Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,

You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.

Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete.

For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.

Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

But you did not learn Christ in this way,

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.Yes, and I will rejoice,

for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;

When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.

This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.

Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,