2 Corinthians 10 Cross References - Williams

¹ Now I appeal to you in person, by the gentleness and fairness of Christ, I, Paul, who am so "condescending when face to face with you, but so courageous toward you when far away!" ² I beg you not to make me too courageous in that confidence in which I think to take a daring stand against some people who try to think that I am acting from the lowest human motives. ³ For though I do still live the life of a physical human creature, I am not waging this war in accordance with physical human standards, ⁴ for the weapons used in my warfare are not mere human ones, but through my God are mighty for demolishing fortresses. ⁵ For I am demolishing arguments and every barrier that is raised against the genuine knowledge of God, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, ⁶ and am prepared to punish any disobedience, when your obedience is made complete. ⁷ You look at me and measure me by outward appearances. If anyone is confident in himself that he belongs to Christ, let him have another thought about himself, that just as he belongs to Christ, so do I. ⁸ For if I do boast a little too much about my authority, which the Lord gave me for building you up and not for tearing you down, I shall never have to blush for doing so. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be frightening you with my letters. ¹⁰ For they say, "His letters are impressive and forceful, but his physical personality is unimpressive, and his delivery is perfectly contemptible." ¹¹ Such people should consider this: When I arrive for action I shall do exactly what I said I would in my letters when far away. ¹² Indeed, I do not dare to count or compare myself with certain men who are always recommending themselves. But they do not show good sense, because they do continue measuring themselves with one another and comparing themselves with one another. ¹³ But I shall never go too far in my boasting; no, I shall stay within the limits of the sphere which God apportioned me, so as to reach even you. ¹⁴ For I am not overstepping my authority as though I should not reach you, for I was the very first to reach as far as you with the good news of Christ. ¹⁵ I am not going too far in my boasting, and actually boasting of other men's labors, but I am cherishing the hope that your faith may so continue to grow that through you my work within my sphere may be so enlarged as to run over, ¹⁶ so that I can preach the good news in the regions beyond you, without boasting in another man's sphere of work already done by him. ¹⁷ "But the man who boasts must boast in the Lord. ¹⁸ For it is not the man who keeps on recommending himself who is really approved, but it is the man whom the Lord recommends.

²⁹ Put on my yoke, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,

²⁹ Put on my yoke, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, ³⁰ for the yoke I offer is easy to wear, and the load I ask is light to bear

¹⁹ He will not debate, nor challenge anyone; His voice will no one hear in the streets; ²⁰ A broken reed He will not break off; a flickering wick He will not put out, until He brings His judgment to victory.

¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, immorality, stealing, false witnessing, irreverent speech.

⁵ "Tell the daughter of Zion, your King is now coming to you, gentle, and riding on a donkey, yea, on the colt of a beast of burden."

⁵ They do what they do to attract people's attention. They wear on their coats Scripture texts in big letters, and they wear large tassels,

¹⁵ He gave one five thousand dollars, another two thousand, another one thousand, to each in accordance with his ability. Then he started on his long journey.

²⁰ The man who had received the five thousand dollars came up and brought him five thousand more, saying, 'You turned over to me five thousand dollars; here are five thousand more I made.' ²¹ His master said to him 'Well done, my good and faithful slave, you have been faithful in the use of a small amount; I will put you in charge of a larger one. Come, share your master's joy!' ²² Then the man who had received the two thousand came up and said, 'Master, you turned over to me two thousand dollars; here are two thousand more I made.' ²³ His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful slave, you have been faithful in the use of a small amount; I will put you in charge of a larger one. Come, share your master's joy!'

¹ The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.

⁵¹ He has done mighty deeds with His arm. He has scattered those that are proud in the purpose of their hearts.

¹⁵ Then He said to them, "You are the men who exhibit your uprightness before the public, but God knows your hearts. For what stands high in the sight of men is detestable in the sight of God.

¹⁰ "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax-collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and said this self-centered prayer, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, robbers, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector.

¹¹ The Pharisee stood and said this self-centered prayer, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, robbers, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. ¹² I fast two days in the week. I pay a tithe on everything I get.' ¹³ But the tax-collector stood at a distance and would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but continued to beat his breast, and say, 'O God, have mercy on me, a sinner!' ¹⁴ I tell you, this man, and not the other, went back home forgiven and accepted by God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

⁴² but I am sure that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ I have come in my Father's name, but you refuse to accept me. If anyone else should come in his own name, you would accept him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, you who are always accepting honor from one another, but never seek the honor that comes from the one God?

²⁴ Stop judging superficially; you must judge fairly."

⁴³ for they loved the praise of men instead of the praise of God.

²² "Fellow Israelites, listen to what I say. Jesus of Nazareth, as you yourselves well know, a man accredited to you by God through mighty deeds and wonders and wonder-works which God performed through Him right here among you,

²⁵ who spoke thus through the Holy Spirit by the lips of our forefather David, your servant: 'Why did the heathen rage, and the peoples make vain designs? ²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand. The rulers met against the Lord, and too, against His Christ.'

³ And Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan so completely possessed your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourselves a part of the money received for the land? ⁴ As long as it was unsold, was it not yours, and when it was sold, was not the money at your disposal? How could you have the heart to do such a thing! You did not lie to men but to God!" ⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell dead, and a strange awe seized everybody who heard it. ⁶ The younger men, however, got up, wrapped up his body, carried it out, and buried it. ⁷ About three hours later, his wife came in, without having learned what had taken place. ⁸ Peter said to her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for such and such a sum?" She answered, "Yes, that is it." ⁹ Peter said to her, "How could both of you agree in such a way to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door; they will carry you out, too." ¹⁰ She instantly fell dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ So a strange awe seized the whole church and everybody who heard it.

¹³ Not one of those on the outside dared to associate with them, although the people continued to hold them in high regard,

²² Moses was educated in all the culture of the Egyptians, and was a mighty man in speech and action.

³² Now this was the passage of Scripture that he was reading: "Like a sheep He was led away to be slaughtered, and just as a lamb is dumb before its shearer, so He does not open His mouth.

⁴ He dropped to the ground; then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" ⁵ He asked, "Who are you, sir?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ⁶ But get up and go into the city, and there it will be told you what you ought to do."

¹⁰ and said, "You expert in every form of deception and sleight-of-hand, you son of the devil, you enemy of all that is right, will you never stop trying to make the Lord's straight paths crooked! ¹¹ Right now the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be so blind that you cannot see the sun for a time." And suddenly a dark mist fell upon him, and he kept groping about begging people to lead him by the hand.

²¹ After these events had been brought to a close, Paul under the guidance of the Spirit decided to pass through Macedonia and Greece on his way to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have gone there I must see Rome too."

²⁴ But now I count as nothing the sacrifice of my life, if only I can finish my race and render the service entrusted to me by the Lord Jesus, of faithfully telling the good news of God's favor.

⁵ through whom we have received God's favor and a commission as an apostle in His name to urge upon all the heathen obedience inspired by faith,

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the good news, for it is God's power for the salvation of everyone who trusts, of the Jew first and then of the Greek.

²¹ because, although they once knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give Him thanks, but became silly in their senseless speculations, and so their insensible hearts have been shrouded in darkness.

¹⁶ on the day when God through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the good news I preach, will judge the secrets people have kept.

²⁸ For the real Jew is not the man who is a Jew on the outside, and real circumcision is not outward physical circumcision. ²⁹ The real Jew is the man who is a Jew on the inside, and real circumcision is heart-circumcision, a spiritual, not a literal, affair. This man's praise originates, not with men, but with God.

²⁹ The real Jew is the man who is a Jew on the inside, and real circumcision is heart-circumcision, a spiritual, not a literal, affair. This man's praise originates, not with men, but with God.

¹¹ And not only that, but this too: we shall continue exulting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained our reconciliation.

¹³ and you must stop offering to sin the parts of your bodies as instruments for wrongdoing, but you must once for all offer yourselves to God as persons raised from the dead to live on perpetually, and once for all offer the parts of your bodies to God as instruments for right-doing.

²³ but I see another power operating in my lower nature in conflict with the power operated by my reason, which makes me a prisoner to the power of sin which is operating in my lower nature.

¹ So then there is no condemnation at all for those who are in union with Christ Jesus.

⁵ For people who live by the standard set by their lower nature are usually thinking the things suggested by that nature, and people who live by the standard set by the Spirit are usually thinking the things suggested by the Spirit.

¹³ for if you live by such a standard, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you put a stop to the doings of your lower nature, you will live.

¹⁸ But may I ask, They had no chance to hear, did they? Yes, indeed: "All over the earth their voices have gone, to the ends of the world their words."

²⁰ Then Isaiah was bold enough to say: "I have been found by a people who were not searching for me; I have made known myself to people who were not asking to know me."

¹ I beg you, therefore, brothers, through these mercies God has shown you, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies as a living sacrifice, devoted and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

³ Now through the unmerited favor God has shown me I would say to every one of you not to estimate himself above his real value, but to make a sober rating of himself, in accordance with the degree of faith which God has apportioned to him.

⁶ As we have gifts that differ in accordance with the favor God has shown us, if it is that of preaching, let it be done in proportion to our faith;

¹² The night has almost passed; the day is at hand. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.

¹⁸ whoever in this way continues serving Christ is well-pleasing to God and approved by men.

¹⁵ And yet, to refresh your memories, I have written you rather freely on some details, because of the unmerited favor shown me by God

¹⁸ For I would venture to mention only what Christ has accomplished through me in bringing the heathen peoples to obedience, by word and by work,

¹⁸ For I would venture to mention only what Christ has accomplished through me in bringing the heathen peoples to obedience, by word and by work, ¹⁹ by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit. So I have completed the telling of the good news of Christ all the way from Jerusalem around to Illyricum. ²⁰ In this matter it has ever been my ambition to tell the good news where Christ's name had never been mentioned, so as not to build upon foundations laid by other men,

²⁴ when I make my trip to Spain, I certainly hope to see you on my way there and to be helped forward by you, after I have enjoyed being with you awhile. ²⁵ But just now I am on my way to Jerusalem to help God's people. ²⁶ For Macedonia and Greece were delighted to make a contribution to the poor among God's people in Jerusalem. ²⁷ They certainly were delighted to do it, and they really are under obligation to them, for if the heathen peoples have shared in their spiritual blessings, they ought to serve them in material blessings. ²⁸ So, after I have finished this matter and made sure of the results of this contribution for them, I shall come by you on my way to Spain.

¹⁰ Remember me to Apelles, that most venerated Christian. Remember me to the members of Aristobulus' family.

²⁵ To Him who can make you strong in accordance with the good news I bring and in accordance with the message preached about Jesus Christ, in accordance with the uncovering of the secret which for ages past had not been told, ²⁶ but now has been fully brought to light by means of the prophetic Scriptures, and in accordance with the command of the eternal God has been made known to all the heathen, to win them to obedience inspired by faith --

¹² I mean this, that one of you says, "I belong to Paul's party," another, "And I belong to Apollos' party," another, "And I belong to Cephas' party," another, "And I belong to Christ's party."

¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the good news -- but not by means of wisdom and rhetoric, so that the cross of Christ may not be emptied of its power. ¹⁸ For the message of the cross is nonsense to those who are in the process of being destroyed, but it is the power of God to those who are in the process of being saved. ¹⁹ For the Scripture says: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the learning of the learned."

¹⁹ For the Scripture says: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the learning of the learned." ²⁰ So where is your philosopher? Where is your man of letters? Where is your logician of this age? Has not God shown up the nonsense of the world's wisdom? ²¹ For since in accordance with the wisdom of God the world had never in reality, by means of its wisdom, come to know God, God chose through the nonsense of the message proclaimed, to save the people who put their faith in Him.

²¹ For since in accordance with the wisdom of God the world had never in reality, by means of its wisdom, come to know God, God chose through the nonsense of the message proclaimed, to save the people who put their faith in Him. ²² While Jews are demanding spectacular signs and Greeks are searching for philosophy, ²³ we are preaching the Christ who was crucified -- a message that is a trap-stick to the Jews and nonsense to the Greeks, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks alike, the Christ who is God's power and God's wisdom.

²⁷ Just the opposite: God chose what the world calls foolish to put the wise to shame, what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame, ²⁸ what the world calls of low degree, yea, what it counts as nothing and what it thinks does not exist, God chose to put a stop to what it thinks exists, ²⁹ so that no mortal man might ever boast in the presence of God.

²⁹ so that no mortal man might ever boast in the presence of God.

³¹ so that, as the Scripture says, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

¹ Now when I came to you, brothers, I did not come and tell you God's uncovered secret in rhetorical language or human philosophy, ² for I determined, while among you, to be unconscious of everything but Jesus Christ and Him as crucified. ³ Yes, as for myself, it was in weakness and fear and great trembling that I came to you,

³ Yes, as for myself, it was in weakness and fear and great trembling that I came to you, ⁴ and my language and the message I preached were not adorned with pleasing words of worldly wisdom, but they were attended with proof and power given by the Spirit, ⁵ so that your faith might not be in men's wisdom, but in God's power.

¹⁰ For God unveiled them to us through His Spirit, for the Spirit by searching discovers everything, even the deepest truths about God.

⁵ Then what is Apollos? Or what is Paul? Mere servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord gave each of us his task. ⁶ I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but it was God who kept the plants growing.

¹⁰ As a skilled architect, in accordance with God's unmerited favor given to me, I laid a foundation, and now another is building upon it. But every builder must be careful how he builds upon it;

¹⁹ For this world's wisdom is mere nonsense to God. For the Scripture says, "He who catches the wise with their own cunning,"

²³ Yes, you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

⁵ So you must stop forming any premature judgments, but wait until the Lord shall come again, for He will bring to light the secrets hidden in the dark and will make known the motives of men's hearts, and the proper praise will be awarded each of us.

¹⁰ For we have become a spectacle to the universe, to angels as well as men. For Christ's sake we are held as fools, while you through union with Christ are men of wisdom. We are weak; you are strong. You are held in honor; we in dishonor.

¹⁵ For though you have ten thousand teachers in the Christian life, you certainly could not have many fathers. For it was I myself who became your father through your union with Christ Jesus, which resulted from my telling you the good news.

¹⁸ But some of you have become conceited over the thought that I am not coming to see you. ¹⁹ But I am coming, and coming soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out, not only what those conceited fellows say but what they can do,

¹⁹ But I am coming, and coming soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out, not only what those conceited fellows say but what they can do, ²⁰ for the kingdom of God does not consist in talking but in doing.

²⁰ for the kingdom of God does not consist in talking but in doing. ²¹ Which do you prefer? My coming to you with a club, or in a gentle, loving spirit?

²¹ Which do you prefer? My coming to you with a club, or in a gentle, loving spirit?

³ For my part, though I have been absent from you in person, I have been present with you in spirit, and so as really present, by the authority of our Lord Jesus, I have already passed judgment upon the man who has done this -- ⁴ for when you met I too met with you in spirit by the power of our Lord Jesus -- ⁵ to turn such a man as this over to Satan for the destruction of his lower nature, in order that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

¹ Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the product of my work for the Lord?

¹ Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the product of my work for the Lord? ² If I am not an apostle to other people, I certainly am one to you, for you yourselves, by virtue of your union with the Lord, are the proof of my apostleship.

⁷ What soldier ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its grapes? Who shepherds a flock and does not drink any of the milk the flock produces?

¹⁹ Yes, indeed, there must be parties among you, in order that people of approved fitness may come to the front among you.

¹¹ But the one and same Spirit accomplishes all these achievements, and apportions power to each of us as He chooses.

³⁷ If anyone claims to have the prophetic spirit, or any other spiritual gift, let him recognize that what I now am writing is the Lord's command.

²³ But each in his proper order; Christ first, then at His coming those who belong to Christ.

²¹ The final greeting is mine -- Paul's -- with my own hand. ²² A curse upon anyone who does not love the Lord! Our Lord is coming.

²⁴ Not that we are trying to lord it over your faith, but we are workers with you to promote your joy, for in your faith you are standing firm.

⁹ For this is why I wrote you, to see if you would stand the test, to see if you would be obedient in everything.

¹² When I went to Troas to preach the good news of Christ, although I had an opportunity in the service of the Lord,

¹ Am I beginning to recommend myself again? I do not, like some people, do I, need letters of recommendation to you or from you?

¹ Am I beginning to recommend myself again? I do not, like some people, do I, need letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You are my letter of recommendation, written on my heart, read and understood by everybody, ³ for you are always showing that you are a letter of Christ, produced by my service, written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

⁵ Not that I am myself qualified to consider anything as coming from me myself. No, my qualification comes from God, for

¹² So, as I have such a hope, I speak with the greatest boldness,

⁴ In their case, the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbelievers, to keep the glorious light of the good news of Christ, who is the likeness of God, from dawning upon them.

⁷ But I am keeping this jewel in an earthen jar, to prove that its surpassing power is God's, not mine.

¹² I am not trying to recommend myself to you again. I am giving you ground for speaking well of me, that you may have something to say to those who are constantly prating about external privileges and not concerned about the state of the heart.

²⁰ So I am an envoy to represent Christ, because it is through me that God is making His appeal. As one representing Christ I beg you, be reconciled to God.

¹ As God's fellow-worker I beg you too not to accept God's favor and throw it away.

⁴ On the contrary, I am trying in everything to prove to people that I am a true servant of God: by my tremendous endurance in sorrows, distresses, difficulties;

⁷ my message of truth, and the power of God; with the weapons of right-doing in my right hand and my left;

⁴ I have the greatest confidence in you; I speak most highly of you. I am fully comforted; in the face of all my sorrow my cup is running over with joy.

¹⁴ Indeed, if I have been doing some boasting of you to him, I have never been ashamed of it; but just as all I said to him was true, so now my boasting before Titus has been shown to be true. ¹⁵ Yes, his heart is running over toward you, as he continues recalling how you all obeyed him, with what reverence and trembling you welcomed him.

¹³ For through the test you get by doing this service you will continue praising God for your fidelity to your confession of the good news of Christ, and for the liberality of your contributions to them and all others;

¹ Now I appeal to you in person, by the gentleness and fairness of Christ, I, Paul, who am so "condescending when face to face with you, but so courageous toward you when far away!" ² I beg you not to make me too courageous in that confidence in which I think to take a daring stand against some people who try to think that I am acting from the lowest human motives.

⁴ for the weapons used in my warfare are not mere human ones, but through my God are mighty for demolishing fortresses.

⁷ You look at me and measure me by outward appearances. If anyone is confident in himself that he belongs to Christ, let him have another thought about himself, that just as he belongs to Christ, so do I.

¹⁰ For they say, "His letters are impressive and forceful, but his physical personality is unimpressive, and his delivery is perfectly contemptible."

¹² Indeed, I do not dare to count or compare myself with certain men who are always recommending themselves. But they do not show good sense, because they do continue measuring themselves with one another and comparing themselves with one another. ¹³ But I shall never go too far in my boasting; no, I shall stay within the limits of the sphere which God apportioned me, so as to reach even you. ¹⁴ For I am not overstepping my authority as though I should not reach you, for I was the very first to reach as far as you with the good news of Christ. ¹⁵ I am not going too far in my boasting, and actually boasting of other men's labors, but I am cherishing the hope that your faith may so continue to grow that through you my work within my sphere may be so enlarged as to run over,

¹⁸ For it is not the man who keeps on recommending himself who is really approved, but it is the man whom the Lord recommends.

⁴ For if anybody comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one I preached, or you receive another spirit different from the one you did receive or a glad message different from the one you did accept, you listen to it all right!

⁶ Although I am untrained as an orator, yet I am not so in the field of knowledge. Surely, I have always made that perfectly clear to you.

⁹ and when I was with you and needed money, I never burdened a single one of you for a cent, for the brothers came from Macedonia and supplied what I needed. And so I kept myself, as I shall always do, from being a burden to you in any way. ¹⁰ But the truth of Christ in me, this boasting of mine shall never be stopped in the boundaries of Greece. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do. ¹² And I shall keep on doing as I am, in order to cut the ground from under the feet of those who want an opportunity to show themselves on a level with me in the matters of which they boast. ¹³ For such men are sham apostles, dishonest workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

¹⁸ Since many boast in accordance with their human nature, I will do it too.

²¹ I am ashamed to say that I was, as it were, so weak in the matter. And yet in whatever respect anyone else is daring to boast -- I am talking like a fool -- I too will dare to boast.

²³ Are they ministers of Christ? So am I. I am talking like a man that has gone crazy -- as such I am superior! -- serving Him with labors greater by far, with far more imprisonments, with floggings vastly worse, and often at the point of death.

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness!

⁵ On behalf of this man with such an experience I will boast, but on behalf of myself personally I will boast only about my weaknesses.

⁵ On behalf of this man with such an experience I will boast, but on behalf of myself personally I will boast only about my weaknesses. ⁶ However, if I want to boast, I will not play the fool, for it will be nothing but the truth that I will tell. But I refrain from doing so, to keep anybody, on account of the superiority of the revelations, from giving me a higher rating than my actions and teachings deserve.

⁶ However, if I want to boast, I will not play the fool, for it will be nothing but the truth that I will tell. But I refrain from doing so, to keep anybody, on account of the superiority of the revelations, from giving me a higher rating than my actions and teachings deserve. ⁷ So, to keep me from being over-elated, there was sent upon me a physical disease, sharp as a piercing stake, a messenger of Satan, to continue afflicting me, and so to keep me, I repeat, from being over-elated. ⁸ Three times I begged the Lord about this to make it go away and leave me, ⁹ but He said to me, "My spiritual strength is sufficient, for it is only by means of conscious weakness that perfect power is developed."

¹¹ I have made a fool of myself, but you have forced me to do it, for I am the man who ought to have been constantly approved by you. For I am not a single bit inferior to your surpassingly superior apostles, though really I am "nobody."

¹³ In what respect, then, were you inferior to the rest of the churches, except for the fact that I, and I only, never received from you any financial support? Please forgive me this wrong. ¹⁴ It is now the third time that I have been ready to come to see you, and I will never ask you for financial support, for it is not your money but you yourselves that I want; for children are not by duty bound to lay up money for their parents, but parents for their children. ¹⁵ So in my own case, I will most happily spend my money and myself for your sakes. If I love you much more than I love others, am I to be loved less by you? ¹⁶ But let it be granted, you say, that I never received from you financial support, yet, you say, by being a trickster I cheated you by my cunning. ¹⁷ I did not make any money out of you through anybody that I sent to you, did I? ¹⁸ I actually begged Titus to go, and sent the well-known brother with him. Titus did not make any money out of you, did he? Did not he and I act in the same spirit, and take the very same steps? ¹⁹ Are you thinking all this time that I am defending myself to you? It is in the very presence of God and as one who is in union with Christ that I am speaking. And it is all for building you up, beloved, for I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, when I come I shall find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. ²⁰ I repeat it, I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, rivalries, slanders, gossiping, haughty pride, and disorders,

²⁰ I repeat it, I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, rivalries, slanders, gossiping, haughty pride, and disorders,

² I have already warned those who formerly committed shocking sins, and all the rest, and though so far away I warn them now, as I did on my second visit, that if I come back I will not spare them,

² I have already warned those who formerly committed shocking sins, and all the rest, and though so far away I warn them now, as I did on my second visit, that if I come back I will not spare them,

² I have already warned those who formerly committed shocking sins, and all the rest, and though so far away I warn them now, as I did on my second visit, that if I come back I will not spare them, ³ since you demand a proof that Christ is speaking through me. For Christ is not exhibiting weakness toward you but power in you.

³ since you demand a proof that Christ is speaking through me. For Christ is not exhibiting weakness toward you but power in you.

³ since you demand a proof that Christ is speaking through me. For Christ is not exhibiting weakness toward you but power in you. ⁴ For though He was crucified in weakness, yet by the power of God He goes on living. We too, indeed, show weakness through our union with Him, yet by the power of God we too shall be alive toward you through fellowship with Him.

⁷ But I am praying God that you may never do anything wrong, not to show that I am standing the test, but that you should continue doing right, though I should fail to stand the test. ⁸ For I cannot do anything against the truth, but only for it.

¹⁰ This is why I am writing this while far away from you, that when I do come, I may not have to deal harshly with you in accordance with the authority which the Lord has given me, for building you up, not for tearing you down.

¹ Paul, an apostle sent not from men or by any man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead --

⁶ I am astonished that you are beginning so soon to turn away from Him who called you by the favor of Christ, to a different good news, ⁷ which is not really another one; only there are certain people who are trying to unsettle you and want to turn the good news of Christ upside down. ⁸ But even if I or an angel from heaven preach a good news that is contrary to the one which I have already preached to you, a curse upon him!

¹¹ For I tell you, brothers, the good news which was preached by me is not a human message, ¹² for I did not get it from any man; I was not taught it, but I got it through a revelation given by Jesus Christ. ¹³ You have heard, indeed, of my former conduct as an adherent of the Jewish religion, how I kept on furiously persecuting the church of God, and tried to destroy it,

⁵ But we did not for a moment yield them submission, in order that the truth of the good news might prevail for you. ⁶ Those who were looked upon as leaders -- what they were makes no difference to me -- God pays no attention to outward appearances these leaders added nothing new to me. ⁷ On the contrary, because they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news for the heathen, just as Peter had been entrusted with it for the Jews -- ⁸ for He who had been at work in Peter for his apostleship to the Jews had been at work in me too for the apostleship to the heathen -- ⁹ and because they recognized the favor God had shown me, James, Cephas, and John, the so-called pillar apostles, gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, with the understanding that we should go to the heathen and they to the Jews.

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ, and I myself no longer live, but Christ is living in me; the life I now live as a mortal man I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.

²⁹ And if you belong to Christ, then you are real descendants of Abraham, and heirs in accordance with the promise made to him.

¹³ And yet you know that it was because of an illness of mine that I preached the good news to you the first time,

¹³ And yet you know that it was because of an illness of mine that I preached the good news to you the first time, ¹⁴ but still you did not scorn the test my illness made of you, nor did you spurn me for it; on the contrary, you welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

² Here is what I am saying to you: If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ can do you no good.

¹⁶ I mean this: Practice living by the Spirit and then by no means will you gratify the cravings of your lower nature. ¹⁷ For the cravings of the lower nature are just the opposite to those of the Spirit, and the cravings of the Spirit are just the opposite of those of the lower nature; these two are opposed to each other, so that you cannot do anything you please. ¹⁸ But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. ¹⁹ Now the practices of the lower nature are clear enough: Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, quarreling, jealousy, anger, intrigues, dissensions, party-spirit, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I now warn you, as I have done before, that those who practice such things shall not be heirs of the kingdom of God. ²² But the product of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴ And those who belong to Jesus the Christ have crucified the lower nature with its passions and evil cravings. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk where the Spirit leads.

¹³ Indeed, the very men who let themselves be circumcised do not themselves observe the law. But they simply want you to let yourselves be circumcised, so that they can boast of you as members of their party. ¹⁴ But may it never be mine to boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world!

² in which you once lived in accordance with the spirit of this present world, and the mighty prince of the air, who is always at work in the disobedient, among whom all of us, we Jews as well as you heathen, ³ once lived while gratifying the cravings of our lower nature, as we continued to carry out the impulses of our lower nature and its thoughts, and by nature we were exposed to God's wrath, as the rest of mankind.

¹ So I, a prisoner for the Lord's sake, entreat you to live lives worthy of the call you have received,

⁷ But in accordance with the measure of Christ's gift, His favor has been bestowed upon each one of us.

¹³ So you must take on God's full armor, so as to be able to take a stand in the day when evil attacks you, and, after having completely finished the contest, to hold your own. ¹⁴ Hold your position, then, with your waist encircled with the belt of truth, put on right-doing as a coat of mail, ¹⁵ and put on your feet the preparation the good news of peace supplies. ¹⁶ Besides all these, take on the shield which faith provides, for with it you will be able to put out all the fire-tipped arrows shot by the evil one, ¹⁷ take the helmet salvation provides, and take the sword the Spirit wields, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Keep on praying in the Spirit, with every kind of prayer and entreaty, at every opportunity, be ever on the alert with perfect devotion and entreaty for all God's people,

³ For we are the true circumcision, who by the Spirit of God worship Him, who take pride in Christ Jesus only, and do not rely on outward privileges, ⁴ though I too might rely on these. If anyone thinks that he can rely on outward privileges, far more might I do so: ⁵ circumcised when I was a week old; a descendant of Israel; a member of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, a son of Hebrews. Measured by the law, I was a Pharisee; ⁶ by the standard set by zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and measured by the uprightness reached by keeping the law, I was faultless. ⁷ But for Christ's sake I have counted all that was gain to me as loss. ⁸ Yes, indeed, I certainly do count everything as loss compared with the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have lost everything, and value it all as mere refuse, in order to gain Christ ⁹ and be actually in union with Him, not having a supposed right standing with God which depends on my doing what the law commands, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the real right standing with God which originates from Him and rests on faith.

⁵ because of your hope of what is laid up for you in heaven. Long ago you heard of this hope through the message of the good news

⁸ but let us who belong to the day keep sober, clothed with faith and love for a coat of mail and with the hope of salvation for a helmet.

³ We always ought to be thanking God for you, brothers, as it is right to do so, because your faith is growing so much and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing

⁴ the one who keeps up his opposition and so far exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, that he actually takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

⁸ Then the representative of lawlessness will be uncovered, and the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and put a stop to his operations by His appearance and coming;

¹⁷ This greeting is in my own hand, Paul's; it is the mark in every letter of mine. This is my handwriting.

¹¹ as measured by the glorious good news of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

¹⁸ This is the instruction which I entrust to you, my son Timothy, which is in accordance with the prophetic utterances formerly made about you, that you may, aided by them, continue to fight the good fight,

²⁰ Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan to be so disciplined that they will stop their abusive speech.

¹² This is why I am suffering so, but I am not ashamed of it, for I know whom I have trusted and I am absolutely sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

³ Take your share of hardships like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

³ Take your share of hardships like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier ever allows himself to be involved in the business affairs of life, so that he may please the officer who enlisted him.

¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God an approved workman who has nothing to be ashamed of, who properly presents the message of truth.

⁷ I have fought the fight for the good, I have run my race, I have kept faith.

⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you for love's sake, although I am such as I am, Paul an envoy of Christ Jesus but now a prisoner for Him too;

¹² For God's message is alive and full of power in action, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the depths of soul and spirit, to the dividing of joints and marrow, and passing judgment on the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

⁹ and because He was perfectly qualified for it He became the author of endless salvation for all who obey Him,

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being surrounded each of seven days.

³² And why should I continue to mention more? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, ³³ who by their faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received new promises, shut the mouths of lions,

¹ Therefore, as we have so vast a crowd of spectators in the grandstands, let us throw off every impediment and the sin that easily entangles our feet, and run with endurance the race for which we are entered,

⁹ Let the poor brother of lowly station rejoice in his exalted station as a Christian, ¹⁰ and the rich brother rejoice in his being on a level with the poor, because the rich will fade away like the flower of the grass.

² the people chosen in accordance with the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the consecration of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: spiritual blessing and peace to you in increasing abundance.

⁷ so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even after it is shown by the test of fire to be genuine, may result in your praise and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ.

¹⁴ As obedient children, stop molding your character by the evil desires you used to cherish when you did not know any better, ¹⁵ but in accordance with the Holy Being who has called you, you must prove to be holy too,

²² Since you have purified your souls by obeying the truth, in sincere love for the brotherhood you must love one another heartily and fervently,

¹¹ Dearly beloved, I beg you as aliens and exiles to keep on abstaining from the evil desires of your lower nature, because they are always at war with the soul.

²² He never committed a sin, and deceit was never found on His lips. ²³ Although He was abused, He never retorted; although He continued to suffer, He never threatened, but committed His case to Him who judges justly.

¹ So then, since Christ has suffered in our physical form, you too must arm yourselves with the same determination. For whoever suffers in his physical form has done with sin, ² so that he no longer can spend the rest of his earthly life in harmony with human desires but in accordance with God's will.

¹⁰ As all of you have received your spiritual talents, you must keep on using them in serving one another, as good trustees of God's many-sided favor.

⁶ We are children of God. Whoever knows God by experience listens to us; whoever is not a child of God does not listen to us. This is the way to distinguish a true spiritual utterance from one that is false.

¹⁰ So, if I come, I will remind you of what he is doing, how with malicious insinuations he is talking about me. Not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers himself, he interferes with those who want to do so, and tries to put them out of the church.

⁹ I, John, your brother and companion with you in the trouble, the kingdom, and the patient endurance which Jesus gives, found myself on the island called Patmos, for preaching God's message and testifying to Jesus.