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

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

(for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles);

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.

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

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.

They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.

My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you --

but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law?

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.

As many as desire to look good 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 don't keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.

don't cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

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,

by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;

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,

Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.

For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;

Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

"that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things;

whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.

I thank my God whenever I remember you,

always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy,

It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.

For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;

so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ;

Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;

so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ;

and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

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

For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don't know what I will choose.

that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear is in me.

make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn't run in vain nor labor in vain.

In the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.

But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.

But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need;

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.

I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

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.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.

However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;

if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

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.

Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.

Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

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.

The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

However you did well that you shared in my affliction.

You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.

For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.

My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.

For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the assembly;

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,

whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;

for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.

For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

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, both of the Father and of Christ,

Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.