On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.

For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,

But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.

Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!

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.

Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.

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

From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)

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

But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!

But when the one who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, and then returned to Damascus.

But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.

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

I went there because of a revelation and presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so only in a private meeting with the influential people, to make sure that I was not running -- or had not run -- in vain.

But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people) -- those influential leaders added nothing to my message.

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong.

Until certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this and separated himself because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.

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?"

yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin? Absolutely not!

But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God's law.

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, "and to the descendants," referring to many, but "and to your descendant," referring to one, who is Christ.

For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.

Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.

But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given -- because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ -- to those who believe.

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

But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.

But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

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

But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you,

They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.

But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.

But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

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

But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now.

But what does the scripture say? "Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son" of the free woman.

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

I am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.

But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

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

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

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.

But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

far above every 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.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,

But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

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

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

But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.

But you did not learn about Christ like this,

You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.

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 --

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

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

Therefore be very careful how you live -- not as unwise but as wise,

For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord's will is.

And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,

But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

so that he may present the church to himself as glorious -- not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church,

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

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

not like those who do their work only when someone is watching -- as people-pleasers -- but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.

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

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

My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.

but it is more vital for your sake that I remain in the body.

and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation -- a sign which is from God.

For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him,

Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you.

But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.

But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need.

In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him -- and not to him only, but also to me -- so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.

and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness -- a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness.

Not that I have already attained this -- that is, I have not already been perfected -- but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

But our citizenship is in heaven -- and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him --

that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

In him you also were circumcised -- not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.

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

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.

But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.

Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.