You see things according to appearances. If any one trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider again with himself that as he is Christ's so also are we.

For the epistles, say they, are weighty and powerful, but the bodily presence is weak and speech contemptible.

Let such a one think, that such as we are in word by epistles when absent, such also will we be in work when present.

For we dare not judge or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves with themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise.

But what I do I also will do, that I may take away an occasion from those who wish an occasion, that wherein they boast they may be found even as we are.

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the posterity of Abraham? so am I.

Are they ministers of Christ? I speak foolishly, I am more; in labors most abundant, in stripes above measure, in imprisonments most abundant, in deaths often;

Do you again think that we are defending ourselves? We speak in Christ before God; all these things, beloved, are for your edification.

for though he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; and we also are weak in him, but live with him by the power of God in you.

Try yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves; or know you not yourselves that Christ is in you unless you are reprobates?

But I hope you will know that we are not reprobates.

For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong; and we desire this, your perfection.

which is not another; but there are some who disturb you and wish to subvert the gospel of Christ.

But if seeking to be justified by Christ we are found to be ourselves also sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? By no means.

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit do you now end in the flesh?

Know, therefore, that those of faith, these are children of Abraham.

Those of faith, therefore, are blessed with believing Abraham.

For as many as are of works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things written in the book of the law to do them.

but the faith having come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

For you are all children of God by the faith in Jesus Christ;

for as many of you as are baptized in Christ, have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither servant nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if you are of Christ, then are you Abraham's children and heirs according to the promise.

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, also an heir of God.

But formerly, not knowing God you served beings which are not really Gods;

They are zealous for you, but not well, but they wish to exclude you that you may be zealous for them.

These things are allegorical, for those [women] are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for servitude, which is Hagar;

for it is written, Rejoice, barren woman, that did not bear, break forth and cry, woman that had no pain, for the children of the desolate are more numerous than those of her who had a husband.

But we, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.

Wherefore, brothers, we are not children of the servant woman, but of the free.

Behold, I Paul tell you, that if you are circumcised Christ will not profit you.

You have departed from Christ, whoever of you are justified by the law, you have fallen from the grace.

For you are called to liberty, brothers, only make not your liberty an occasion for the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are opposed one to another, so that you do not what you wish.

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

For the works of the flesh are manifest, which are, fornication, impurity, lewdness,

Brothers, if a man is overtaken with any fault, do you that are spiritual restore such a one with a spirit of meekness, considering yourself; lest you also be tried.

in respect to the dispensation of the fullness of times, to bring all things into one in Christ, the things which are in heaven and the things which are on earth, in him

but God who is rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,??5 even when we were dead in sins he made us alive with Christ,??y grace are you saved,

For by grace are you saved through the faith; and that not of you; [it is] the gift of God;

for we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, in which God before appointed that we should walk.

Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow-citizens of the saints and of the family of God,

in which you also are built up together for a spiritual habitation of God.

that the gentiles are co-heirs and of the same body and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

Wherefore I desire you not to faint on account of my afflictions for you, which are your glory.

There is one body, and one spirit, as you also are called in one hope of your call;

Wherefore, laying aside lying let every one speak the truth to his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,??9 for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,??10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord,

For the things which are done by them in secret it is base even to mention;

but all things proved to be wrong are made manifest by the light; for every thing which makes manifest is light.

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

for we are members of his body.

so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the Praetorium and in all other places,

We are the circumcision, who serve God in spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and trust not in the flesh,

Let us, as many as are perfect therefore, be of this mind; and if any one thinks at all otherwise, God shall also reveal this to you;

For many walk, of whom I told you often and now also tell you weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ;

Yes, I beseech you also, faithful yoke-fellow, help those women who strove in the gospel with me, with Clement and the rest of my co-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are reputable, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, consider these things;

for by him were all things created which are in heaven and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and for him,

in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

and you are made perfect in him, who is the head of all principality and power,

in whom you are also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, with the putting off of the body of the flesh, with the circumcision of Christ,

which are a shadow of things that were to come; but the body is Christ's.

If therefore you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why do you practice ordinances as living in the world,??21 you shall not touch, you shall not taste, you shall not feel,??22 all which are to perish in the using??ccording to the commandments and instructions of men?

Put to death, therefore, your members which are on the earth, fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry,

where there are not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, servant, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner salutes you, and Mark the nephew of Barnabas,??oncerning whom you received commandments, if he comes to you receive him,??11 and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these are the only co-laborers for the kingdom of God who have been a comfort to me.

You are witnesses, and God, how piously, and righteously, and blamelessly we were with you that believe,

who also killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us, and who please not God and are hostile to all men,

For you are our glory and joy.

that no one should be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed for this;

But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that I should write to you; for you are taught by God to love one another;

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day should come upon you like a thief;

for you are all children of light, and children of day; we are not of night nor of darkness.

For they that sleep sleep in the night, and they that are drunk drink in the night;

but let us who are of day be sober, putting on a cuirass of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation,

and to you who are afflicted rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels

and with every unrighteous deceit among those who are destroyed, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.

of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

[misled] by the hypocrisy of false teachers, whose consciences are cauterized,

Support the widows who are widows indeed.

and at the same time also, being idle, they learn to go from house to house, and not only are they idle, they are also tattlers and mischief makers, saying what they ought not.

The sins of some men are manifest, going before to judgment; but some they follow;

in like manner also good works are manifest, and those which are otherwise cannot be hid.

Let as many servants as are under the yoke account their masters worthy of all honor, that the name and doctrine of God may not be blasphemed.

And let those who have believing masters not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather serve, because they are believers and beloved, who partake of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

You know this, that all those in Asia left me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

and their word will eat like a gangrene; of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

But the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from wickedness.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but those also of wood and clay, and some for honor and some for dishonor;

and that they may recover themselves from the snare of the devil, who are made captives by him to his will.

Of these are those who go into the houses and take captive foolish women loaded with sins, and led by various desires,

For this cause I left you in Crete, that you might regulate things which are deficient, and appoint elders in every city, as I charged you,

For there are many disorderly wranglers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

A certain one of them, their own poet, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gormandizers.

To the pure all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but their mind and conscience are defiled.

The word is true, and I wish you to insist strongly concerning these things, that those who have believed in God may be careful to maintain good works. For these things are honorable and useful to men.

But foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes and contentions about the law, avoid; for they are unprofitable and vain.

All who are with me salute you. Salute those who love us in the faith. The grace be with you all.