77 Bible Verses about Paul, Apostle To Gentiles

But, when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might proclaim the good news of Him among the gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood,

And, as he was journeying, it came to pass, that he was drawing nigh to Damascus; and suddenly there flashed around him a light from Heaven; and, having fallen upon the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.read more.
But arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do." And the men who were journeying with him were standing speechless; hearing, indeed, the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul arose from the earth; and, his eyes being opened, he beheld nothing; but, taking him by the hand, they led him into Damascus. And he was three days without seeing; and he neither ate, nor drank. And there was a certain disciple in Damascus, Ananias by name; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias?" And he said, "Behold, I am here, Lord!" And the Lord said to him, "Arise, go to the street that is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul of Tarsus; for, behold, he is praying; and in a vision he saw a man, Ananias by name, coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive sight." And Ananias answered, "Lord, I heard from many concerning this man, how many evils he did to Thy saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the high priests to bind all those calling on Thy name." But the Lord said to him, "Go your way; because this man is to Me a chosen vessel to bear My name before nations, and kings, and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake. And Ananias went away, and entered into the house; and, laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord hath sent me??ven Jesus, Who appeared to you in the way in which you were coming, sent me, that you may receive sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." and straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received sight; and, arising, he was immersed; and, having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples in Damascus some days;

And it came to pass, that, as I was journeying, and was drawing nigh to Damascus, about midday, there suddenly flashed around me a great light out of the heaven; and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?' And I answered, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting.'read more.
And those who were with me beheld, indeed, the light, but they did not understand the voice of Him Who spake to me. And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arising, go into Damascus, and there it shall be told you concerning all things which have been arranged for you to do.' And, as I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those accompanying me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout, man according to the law, well spoken of by all the resident Jews, coming to me, and standing by, said to me, 'Brother Saul, look up.' And I, in that very hour, looked up on him. And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice out of His mouth; because you shall be a witness for Him, to all men, of what you have seen, and heard. And now why do you delay? Arising, be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'

Meanwhile as I was journeying to Damascus, with authority and a commission from the high priests, at midday, O King, I saw, in the way, a light from Heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those journeying with me. And, we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'read more.
And I said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. But arise, and stand upon your feet; for I appeared to you for this end, to appoint you a minister and a witness both of the things in which you saw Me, and of the things in which I will appear to you; delivering you from the people and the gentiles, to whom I send you, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are ye not my work in the Lord?

And, perceiving the grace which was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas right-hands of fellowship, that we should go to the gentiles, and they to the circumcision;

And He said to me, 'Depart, because I will send you far hence to the gentiles.'

For I will venture to speak only of the things which God wrought through me for the obedience of the gentiles, by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and around as far as Illyricum, I have fully dispensed the Gospel of Christ; and, making it my aim so to proclaim the Gospel??ot where Christ was already named??hat I might not build upon another's foundation;read more.
but, as it has been written, "Those shall see, to whom nothing was announced concerning Him; and those who have not heard shall understand."

But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the limit which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even to you. For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as if not reaching to you; for we came even as far as to you in the Gospel of Christ; not glorying beyond our measure in other men's labors; but, having hope that, as your faith increases, we shall be enlarged among you according to our limit to further abundance,read more.
so as to proclaim the Gospel in the regions beyond you, not to glory in another's limit in the things made ready to our hand.

of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to proclaim, to the gentiles, the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to plainly show what is the dispensation of the mystery which from the ages has been hidden away in God, Who made all things;

For, if I proclaim the Gospel, it is not to me a matter of boasting; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is to me, if I proclaim not the Gospel.

I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish; so, as much as in me is, I am ready to proclaim the Gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Knowing, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but to God we have been made manifest, and I hope that we have been made manifest also in your consciences. We are not again commending ourselves to you, but giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have something suited to those who glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we were beside ourselves, it was to God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is for you.read more.
For the love of Christ is constraining us; having judged this, that One died for all; consequently, they all died:

nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others; though able to be in authority, as apostles of Christ. But we became gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children: so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not only the Gospel of God, but also our own souls, because ye became dear to us.read more.
For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil; working night and day, that we might not be burdensome to any of you, we preached to you the Gospel of God.

My defense to those examining me is this. Have we no right to eat, and to drink? Have we no right to lead about a sister as our wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?read more.
Or have only I and Barnabas no right to give up working? Who ever serves as a soldier at his own charges; Who plants a vineyard, and eats not of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? Do I speak these things after the manner of man? Or does not the law also say the same? For in the law of Moses it has been written, "You shall not muzzle an ox while treading out the grain." Doth God care for the oxen? Or doth He say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written; because he that plows ought to plow in hope; and he that threshes ought to thresh in hope of partaking. If we sowed for you spiritual things, is it a great matter, if we shall reap your carnal things? If others partake of this authority over you, do not we still more? But we used not this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ. Know ye not that those who are occupied upon sacred things eat of the things of the temple? and that those who wait at the altar partake with the altar? Even so did the Lord ordain, that those who proclaim the Gospel should live by the Gospel. But I have used none of these things; and I wrote not these things, that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any one should make my glorying void. For, if I proclaim the Gospel, it is not to me a matter of boasting; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is to me, if I proclaim not the Gospel. For, if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but, if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What, then, is my reward? That, when proclaiming the Gospel, I may make the Gospel without charge, to the end that I may not fully use my right in the Gospel.

For what is there in which ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong!

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord; and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake;

I am speaking a truth in Christ?? am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit??2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart (for I was wishing myself to be a curse from Christ) for my brethren, my kinsmen according to flesh;

For, being free from all men, I made myself servant to all, that I might gain the more. And, to the Jews, I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those under law, as under law (not being myself under law), that I might gain those under law; to those without law, as without law (not being without law to God, but under law to Christ), that I might gain those without law.read more.
To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may, by all means, save some. And I am doing all things for the Gospel's sake, that I may become a partaker thereof with others.

Now I wish you to know, brethren, that the things relating to me have resulted rather in the furtherance of the Gospel; that my bonds became manifest in Christ in the whole praetorium, and to all the rest; and that the greater part of the brethren, having become confident in the Lord by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.read more.
Some, indeed, preach Christ even because of envy and strife; and some also of good-will; the one, from love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the Gospel; but the other proclaim Christ of contention, not sincerely, thinking to add tribulation to my bonds. What then? save that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this will turn out for my salvation, through your supplication and a supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ; according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall in nothing be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life, or through death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if it be to live in flesh, this is to me a fruit of labor; and what I shall choose I know not; but I am constrained by the two; having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for it is far better; but to abide in flesh is more needful for you. And, having become assured of this, I know that I shall abide, and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, that your glorying may abound in Jesus Christ in me through my presence with you again.

And, that I might not be exalted overmuch by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He hath said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you; for My power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.read more.
Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I powerful.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness may be of God, and not from ourselves; being pressed on every side, yet not cooped up; perplexed, yet not despairing; pursued, yet not abandoned; smitten down, yet not destroyed;read more.
always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministry be not blamed; but in everything commending ourselves as God's ministers, in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in toilings, in watchings, in fastings;read more.
in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

I speak by way of dishonor, as though we were weak; but in whatever anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I also am bold. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they Abraham's seed? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as beside myself) I am more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often;read more.
from the Jews five times I received forty stripes save one; thrice I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; thrice I suffered shipwreck; a night and a day I have spent in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in toil and hardship, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Apart from those things without, that which is a pressure upon me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?

I have become foolish; ye compelled me; for I ought to be commended by you; for in nothing was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even if I am nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought out among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.

And, having gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man; the same having called for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God; but Elymas, the sorcerer (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.read more.
But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looking intently upon him, said, "O full of all guile, and all villainy, son of the Devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you; and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and, going about, he was seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, seeing what had taken place, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

And God kept performing special miracles through the hands of Paul; So that there were even carried from his body to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.

For I will venture to speak only of the things which God wrought through me for the obedience of the gentiles, by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and around as far as Illyricum, I have fully dispensed the Gospel of Christ;

And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

knowing, brethren beloved by God, your election; because our Gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we became toward you, for your sake.

that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; if by any means I may attain to the out-resurrection from the dead.

Being, therefore, always of good courage, and knowing that, while dwelling in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for we walk by faith and not by sight); we are of good courage, I say, and are well pleased to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.read more.
Wherefore, we also make it our aim??hether being at home or being from home??o be well-pleasing to Him. For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to the things which he practiced, whether good or evil.

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall in nothing be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life, or through death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if it be to live in flesh, this is to me a fruit of labor; and what I shall choose I know not;read more.
but I am constrained by the two; having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for it is far better; but to abide in flesh is more needful for you.

For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has arrived. I have contended in the noble contest, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will recompense to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to all those who have loved His appearing.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich.

Now we, the strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor in that which is good for his edification; for even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it has been written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on Me."

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, existing originally in the form of God, accounted it not a prize to he equal with God. but emptied Himself, taking a slave's form, coming to be in the likeness of men;read more.
and, being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed upon Him the name which is above every name; that, in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of beings in Heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Become imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Not as shaming you, do I write these things, but as my beloved children, admonishing you. For, though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet ye have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the Gospel. I beseech you, therefore, become imitators of me.read more.
For this cause, I sent to you Timothy, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who will bring to your remembrance my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

Not that I already obtained, or have already been made perfect; but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not account myself to have laid hold of it; but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth to the things before. I am pressing on toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.read more.
Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect, think this: and, if in anything ye think differently, even this God will reveal to you; nevertheless, whereunto we advanced, by the same rule let us walk. Brethren, become imitators together of me, and mark those who so walk, as ye have us as an example.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are righteous, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things also, which ye learned, and received, and heard, and saw in me, these practice; and the God of peace will be with you.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us. For ye yourselves know that ye should imitate us; because we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat any one's bread, gratuitously: but, in labor and toil, working night and day, that we might not be burdensome to any of you;read more.
not because we have not authority, but that we might give ourselves as a model to you, that ye might imitate us.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings in your behalf, and fill up in turn the deficiencies of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh for the sake of His body, which is the assembly;

Because, as the sufferings of Christ abound toward us, so through Christ our consolation also abounds. But, whether we be in tribulation, it is for your consolation and salvation; or, whether we are consoled, it is for your consolation, which is effective in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope in your behalf is steadfast, knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so are ye of the consolation also.read more.
For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our tribulation which befell us in Asia; that we were exceedingly weighed down beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: yea, we ourselves had in ourselves the sentence of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, Who raiseth the dead;

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness may be of God, and not from ourselves; being pressed on every side, yet not cooped up; perplexed, yet not despairing; pursued, yet not abandoned; smitten down, yet not destroyed;read more.
always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered up to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So that death is working in us, but life in you.

Henceforth let no one occasion trouble to me; for I am bearing in my body the brand-marks of Jesus.

For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

And, having sent from Miletus to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly. And, when they came to him, he said to them, "Ye yourselves know from the first day on which I came into Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time; serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and with trials which befell me in the plottings of the Jews;read more.
how I shrank not from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and from teaching you publicly, and from house to house, fully testifying, both to Jews and Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

For we are not as the many, making merchandise of the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

Therefore, having this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not; but we renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, not handling the word of God deceitfully; but, by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God, how piously and righteously and unblamably we behaved toward you who believe; as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying, that ye should walk worthily of God, Who is calling you into His own Kingdom and glory.

For God is my witness, how I long for you all in the tender affections of Christ Jesus.

Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself, that ye might be exalted, because I proclaimed to you the Gospel of God without cost? I robbed other assemblies, taking wages of them, that I might minister to you; and, being present with you, and being in want, I was a burden to no one; for the brethren, coming from Macedonia, supplied my lack; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will keep myself.read more.
As the truth of Christ is in me, this glorying shall not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I do not love you? God knoweth!

Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I to be loved the less?

and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, as we also do toward you,

We give thanks to God at all times for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is proclaimed in the whole world. For God is my witness, Whom I serve in my spirit in the Gospel of His Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request, if by any means now at length, I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.

On this account I also, having heard of the faith, on your part, in the Lord Jesus, and the love which ye show towards all the saints, cease not to give thanks on your behalf, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, would give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the full knowledge of Him;read more.
the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of the strength of His might,

To which end we also pray for you always, that our God may account you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and work of faith, with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

Brethren, pray for us.

And I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from the unbelieving in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints; that, coming to you in joy through the will of God, I may with you be refreshed.

and on my behalf that utterance may be given to me, in opening my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

On behalf of Christ, therefore, we are ambassadors, as though God were beseeching through us, we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God

and, making it my aim so to proclaim the Gospel??ot where Christ was already named??hat I might not build upon another's foundation;

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master-builder, I laid a foundation; and another builds thereon. But let each one take heed how he builds thereon;

What, then, is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and as the Lord gave to each. I planted, Apollos watered; but God causeth it to grow. So that neither is he that plants anything, nor he that waters; but God Who causeth it to grow.read more.
And he that plants and he that waters are one; but each shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow-workers; ye are God's husbandry, God's building.

For, though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet ye have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the Gospel.

as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying, that ye should walk worthily of God, Who is calling you into His own Kingdom and glory.

my little children, for whom I am in travail again, until Christ be formed in you!

nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others; though able to be in authority, as apostles of Christ. But we became gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children:

For, I think, God did set forth us the apostles last, as doomed to death; because we became a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

But thanks be to God, Who always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of His knowledge in every place; because we are to God a sweet savor of Christ, in those who are being saved, and in those who are perishing; to the one class a savor of death unto death, and to the other a savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God,

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the full knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

Do you, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you heard from me, through many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who will be competent to teach others also.

Hold the pattern of healthful words which you heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. The good deposit guard through the Holy Spirit Who dwelleth in us.