for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments

We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.

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

Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person's area.

I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast.

For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

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.

Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.

since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God's power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God's power toward you.

Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless, indeed, you fail the test!

For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel --

not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ.

But I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners,

Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?

so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.

So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer.

For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law."

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female -- for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise.

And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls "Abba! Father!"

So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.

Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.

You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years.

For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband."

But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace!

However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,

Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.

Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.

even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you are saved! --

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called "uncircumcision" by the so-called "circumcision" that is performed on the body by human hands --

So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,

in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.

They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.

Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.

Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting -- all of which are out of character -- but rather thanksgiving.

for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light --

For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention.

But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.

taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

for we are members of his body.

From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that -- whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent -- I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,

since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.

Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.

For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials

-- though mine too are significant. If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more:

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

Therefore let those of us who are "perfect" embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.

Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.

He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!

These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching -- like those who are strictly people-pleasers -- but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.

Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,

For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions.

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews,

who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people,

For you are our glory and joy!

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

For now we are alive again, if you stand firm in the Lord.

so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more.

Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.

For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

Now when they are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.