But if we properly saw ourselves, we would not bring down upon us this judgment.

I would like for all of you to speak in ecstasy, but I would rather that you prophesy. The man who speaks with real prophetic insight renders greater service than the man who speaks in ecstasy, unless the latter explains it, so the congregation may receive an uplift.

So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I should be a foreigner to the man who speaks it, and he would be a foreigner to me.

But in the public congregation I would rather speak five words with my mind in action, in order to instruct the people too, than ten thousand words in ecstasy.

This is the very thing I wrote you, that when I did come I might not be made sad by the very people who ought to make me glad, for I had confidence in you all that my gladness would be gladness to you all.

For this is why I wrote you, to see if you would stand the test, to see if you would be obedient in everything.

I do not mean this for your condemnation, because, as I have said before, you have such a place in my heart that I would live with you or die with you.

Such people should consider this: When I arrive for action I shall do exactly what I said I would in my letters when far away.

I wish you would now listen to a little folly of mine. Please do listen to me!

Am I now trying to win men's favor, or God's? Or, am I trying to be pleasing to men? If I were still trying to be pleasing to men, I would not be a slave of Christ at all.

Because the Scripture foresaw that God would bring the heathen into right standing with Himself on condition of faith, He beforehand proclaimed the good news to Abraham in the promise, "It is through you that all the heathen will be blessed."

Is the law then contrary to God's promises? Of course not. For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, surely, then, right standing would have come through law.

Where is your self-congratulation? For I can testify that you would have torn out your very eyes, if you could, and have given them to me.

I almost wish that these men who are upsetting you would go all the way, and have themselves mutilated.

You slaves must practice obedience to your earthly masters, with reverence and awe, with sincerity of heart, as you would obey Christ,

For I have no one else with a heart like his who would take such genuine interest in you,

So I would have the younger women marry, have children, and keep house, so as not to give our opponents any occasion for slander.

With gentleness he must correct his opponents, for God might grant them repentance that would lead them to a full knowledge of the truth,

I would have liked to keep him with me, to wait on me in your stead while I wear these chains for the good news,

but I would not do a single thing about it without your consent, so that this kindness of yours to me might not seem to come by compulsion but voluntarily.

So, if you consider me a comrade, take him to your bosom as you would me.

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

For if Joshua had really given them rest, He would not afterward have been speaking of another day.

Now if perfection had been reached through the Levitical priesthood -- for on it as a basis even the law was enacted for the people-- what further need would there have been of appointing a different priest, with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of designating one with the rank of Aaron?

However, if He were still on earth, He would not be a priest at all, because there are those who officiate in accordance with the law in offering the gifts;

for, if that had been the case, He would have had to suffer over and over again, ever since the creation of the world. But, as it is, once at the close of the ages He has appeared, to put away sin by His sacrifice.

Otherwise, would they not have ceased offering them, because those who offered them, having once been purified, would have had no further consciousness of sins?

And if they had been cherishing the memory of the country they had left, they would have had an opportunity to go back.

And why should I continue to mention more? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

Women by a resurrection received their dead again; others endured tortures, because they would not accept release, that they might rise to a better life.

For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of uprightness than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command committed to their trust.

They have gone out from our own number, but they did not really belong to us; for if they had, they would have stayed with us. It was to show that none of those who went out really belonged to us.

but in the days when the seventh angel speaks, when he is about to blow his trumpet, then God's mysterious message, in accordance with the good news He gave to His slaves, the prophets, would be accomplished.

so that men were severely scorched, but they only cursed the name of God who had authority over these plagues, and would not repent and give Him glory.

and cursed the God of heaven because of their sufferings and sores, but they would not repent of what they had done.

Then I saw thrones and those who were seated on them, and permission was granted them to pass judgment, even those who had been beheaded for bearing testimony to Jesus and for preaching the word of God, who refused to worship the wild beast and his statue, and would not let his mark be stamped upon their foreheads and upon their hands. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.