I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you weren't ready for it. And you're still not ready!

For when one person says, "I follow Paul," and another person says, "I follow Apollos," you're following your own human nature, aren't you?

Who is Apollos, anyhow? Or who is Paul? They're merely servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord gave to each of us his task.

In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church.

Otherwise, if you say a blessing with your spirit, how can an otherwise uneducated person say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you're saying?

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who was preached among you through us??hrough me and Sylvanus and Timothy??as not "Yea" and "Nay," "Nay," but in Him is "Yea."

In every way we're troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair,

and that upon re-visiting you I may be humbled by my God in your presence, and may have to mourn over many whose hearts still cling to their old sins, and who have not repented of the impurity, fornication, and gross sensuality, of which they have been guilty.

on the contrary, if I re-establish what I have demolish'd, I show myself a prevaricator.

For we [Christians] are the product of God's workmanship, [re-] created in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus for [the purpose of] doing good deeds. God had previously determined that this should be our practice.

For this reason Scripture says: "He re-ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and gave gifts to men."

(Now this "re-ascended" --what does it mean but that He had first descended into the lower regions of the earth?

And you should put on the new person who has been [re-] created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Do not do this only while you're being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah, who are determined to obey God's will.

For it is only right for me to think this way about all of you, because you're constantly on my mind. Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, all of you are partners with me in this privilege.

And so, when Jesus' name is called, the knees of everyone should fall, wherever they're residing.

and have put on the new person, who is being [daily] renewed with full knowledge, according to the image of God, who [re-] created him.

For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.

and to requite with rest you who are suffering affliction now--rest with us at the re-appearing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven, attended by His mighty angels.

and when he re-introduces the first-begotten into the world, he saith, " and let all the angels of God worship him."

Therefore leaving elementary instruction about the Christ, let us advance to mature manhood and not be continually re-laying a foundation of repentance from lifeless works and of faith in God,

if they shall fall away, to re-instate themselves by repentance: seeing, as far in them lies, they crucify the son of God afresh, and expose him to open shame.

The sorrow comes in order that the testing of your faith--being more precious than that of gold, which perishes and yet is proved by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the re-appearing of Jesus Christ.

Therefore gird up your minds and fix your hopes calmly and unfalteringly upon the boon that is soon to be yours, at the re-appearing of Jesus Christ.

Baptism, which corresponds to it, now saves you also (not as the mere removing of physical stain, but as the craving for a conscience right with God)??hrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

If we say that we do not have any sin, we are deceiving ourselves and we're not being truthful to ourselves.

And now, dear children, continue in union with Him; so that, if He re-appears, we may have perfect confidence, and may not shrink away in shame from His presence at His Coming.

"The Wild Beast which you have seen was, and is not, and yet is destined to re-ascend, before long, out of the bottomless pit and go his way into perdition. And the inhabitants of the earth will be filled with amazement--all whose names are not in the Book of Life, having been recorded there ever since the creation of the world--when they see the Wild Beast: because he was, and is not, and yet is to come.

Then He who was seated on the throne said, "I am re-creating all things." And He added, "Write down these words, for they are trustworthy and true."