In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit;

When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the "Yes, yes" and the "No, no?"

But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not "Yes and no."

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes."

Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;

Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,

But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away:

For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn't look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside.

and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced still more.

For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.

This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

Not only so, but who was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn't a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.

But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.

For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace,

I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,

But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

They only asked us to remember the poor -- which very thing I was also zealous to do.

And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified?

Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you;

how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,

which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.

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

But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,

since he longed for you all, and was very troubled, because you had heard that he was sick.

For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him;

if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,

to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;

wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;

For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn't in vain,

when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day.

Don't you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?

As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine,

according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

Adam wasn't deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience;

Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

Don't neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.

who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

For this, I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,

but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me

But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

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

how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation -- which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;

Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.

Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken,

Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, 'They always err in their heart, but they didn't know my ways;'

With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those who heard.

Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,

Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

So also Christ didn't glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, "You are my Son. Today I have become your father."

He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils.

for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, "See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain."

For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lampstand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place.

After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,