What then? have we pre-eminence? Not at all: for we have before proved that both the Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first begotten from the dead, that he might be in all things pre-eminent.

Beware that no man make a prey of you by means of philosophy and vain delusion, after the tradition of men, after the principles of the world, and not after Christ:

Faithful is the saying, and of these things I wish thee firmly to testify, that they who have believed in God be careful to be pre-eminent in good works. These are becoming and advantageous to men.

And let those who belong to us learn also to be pre-eminent in good works for all necessary calls, that they be not without fruits.

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who affects pre-eminence over them, receiveth us not.