothing by way of vain-glory, - but, in lowliness of mind, accounting, one another, superior to yourselves, -

You should think about things the way Christ Jesus did.

And [in] the same [way] also you rejoice and rejoice with me.

For I do not have anyone else [i.e., as a fellow-worker] who thinks the same way I do, and who will genuinely care for your [spiritual and material] needs.

and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness -- a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness.

And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];

if any way I arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.

Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.

However in what we have attained, to march by the same standard, to think the same way.

Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us [as] an example.

So then, my brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for—my joy and crown. In this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.

I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord.

The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.