For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.

For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know --

For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.

Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?

For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,

But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.

Approving

But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience before God.

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

As

who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.

You will be called, 'the Lord's priests, servants of our God.' You will enjoy the wealth of nations and boast about the riches you receive from them.

No one brings grain offerings or drink offerings to the temple of the Lord anymore. So the priests, those who serve the Lord, are in mourning.

Let the priests, those who serve the Lord, weep from the vestibule all the way back to the altar. Let them say, "Have pity, O Lord, on your people; please do not turn over your inheritance to be mocked, to become a proverb among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, "Where is their God?"

What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.

One should think about us this way -- as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith,

By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

In much

Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.

By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.

But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,

So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains.

I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.

Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Afflictions

For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison

except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body -- for the sake of his body, the church -- what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God's power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.

as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all.

You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist's work, fulfill your ministry.

Necessities

When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me.

To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.

Distresses

We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair;

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith.

General references

And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling.