I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.

seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;

while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.

For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

When I was present with you and was in need, I was not 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.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.

but they only heard: "He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy."

And they glorified God because of me.

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;

But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God does not show partiality to man)?they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision

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 circumcised.

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

For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, how can you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

They zealously seek you, but for no good purpose; they desire to alienate you, that you may be zealous for them.

As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For even they who receive circumcision do not keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

The former insincerely proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;

For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

Yes, I beg you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.

Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.

together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.

For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews;

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.

and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie;

that they all might be judged who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us.

Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.

of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

but she will be delivered through childbearing, if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with good judgment.

Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.

Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.

But refuse younger widows, for whenever their passions lead them away from Christ, they desire to marry;

having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.

Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of that which is truly life.

Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones' sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Remind them of these things, charging them in the presence of God, that they do not argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed further in ungodliness,

But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.

But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.

For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts;

whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain's sake.

This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.

but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.

having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.

They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.

As a cloak, you will roll them up, and like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will have no end."

Are not they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Therefore I was displeased with this generation, and said, 'They always err in their heart, but they did not know my ways;'

as I swore in my wrath, 'They will not enter into my rest.'"

For who, when they heard, rebelled? No, did not all those who came out of Egypt by Moses?

To whom did he swear that they would not enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with those who heard.

For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

and in this place again, "They will not enter into my rest."

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,

and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,

(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, "The Lord swore and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"

Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them," says the Lord.

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days," says the Lord; "I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.

but deal only with foods and drinks and various washings; they are regulations for the flesh imposed until the time of setting things right.

For the Law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.

Or else would not they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.

Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

They were stoned. They were sawed apart. They were killed with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, mistreated

God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

For they indeed, for a few days, disciplined us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.