But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you.

For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.

so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person's area.

For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

For I consider myself not at all inferior to those "super-apostles."

And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.

When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.

What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation?

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.

It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.

And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)

was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak.

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,

even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me -- so that I would not become arrogant.

For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

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!

I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?

I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?

For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.

I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,

since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless, indeed, you fail the test!

And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test!

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.

Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority -- the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

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.

Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.

For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; instead I received it by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,

I assure you that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!

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.

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek.

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

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?"

We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners,

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!

I do not set aside God's grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law."

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.

What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise.

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

Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.

and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself!

However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law?

For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband."

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.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.

This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you!

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.

However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by 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.

envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.

Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else.

Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows,

So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

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.

I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers.

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.

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;

it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

But you did not learn about Christ like this,

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.

Do not give the devil an opportunity.

The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.

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.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.

Therefore do not be partakers with them,

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

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,

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.

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.

Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people,

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.

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.

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.