as some of you have already own'd, that I am matter of joy to you, as you will be to me in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ:

Such was my intention. Now, have I shown myself 'fickle'? When I propose some plan, do I propose it in a worldly way, ready to mean 'no' as well as 'yes'?

Now God is the One who makes us stand firm with you in [fellowship with] Christ. He has anointed us [Note: "Anointed" here probably refers to selecting, appointing and commissioning people for some form of Christian service. See Luke 4:18];

For we do not have [the right to] rule over your faith [i.e., to dictate concerning your personal relationship with God], but we want to work with you for your happiness. For you are [already] standing firm in your faith. [Note: This whole narrative alludes to some unresolved problems still existing there in Corinth].

If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate—to all of you.

witness) lest satan should have got some advantage of us: for we are apprized of his artifices.

To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. And who is competent for this?

Are we to begin again, ourselves, to commend? or have we need, like some, of commendatory letters unto you, or from you?

If we are out of our mind [just unstable fanatics as some critics say], it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit.

For tho' I was sorry my letter gave you some uneasiness, I do not repent of it, perceiving, that the uneasiness you had from that letter, did not dwell upon your minds.

Indeed, if I have been doing some boasting of you to him, I have never been ashamed of it; but just as all I said to him was true, so now my boasting before Titus has been shown to be true.

For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable to the extent if some man has, not to the extent he does not have.

but through an equalizing of matters in the present crisis I do want your abundance to relieve their need, that some day their abundance may relieve your need, so that equality may exist --

to keep me -- not to mention you -- from being humiliated for having such confidence in you, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready.

Now I Paul, myself, appeal to you by the humble-heartedness and selflessness of Christ??aul who "in your presence is humble, but bold enough when he is absent"??2 I beseech you, and I say, do not make me show my boldness, when I come in the boldness with which I think I shall show my courage against some who think that I am walking on the low level of the flesh.

I entreat, however, that, when present, I may not be bold with the assurance wherewith I think to be daring against some who account of us as though, according to flesh, we were walking, -

For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed.

because some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account."

For we dare not class or compare ourselves with some who do, themselves, commend; but, they, among themselves, measuring, themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without discernment!

I could wish ye would bear with me as to some little foolishness, - Nay! do even bear with me!

but I fear lest by some means or other, as Eve was beguiled by the subtilly of the serpent, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is due to Christ.

If indeed some one is coming to preach another Jesus, whom I did not preach, or you are receiving a Spirit other than you once received, or another gospel which you did not accept before, you would do well to bear with me.

I am doing and will continue to do this in order to cut away the ground from under those who wish some cause for slander; and that the ground of their boasting may appear as does mine.

Again, I say - let no one deem me to be, foolish; but, otherwise, at least, as foolish, give me welcome, that, I also, some little, may boast myself.

For ye tolerate it if some man enslaves you, if some man devours you, if some man seizes you, if some man lifts himself up, if some man strikes you on the face.

For if I shall wish to glory, I will not be a fool; for I speak the truth: but I fear, lest some one may consider with reference to me above what he sees me, or hears from me.

But, so that I would not become too conceited over the tremendous revelations [I received], a "thorn in the flesh" was given to me as a messenger from Satan to torment me. [Note: This "thorn" was probably some physical handicap, possibly defective eyesight. See Gal. 4:14-15; 6:11].

Be it so, that I did not burden you myself, yet, may some say, being crafty I over-reached you by subtilty.

For I am afraid I may perhaps come and find you are not what I could wish, while you may find I am not what you could wish; I am afraid of finding quarrels, jealousy, temper, rivalry, slanders, gossiping, arrogance, and disorder ??21 afraid that when I come back to you, my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn for many who sinned some time ago and yet have never repented of the impurity, the sexual vice, and the sensuality which they have practised.

and that when I come back my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over some of those who formerly have committed shocking sins, and have not repented for them -- their impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality, which once they practiced.

I warned you already, on my second visit, and I warn you now before I come, both you who sinned some time ago and the rest of you as well, that I will spare no one if I come back.

Your own selves try ye, if ye are in the faith; your own selves prove ye; do ye not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, if ye be not in some respect disapproved of?

I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the mercy of Christ, to some different good news??7 not that there is any other, only that there are some people who are trying to unsettle you and want to turn the good news of the Christ around.

Which is not another sort: only there are some who give you trouble, desiring to make changes in the good news of Christ.

Now even though it were myself or some angel from heaven, whoever preaches a gospel that contradicts the gospel I preached to you, God's curse be on him!

But [all went well, for] not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled [as some had anticipated] to be circumcised, despite the fact that he was a Greek.

For until some people came from James, he used to eat with the heathen, but after they came, he began to draw back and hold aloof, for fear of the party of circumcision.

Here is what I am saying: The Agreement originally made by God [with Abraham], with its attending promises, was not canceled when the law of Moses was given some four hundred and thirty years later.

But as for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished.

And brothers, if a man is overtaken in some transgression, ye the spiritual, restore such in a spirit of meekness, looking to thyself lest thou also be tempted.

For if some man presumes to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

But, his own work, let each one be putting to the proof, and, then, for himself alone, the matter of boasting, shall he have, and not for some other,

[This letter is from] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to God's will, [and is being sent] to the saints [i.e., God's holy people] at Ephesus [Note: This was a major city in the western province of Asia Minor, and now a part of Turkey. The words "at Ephesus" are omitted in some manuscripts, suggesting it was a circular letter], and the faithful ones in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus [everywhere else ?].

Every one of us, however, has been entrusted with some charge, each in accordance with the extent of the gift of the Christ.

And, he, gave - some, indeed, to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers, -

Let him that stole, steal no more; but let him rather labour with his hands some good thing, that he may have to give unto him that needeth.

Some, indeed, by reason of envy and strife - some, however, by reason of good will - are proclaiming, the Christ:

Some indeed proclaim the Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to bring affliction to my bonds.

But some from love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the good-news.

is it not however some advantage? since in either way, whether it be occasionally, or professedly, Christ is preach'd; which is now, and always will be matter of joy to me.

which consideration persuades me that I shall abide, and even continue some time with you all, to improve your advancement in the faith, and to promote your joy:

However, I hope by the favour of the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you very soon, that I may have some encouragement by knowing the state of your affairs:

although I myself might have some excuse for confidence in outward ceremonies. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I:

in the hope of attaining, in some measure, the resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead.

I am rejoicing very much in [fellowship with] the Lord that now, after some time, you people have revived your concern for me. Actually, you were concerned, but lacked the opportunity [to show it].

based on the hope laid up for you in heaven. Some time ago you heard about this hope through the word of truth, the gospel

Take care lest there be some one who leads you away as prisoners by means of his philosophy and idle fancies, following human traditions and the world's crude notions instead of following Christ.

In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Therefore, when we could no longer endure our separation [from you], we thought it best to be left behind, alone at Athens,

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

to study your own quiet, to mind your own affairs, and follow some handicraft trade, as we recommended it to you:

not to let your minds be easily unsettled or even be excited, whether by some message by the Spirit or by some saying or letter that is claimed as coming from me, saying that the day of the Lord is already here.

But we ought to thank God for you always, brothers [who are] dearly loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning [Note: Some manuscripts use the Greek word for "firstfruits" instead of "beginning" here, but it is difficult to know in what sense the Thessalonian Christians were "first"], in order to be saved through being set apart by the Holy Spirit and through belief of the truth [of the Gospel].

But we are informed that some among you are living as shirkers, mere busybodies, instead of busy at work.

Even as I exhorted thee to remain in Ephesus, when I was journeying into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some -

Some people have stepped aside from these things and turned to fruitless talking.

by keeping your hold on faith and a good conscience; for some have thrust the latter aside and so have made shipwreck of their faith.

Now the Spirit distinctly declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, because they continuously give their attention to deceiving spirits and the things that demons teach

Physical training, indeed, is of some service, but religion is of service for everything, for it contains a promise for the present life as well as the future.

but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn to show their piety first toward their own household, and to make some return to their parents, for that is pleasing in God's sight.

Thus, they bring the judgment [for being untrustworthy] on themselves because they have broken their previous pledge. [Note: This probably refers to younger widows who pledged themselves to fulfill some important church activity and then quit suddenly to get married. But some suggest it refers to them leaving the faith and marrying a non-Christian].

For some widows have already turned aside to follow Satan.

Some men's sins are very evident and clearly lead them on to judgment, but the sins of others lag behind.

Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

For the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, and some men in reaching after riches have wandered from the faith and pierced their hearts with many a pang.

O Timothy, keep what is deposited in your care, avoiding the prophane empty declamations and objections of a spurious science, which some have profess'd,

by professing which some individuals have failed in the faith. Spiritual blessing be with you all.

The farmer who does the work ought to be the first to have some of the produce.

who have missed the truth by saying that the resurrection has already taken place, are undermining some people's faith.

In any great house there are not only gold and silver articles but also wooden utensils, some for honorable uses and some for lowly uses.

For some of them practice going into people's houses and capturing weak and silly women who are overwhelmed with the weight of their sins, who are easily led about by all sorts of evil impulses,

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message could be fully proclaimed and that all the Gentiles could hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. [Note: This is probably a figure of speech indicating that Paul had escaped some immediate danger. See Psa. 22:20-21].

For there are many disorderly persons vainly talkative, and under a spirit of delusion, especially some of the circumcised;

By whom some families have been completely overturned; who take money for teaching things which are not right; these will have to be stopped.

Let our brethren too learn some honest profession to supply their occasions, that they may not be destitute of an income.

who, for some time, has been unprofitable to you, but now is very profitable to you and to me:

Yes, brother, I would like some return myself from you in the Lord's work. Through Christ refresh my heart.

Therefore it behooves us the more earnestly to give heed to the things which we have heard, lest at some time we may leak out.

But some one, somewhere, testified, saying. What is Man, that thou art mindful of him? Or any man, that thou carest for him?

Thou hast made him less, some little, than messengers, With glory and honour, hast thou crowned him, - And hast set him over the works of thy hands;

But, Jesus, made some little less than messengers, we do behold: by reason of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, to the end that, by favour of God, in behalf of every one, he might taste of death.

For every house is built by some man, but he who built all things is God.

Watch out, brothers, lest there be in some of you an evil, unbelieving heart, [with the result that you] fall away from the living God.

For some who heard rebelled, but not all those who came out of Egypt by Moses.

So let us fear that when the promise for us to be admitted to His rest is still remaining valid some one of you may be found to have missed it.

Seeing then it remaineth that some enter into it,

Since therefore it remains for some to enter into it, and those who formerly had good-news did not enter because of disobedience,

Therefore let us hasten to enter into that rest, lest some one may fall by the same example of unbelief.

For also men who ought to be teachers because of the time, ye have need again for some man to teach you the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God, and have become men who have need of milk, and not of solid food.

and who had experienced the good teaching of God and the powers of the coming age [i.e., they had already received some of the blessings of the Christian life, perhaps even miraculous signs].