77 Bible Verses about Paul, Apostle To Gentiles

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,

And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him. He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you Lord?"read more.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said: "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do." Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking. Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named 'Straight,' and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul. He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight." "But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem! "In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name." "Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also; "for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name." And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus.

"But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. "I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me.read more.
"Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "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.'

"On this errand I was traveling to Damascus one day, armed with authority and commission of the chief priests, "when at noon, as I journeyed, O King, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and around those who journeyed with me. "We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew. "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.'read more.
"'Who are you, Lord?' I said." And the Lord said: 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. "'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?

and when they recognized the grace which had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, then thought to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and to me the right hand of fellowship. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews.

"'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"

For I will not dare to speak of any thing except that which Christ has done through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, through the might of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit. So that beginning at Jerusalem and its environs, I have proclaimed without reserve the gospel of Christ, even as far as Illyricum. My ambition has been, however, to preach the gospel where Christ's name was not already known, so that I might not build upon another man's foundation.read more.
But, as Scripture says, He shall be seen by those to whom no news about him ever came, And those who have never heard of him shall understand.

I, however, will not indulge in undue boasting, but will confine it within the limits of the sphere to which God has assigned me?? sphere which reaches even to you. For I am not overstepping the limits of my authority, as though I reached you not; since I have already come even as far as Corinth to proclaim the gospel of Christ. I am not "boasting beyond measure in the labors of others," but it is my hope that, as your faith goes on increasing among yourselves, by the enlargement of my appointed limits,read more.
I may carry the gospel to countries beyond you; and not be boasting of work made ready to my hand within another man's limit.

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. To me, who am less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, that I should proclaim among the Gentiles the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ; and should make all men see the new dispensation of that secret purpose, hidden from eternity in the God who founded the universe,

Proclaiming the gospel gives me no ground of boasting; for necessity is laid upon me; woe is me if I preach not the gospel.

To Greeks and to barbarians, to the cultured and to the uncultured, I have a debt to discharge. So much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

So, because I know the fear of God, I "persuade men." What I am is manifest to God, and I hope manifest also to your conscience. I am not "commending myself to you again," but I am giving you an occasion of boasting on my behalf, so that you may have an answer ready for those who boast in externals, and not in the heart. For if I was "beside myself," it was to God; of if I am now "of sound mind," it is for you.read more.
For the love of Christ overmasters me; because I thus judge that if One has died for all, then all have died;

Now was I seeking glory from men, either yourselves or others, although I might have exercised authority as Christ's apostle. On the contrary I showed myself among you as gentle as a mother, when she tenderly nurses her own children. So in my fond affection it was my joy to give you, not only the gospel of God, but my very life also, because you had become dear to me.read more.
You recall, brothers, my labor and toil; how, while working at my trade day and night, so as not to become a burden to any of you, I proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

This is my reply to my critics. Have I no right to claim food and drink? Have I no right to take a believing wife with me on my journey, as the rest of the apostles and the Lord's brothers and Peter do?read more.
Are we the only ones, Barnabas and I, who have no right to give up manual labor? What soldier ever serves at his own expense? What farmer ever plants a vineyard and his flock and does not taste the milk? Am I saying this on human authority only, or does not the Law also say the same? Yea, in the Law of Moses it is written, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while he is treading out the grain. Is it the oxen that God is thinking about, or is it really said for our sakes? It was written for us; because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of getting a share of the crop. If I have sown for you the seeds of spiritual good, is it a great thing if I reap from you temporal goods? If others share this authority over you, do not I far more? Yet I have not availed myself of it, but am patiently enduring; so that I may not in any way hinder the progress of Christ's gospel. You know, do you not, that those who minister in the temple, and those who serve at the altar, get their portion of the sacrifices? Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. But for my part, I have never availed myself of any of these rights. I do not say this to bring it about in my own case. I would rather die than let any one make void this boast of mine. Proclaiming the gospel gives me no ground of boasting; for necessity is laid upon me; woe is me if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this of my own accord, I have my pay; but if unwilling, I have at least discharged my stewardship. What then is my wage? This, that I can make the gospel free where I carry it; and that I can refrain from using my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

In what respect, then, were you inferior to the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

It is not myself that I proclaim, but Christ Jesus as Master, and myself that I proclaim, and myself your slave for Jesus' sake.

I am speaking the truth in Christ, it is no lie. My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have deep sorrow and incessant anguish in my heart. For I was on the point of praying to be accursed from Christ on behalf of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Though free from all men, I make myself the slave of all, that I may win the more. To the Jews I am become like a Jew, that I may win Jews; to those under the Law, like one under the Law, though I am not under the Law, myself; to those outside the Law, as one outside the Law, to win those outside the Law (though I am not outside the law of God, but inside the law of Christ).read more.
I am become weak to the weak, to win the weak. I am become all these things to all men that, by any and by all means, I may save some. And I am doing it all for the gospel's sake, that I may become a copartner in it.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has turned out rather to help than to the hindrance of the gospel. Throughout the whole Praetorian guard and among all the others it has become plain that these chains of mine are for the sake of Christ; and most of the brothers in the Lord, made confident in the Lord through my imprisonment, are much emboldened to speak God's message with free and fearless confidence.read more.
Some indeed are preaching Christ out of envy and contentiousness, but others from good-will. but the former preach Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, because they think they are adding bitterness to my bonds. These latter out of their love, because they know that I am set here for the defense of the gospel; What of it? In any case, whether in pretence or in honest truth, Christ is still preached, and in that I am rejoicing, yes, and will rejoice. For I know that these things will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and a rich supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. So it is my keen expectation and hope that I shall never feel ashamed, but that with fearless courage, now as hither to, Christ may be magnified in my body, whether by my life or by my death. For, with me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But now, if life in the flesh, if this be the fruit of my toil??hat to choose I do not know, but am in a quandary between the two. I am perplexed. I have a strong desire to break camp and to be with Christ, which is far better; but for your sakes it is more necessary that I should still live on in the body. And because I am convinced of this, I know that I shall live, and go on working side by side with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that you may find me fresh cause of exultation in Christ Jesus, because of my presence among you once more.

It was for this reason, lest I should be over-elated, that there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be over-elated. Concerning this, three times over I supplicated the Lord that it might leave me; but he has answered me. "My grace is sufficient for you; it is in weakness that my power is perfected."read more.
Most gladly therefore will I boast rather of my weakness, that over me like a tent may be pitched the power of Christ. That is why I rejoice in weakness, in ill-treatment, in troubles, in persecutions and calamities for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

But I hold this treasure in an earthen vessel, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God, and not from myself. On every side I am hard pressed, yet not hemmed in; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.read more.
Wherever I go, I am always carrying about in my body the dying of Jesus, in order that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in this body of mine.

I am giving no one a cause of stumbling in order that my ministry may not be discredited; but in every way I am striving to commend myself as God's minister by stedfast endurance, by afflictions, by troubles, by distresses, by floggings, by imprisonment; in riots, in labors, in sleepless watching, in hunger and thirst;read more.
with purity, understanding, patience, and kindness; by the Holy Spirit, by love sincere, by a true teaching and an energy divine; by the weapons of righteousness, for attack or for defense, amid honor or dishonor, amid evil report and good report; as a deceiver and yet true; as unknown and yet well known; as at death's door, yet, strange to tell, I live on; as chastened, but not killed; as grieved, but always glad; as poor, but making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

I say that I was weak, and yet for whatever reason any one is bold (I speak in mere folly) I too am bold. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they descendants of Israel? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as though I were beside myself), such, far, more, am I; in labors more abundant, in imprisonments also more abundant, in floggings beyond measure, in deaths often.read more.
Five times at the hands of the Jews, I have received one short of forty lashes. Three times I have been scourged by the Romans; once I have been stoned; three times have I been shipwrecked; a night and a day have I been adrift in the open sea. My journeys have been many; in perils of rivers, in perils of bandits; in perils from my countrymen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness; in perils on the sea, in perils among false brothers; in toil and weariness, often in sleepless watching, in hunger and thirst, often without anything to eat; in cold and in nakedness. Not to mention other things, there is the crowding pressure of each day upon me, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, but I burn with indignation?

I am become a fool??ou have forced me to; for you yourselves ought to have been my vindicators. In no respect am I inferior to these superapostolic apostles, even though I am nothing. In truth the signs of the true apostle were wrought among you in all patience by signs and marvels and powers.

They had John Mark as an assistant; and after going through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain Jewish sorcerer and false prophet, named Bar-Jesus, who belonged to the suite of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas, "the sorcerer," for that is the translation of his name, opposed them, and tried to divert the proconsul from the faith.read more.
So Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily at him, and said: "O full of all craft and cunning, you son of the devil! You enemy of all goodness! Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? "The Lord's hand is now upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." Instantly there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and groping about, he sought some one to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed. He was astounded at the teaching of the Lord.

God also wrought extraordinary miracles by the hand of Paul; so much so, that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick; and their diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.

For I will not dare to speak of any thing except that which Christ has done through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, through the might of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit. So that beginning at Jerusalem and its environs, I have proclaimed without reserve the gospel of Christ, even as far as Illyricum.

My message and my preaching were not in the persuasive language of philosophy, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; in order that your faith should rest, not on human philosophy, but on the power of God.

For I know, O brothers, beloved of God, that he has chosen you; for my gospel did not come to you in word only, but in power also, and in the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. For you know also the manner in which I behaved myself among you for your sakes.

I long to know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, by sharing the likeness of his death; if by any means I might attain to the resurrection from the dead!

Therefore I am always of good courage, because I well know that while I am at home in the body, I am in banishment from the Lord, for I am walking by faith, not by sight. So I have good courage, and am well pleased rather, to be in banishment from the body and to be at home with the Lord.read more.
And for this reason I also make it home with the Lord. For we must all be made manifest, in our true characters, before the Judgment-seat of Christ; so that each one may receive according to that which he has done in his body, whether good or evil.

So it is my keen expectation and hope that I shall never feel ashamed, but that with fearless courage, now as hither to, Christ may be magnified in my body, whether by my life or by my death. For, with me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But now, if life in the flesh, if this be the fruit of my toil??hat to choose I do not know,read more.
but am in a quandary between the two. I am perplexed. I have a strong desire to break camp and to be with Christ, which is far better; but for your sakes it is more necessary that I should still live on in the body.

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.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

Now we who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to seek our own pleasure. Let each one of us try to make his neighbor happy for his good, unto his upbuilding. For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of those who were reproaching thee fell upon me.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though from the beginning he had the nature of God, did not reckon equality with God something to be forcibly retained, but emptied himself of his glory by taking the form of a slave, when he was born in the likeness of men.read more.
More than this, after he had shone himself in human form, he humbled himself in his obedience even to death; yes, and to death on a cross. And for this God highly exalted him, and graciously bestowed upon him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth should bend, and every tongue confess that "Jesus Christ is Lord," to the glory of God the Father.

Be imitators of me, as I am an imitator of Christ.

I am not writing this to shame you, but to admonish you, as my beloved children. For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ Jesus, you can have but one father. For in Christ Jesus I begot you through the gospel. I beg you then to imitate my example.read more.
With this in mind I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ; the manner in which I ever teach everywhere in every church.

I do not say that I have already won, or am already perfect, but I am passing on to lay hold on the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me. Brothers, I do not regard myself to have yet laid hold of it; but this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind me, but straining every nerve toward that which lies ahead, I am ever pressing on toward the goal, for the prize of God's heavenward call in Christ Jesus.read more.
Let us all then, who are mature Christians, strive for this! God will make this clear to any of you who are striving for other goals; if only we guide our steps by the standards we have already attained. Brothers, be comrades in imitating me, and study those whose life and walk is according to the pattern I have set you.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if virtue is anything, if honor is anything, be always thinking about these. Put in practise also what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me; and the God of peace shall be with you.

I summon you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who leads an idle and disorderly life, which is not according to the rule you received from me. For you know well how you must imitate me. For I did not lead an idle or disorderly life among you; I did not eat my food as a gift from any man, but in toil and travail, night and day, I worked, so that I might not be a burden to any of you.read more.
Not that I have no right to such support; it was simply to give you an example for you to imitate.

I am now rejoicing in my sufferings on your behalf; and I am filling up in my own body what is yet lacking of the sufferings of Christ in behalf of the church, his Body.

For just as I have more than my share in the sufferings of the Christ, so also through the Christ I have more than my share of comfort. If I am afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if I am receiving comfort, it is for your comfort?? comfort produced within you by your patient fortitude, under the same sufferings which I also am enduring. My hope for you is firm; for I know that as you are comrades in my sufferings, so also are you comrades in my comfort.read more.
Now, brothers, I want you to know about the troubles which befell me in Asia; how I was burdened altogether beyond my strength, so that I renounced all hope even of life itself. Indeed, I had in myself, and still have, the sentence of death, in order that I might not rely on myself, but on God who raises the dead to life.

But I hold this treasure in an earthen vessel, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God, and not from myself. On every side I am hard pressed, yet not hemmed in; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.read more.
Wherever I go, I am always carrying about in my body the dying of Jesus, in order that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in this body of mine. For, alive though I am, I am always given over to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may shine forth in my dying flesh. So while death is working in me, life is working in you.

From this time forth let no one trouble me, for I bear branded in my body the marks of Jesus, my Master.

For this is my proud boast, the testimony of my conscience, that it was in holiness and with pure motives before God, not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God, that I have conducted myself in the world, and above all in my relations with you.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church to come to him; and when they arrived, he said to them. "You yourselves know quite well, how I lived among you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, "serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and amid trials that befell me through the plots of the Jews.read more.
"You know that I never shrank from declaring to you anything that was profitable, nor from teaching you publicity and in your homes, testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am; for I am not like most, trafficking in the word of God, but rather from a sincere heart, like a man of God, I speak in Christ, in the very presence of God.

So then, as I have this ministry because of God's mercy to me, I do not lose heart. I have renounced the hidden things of shame, not spending my life in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God; but setting forth the truth openly, I strive to commend myself to every man's conscience as in the sight of God.

You are witnesses??nd so is God??ow pure and just and blameless was my behavior among you believers. You know how I was wont to treat each of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and imploring and adjuring each one among you to lead a life worthy of the God who called you into his own kingdom and glory.

God is my witness how I yearn for you all in the tenderness of Christ Jesus.

Is it a sin, forsooth, that I humbled myself that you might be exalted, in preaching the gospel to you free of cost? Other churches I spoiled, and took their wages to do you service. Even when I lacked the actual necessities of life while I was with you, I was a burden to no one; for whatever I lacked, the brothers from Macedonia supplied, when they came. So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.read more.
As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine shall not be stopped within the boundaries of Greece! And why? Because I love you not? God knows I do.

And now for the third time I am preparing to visit you. I will not be a burden to you, for I am not seeking yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. For my part, I will most gladly spend, yea, and will myself be spent, for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I to be loved the less?

Meanwhile, may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as I do toward you.

I am continually thanking God for all, always making mention of you in my prayers,

First I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout all the world. God is my witness, to whom I render holy service in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I am ever making mention of you in my prayers, always entreating him that now at length, if such be his will, the way may be made clear for me to come to you.

For this reason I also, from the time when I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and your love to all the saints, do not cease to praise God for you, whenever I mention you in my prayers. I am praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, through an intimate knowledge of himself;read more.
and that the eyes of your heart may be flooded with light so that you may understand what is the hope of his calling, what the wealth of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what the surpassing greatness of his might in us who believe, as seen in the energy of that resistless might

To this end I am making my constant prayer for you, beseeching God to make you worthy of your calling, and to fulfil mightily every desire of goodness and effort of faith; so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in him, according to the grace of our God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brothers, pray for me.

Brothers, I beseech you, by Jesus Christ our Lord, and by the love which the Spirit gives, to help me in my struggle by your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Judea; that my mission to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the saints; and that I may come to you in joy, by the will of God, and find rest together with you.

and for me, that utterance may be given me to open my mouth boldly, and to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador, and in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it boldly as I ought to speak.

On Christ's behalf, then, I come as ambassador. It is as though God was entreating you, through me, on Christ's behalf I beg you to be reconciled to God.

My ambition has been, however, to preach the gospel where Christ's name was not already known, so that I might not build upon another man's foundation.

According to the grace of God vouchsafed me, like a skillful master-builder, I have laid a foundation; but another will be building upon it. Let each take heed how he builds on it.

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Just ministers through whom you have believed, and each doing the work that the Lord gave him. I planted, Apollos watered, but God made the seed grow. So neither is he who planted anything, nor he who watered, but God alone, who is making the seed grow.read more.
Now, though he who plants and he who waters are one, each will receive his own reward, according to his own service. For we are God's fellow workers; and you are God's field, you are God's building.

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ Jesus, you can have but one father. For in Christ Jesus I begot you through the gospel.

You know how I was wont to treat each of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and imploring and adjuring each one among you to lead a life worthy of the God who called you into his own kingdom and glory.

O my little children, of whom I travail again in birth until Christ be formed within you!

Now was I seeking glory from men, either yourselves or others, although I might have exercised authority as Christ's apostle. On the contrary I showed myself among you as gentle as a mother, when she tenderly nurses her own children.

But it seems to me that God has exhibited us apostles, last of all, like men doomed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the whole world, both to men and to angels.

But thanks be to God, who in every place is leading me in the train of Christ's triumph, and is making manifest through me the knowledge of him, an odor of incense everywhere. I am Christ's fragrance upwafted unto God, among those who are being saved and those who are perishing; to these latter an odor of death to death, to the former, of life to life. For such service as this, who is sufficient?

From Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for a gospel of God,

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, and to the elders and deacons.

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;

Do you then, my son, strengthen you heart in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. The teachings which you have heard from me, attested by many witnesses, deliver into the keeping of faithful men, who in their turn will be able to teach others also.

Hold fast the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Guard the glorious trust which has been committed to you by the aid of the Holy Spirit who makes his home in us.