Now I want you to know, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as among the rest of the Gentiles.

For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.

Therefore, did what is good cause my death? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.

For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

Christ died and came to life for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living.