Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Christian ministers » Charge delivered to
These men, the Twelve, Jesus sent forth, after giving them the following instructions. "Do not go among the Gentiles, or enter any Samaritan town, "but rather be on your way to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. "As you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' read more.
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. "Take no gold or silver or coppers in your purses; "not even a bag for the journey, or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a stick; for the worker is worth his rations. "Into whatever city or town you enter, inquire for some worthy person there, and stay with him until you leave. "When you enter the house, salute it; "and if the house is worthy let your blessing sit upon it; but if it be unworthy, let your blessing return to you. "And whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, as you go out from that house or that city, shake off the very dust from your feet. "I tell you solemnly it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that town. "Behold, it is I who am sending you forth like sheep among wolves. Be then as serpents and as guileless as doves. "But beware of men! For they will give you up to the Sanhedrin, and flog you in their synagogues. "And you will be taken before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. "But whenever they apprehend you, do not be anxious about how you shall speak or what you shall say; for it will be given you in that very hour what to say. "For it will not be you who is speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. "And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and put them to death. "You will be hated by all men because of my name; and he who endures to the end shall be saved. "But when they persecute you in one city, flee to the next. In solemn truth I tell you that you shall not have completed the cities of Israel, before the Son of man comes. "A pupil is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his masters. "It is enough for the pupil to fare like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more, the members of his household. "So do not fear them; for there is nothing concealed which shall not be revealed, nor anything secret which shall not become known. "What I am telling you is in the darkness, do you speak in the light; and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but fear rather him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. "Are not two sparrows sold for a half-penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your father. "The very hairs on your head are all numbered. "Cease to be afraid! You are of greater value than many sparrows. "Every one, then, who will confess me before men, I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven. "But whoever disowns me before men, I also will disown before my Father who is in heaven. "Do not suppose that I am come to bring peace on the earth; I am come not to bring peace, but a sword. "For I came to set "a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; "and a man's own household will be his enemies. "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; "and he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. "He who has saved his life shall lose it; and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it. "Whoever receives you is receiving me, and he who receives me is receiving Him who sent me. "Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and whoever receives a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward. "And whoever gives to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, because he is a disciple, I tell you in solemn truth, he shall not lose his reward.
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. "Take no gold or silver or coppers in your purses; "not even a bag for the journey, or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a stick; for the worker is worth his rations. "Into whatever city or town you enter, inquire for some worthy person there, and stay with him until you leave. "When you enter the house, salute it; "and if the house is worthy let your blessing sit upon it; but if it be unworthy, let your blessing return to you. "And whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, as you go out from that house or that city, shake off the very dust from your feet. "I tell you solemnly it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that town. "Behold, it is I who am sending you forth like sheep among wolves. Be then as serpents and as guileless as doves. "But beware of men! For they will give you up to the Sanhedrin, and flog you in their synagogues. "And you will be taken before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. "But whenever they apprehend you, do not be anxious about how you shall speak or what you shall say; for it will be given you in that very hour what to say. "For it will not be you who is speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. "And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and put them to death. "You will be hated by all men because of my name; and he who endures to the end shall be saved. "But when they persecute you in one city, flee to the next. In solemn truth I tell you that you shall not have completed the cities of Israel, before the Son of man comes. "A pupil is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his masters. "It is enough for the pupil to fare like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more, the members of his household. "So do not fear them; for there is nothing concealed which shall not be revealed, nor anything secret which shall not become known. "What I am telling you is in the darkness, do you speak in the light; and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but fear rather him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. "Are not two sparrows sold for a half-penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your father. "The very hairs on your head are all numbered. "Cease to be afraid! You are of greater value than many sparrows. "Every one, then, who will confess me before men, I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven. "But whoever disowns me before men, I also will disown before my Father who is in heaven. "Do not suppose that I am come to bring peace on the earth; I am come not to bring peace, but a sword. "For I came to set "a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; "and a man's own household will be his enemies. "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; "and he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. "He who has saved his life shall lose it; and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it. "Whoever receives you is receiving me, and he who receives me is receiving Him who sent me. "Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and whoever receives a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward. "And whoever gives to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, because he is a disciple, I tell you in solemn truth, he shall not lose his reward.
and if any place does not receive you, or listen to you, as you go out of it shake off the dust under your feet, as a warning to them."
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After this the appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two before his face, into every city and place into which he himself intended to go. And he thus addressed them. "The harvest is abundant, but the harvesters are few. do you therefore pray the lord of the harvest to send forth harvesters into his harvest. "Go your way; behold, I am sending you forth like lambs among wolves. read more.
"Carry no purse, no bag, no shoes; and do not salute any one on your journey. "Into whatever you first enter, say, 'Peace be to this house!' "And if there be any son of peace there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not it shall return to you. "Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give. for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not go from house to house. "And whatever town you come to, and they receive you, eat whatever they put before you. "Heal the sick in that town and tell them, The kingdom of God draws near to you. "But whatever town you enter, and they do not receive you, Go out into the streets and cry, "'The very dust of your town which clings to your feet we wipe off as protest; but know this, that the kingdom of God is drawing near to you.' "For I tell you that it will be mare tolerable for Sodom in that day than for that town. "Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For had the mighty been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. "However, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. "And you Capernaum, shall you be exalted to heaven? No! you shall be brought down to Hades! "He who listens to you listens to me. and he who rejects you, rejects me; he who rejects me, rejects him who sent me."
"Carry no purse, no bag, no shoes; and do not salute any one on your journey. "Into whatever you first enter, say, 'Peace be to this house!' "And if there be any son of peace there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not it shall return to you. "Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give. for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not go from house to house. "And whatever town you come to, and they receive you, eat whatever they put before you. "Heal the sick in that town and tell them, The kingdom of God draws near to you. "But whatever town you enter, and they do not receive you, Go out into the streets and cry, "'The very dust of your town which clings to your feet we wipe off as protest; but know this, that the kingdom of God is drawing near to you.' "For I tell you that it will be mare tolerable for Sodom in that day than for that town. "Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For had the mighty been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. "However, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. "And you Capernaum, shall you be exalted to heaven? No! you shall be brought down to Hades! "He who listens to you listens to me. and he who rejects you, rejects me; he who rejects me, rejects him who sent me."
This charge then, I am laying upon you, Timothy, my son, according to the predictions formerly made concerning you. Fight the good fight in the spirit of these predictions, keeping fast hold of faith and a good conscience; which certain individuals have cast aside, and so made shipwreck of their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have given over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
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Do not reprimand an aged man, but continue pleading with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers, the older women as mothers, the younger women as sisters in all purity. Ever honor widows who are really widows; read more.
but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn to show their piety first toward their own household, and to make some return to their parents, for that is pleasing in God's sight. Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has fixed her hope on God, and devotes herself to supplications and prayers, day and night. But she who lives in wantonness is dead even while she still lives. Keep admonishing them regarding these things, so that they may be irreproachable. But if any one fails to provide for his own, and especially for his kindred, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. A widow, to be placed upon the list, must be not less than sixty years old, and one who has been the wife of but one husband. She must be well reputed for good works, as one who has brought up a family, received strangers with hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved the distressed, and diligently followed every good work. But exclude from the list the younger widows; for where they have become wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, and incur condemnation because they have broken their first troth. Moreover, they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and are not only idlers, but gossips also, and busybodies, repeating things they ought not. It is my wish, then, that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule their houses, and give no occasion to our adversary for railing. For already some widows have gone astray after Satan. Any believing woman, who has widowed relatives, ought to relieve them and not let the church be burdened with them; so that the church may relieve the really destitute widows. Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, You must not muzzle an ox when he is treading out the grain, and The worker is worth his wages. Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Rebuke offenders publicly, so that others also may take warning. I charge you solemnly in the presence of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the elect angels, that you observe these things without prejudice against any man, and do nothing out of partiality. Never ordain any one hastily, nor take part in the wrong-doing of others. Keep yourself pure.
but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn to show their piety first toward their own household, and to make some return to their parents, for that is pleasing in God's sight. Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has fixed her hope on God, and devotes herself to supplications and prayers, day and night. But she who lives in wantonness is dead even while she still lives. Keep admonishing them regarding these things, so that they may be irreproachable. But if any one fails to provide for his own, and especially for his kindred, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. A widow, to be placed upon the list, must be not less than sixty years old, and one who has been the wife of but one husband. She must be well reputed for good works, as one who has brought up a family, received strangers with hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved the distressed, and diligently followed every good work. But exclude from the list the younger widows; for where they have become wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, and incur condemnation because they have broken their first troth. Moreover, they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and are not only idlers, but gossips also, and busybodies, repeating things they ought not. It is my wish, then, that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule their houses, and give no occasion to our adversary for railing. For already some widows have gone astray after Satan. Any believing woman, who has widowed relatives, ought to relieve them and not let the church be burdened with them; so that the church may relieve the really destitute widows. Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, You must not muzzle an ox when he is treading out the grain, and The worker is worth his wages. Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Rebuke offenders publicly, so that others also may take warning. I charge you solemnly in the presence of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the elect angels, that you observe these things without prejudice against any man, and do nothing out of partiality. Never ordain any one hastily, nor take part in the wrong-doing of others. Keep yourself pure.
For this reason let me remind you to keep ever blazing that gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power and of love and of self-control. Do not then be ashamed to bear witness for our Lord, nor for me, his prisoner. Nay, join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. read more.
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not dealing with us according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. This has now been made manifest through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who has put an end to death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings. But I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have fully believed, and I am thoroughly persuaded that he is able to keep what I have given him until the Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not dealing with us according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. This has now been made manifest through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who has put an end to death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings. But I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have fully believed, and I am thoroughly persuaded that he is able to keep what I have given him until the Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
I adjure you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is about to judge the living and the dead??y his appearing and his kingdom, I adjure you??2 proclaim the message, be urgent in season and out of season; convince, rebuke, encourage, with never-failing patience and teaching. For a time will come when they will not listen to wholesome teaching, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will heap up for themselves teachers upon teachers to satisfy their own fancies. They will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to myths. read more.
But as for you, be always self-controlled, face hardships, do the work of a missionary, discharge all the duties of your ministry. I for my part am a libation already being poured in sacrifice; and the time of my unmooring is at hand. I have fought in the glorious contest; I have run the race; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the garland of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
But as for you, be always self-controlled, face hardships, do the work of a missionary, discharge all the duties of your ministry. I for my part am a libation already being poured in sacrifice; and the time of my unmooring is at hand. I have fought in the glorious contest; I have run the race; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the garland of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
Herald » Signified by the word "preacher,"
if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon an ungodly world;
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It was for this testimony that I myself was appointed a herald and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), to be a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
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Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.
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Leaders » Heal persecution of » Divinely appointed
So then, as I have this ministry because of God's mercy to me, I do not lose heart.
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It is of this gospel I became a minister according to the gift of the power of the grace of God, bestowed on me by the energy of his power.
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And this he will do if, indeed, you continue in the faith, firmly founded and stedfast, and never moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, and which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, that gospel of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
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It is he who has also made me sufficient as a minister of a new covenant; not of a letter but of a spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit makes alive.
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Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.
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And I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has thus enabled me, that he accounted me faithful, and appointed me to his service,
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And all this is from God, who through Christ reconciled me to himself, and gave me the ministry of reconciliation;
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Ministers » Divinely appointed
So then, as I have this ministry because of God's mercy to me, I do not lose heart.
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It is of this gospel I became a minister according to the gift of the power of the grace of God, bestowed on me by the energy of his power.
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And this he will do if, indeed, you continue in the faith, firmly founded and stedfast, and never moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, and which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, that gospel of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
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It is he who has also made me sufficient as a minister of a new covenant; not of a letter but of a spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit makes alive.
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Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.
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And I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has thus enabled me, that he accounted me faithful, and appointed me to his service,
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And all this is from God, who through Christ reconciled me to himself, and gave me the ministry of reconciliation;
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Paul » Called to be an apostle
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and Sosthenes, his brother.
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Paul, an apostle sent not from men nor by any man, but by Jesus Christ and by God the Father who raised him from the dead;
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But when God who had set me apart from my very birth, and had called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach his gospel among the Gentiles, without consulting a human being,
From Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for a gospel of God,
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus,
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
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Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ by command of God our Saviour and Jesus Christ our Hope,
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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, sent forth to proclaim the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus.
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It was for this testimony that I myself was appointed a herald and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), to be a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
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To Titus, my true son in a common faith, from Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and to the knowledge of the truth which goes with piety;
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For I am the least of the apostles, I who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
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but manifested in his own time; that word of his in proclaiming which I have been entrusted by command of God our Saviour.
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Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.
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"Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' read more.
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, "'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, "'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"'But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you my minister and my witness both of what you have already seen and of those things in which I will appear to you. "'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you to open their eyes "'so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, in order to receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? Even if I am not an apostle to others, to you at least I am; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Religious » Heal persecution of » Divinely appointed
So then, as I have this ministry because of God's mercy to me, I do not lose heart.
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It is of this gospel I became a minister according to the gift of the power of the grace of God, bestowed on me by the energy of his power.
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And this he will do if, indeed, you continue in the faith, firmly founded and stedfast, and never moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, and which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, that gospel of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
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It is he who has also made me sufficient as a minister of a new covenant; not of a letter but of a spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit makes alive.
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Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.
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And I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has thus enabled me, that he accounted me faithful, and appointed me to his service,
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And all this is from God, who through Christ reconciled me to himself, and gave me the ministry of reconciliation;
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