Study Desk

For you endure if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours, if anyone takes away from you , if anyone exalts self , if anyone beats you in the face.

Really, to boast is not profitable to me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

For if I desire to boast, I will not be foolish, for I speak the truth. But I spare, lest anyone reckons me to be beyond what he sees me or hears anything of me.

And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will rather gladly boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me.

Because of this, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in dire needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I may be weak, then I am powerful.

Boasting, I have become foolish. You compelled me. For I ought to be commended by you, for I lacked nothing of the highest apostles, even though I am nothing.

For what is it in which you were less than the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong.

Behold, I am ready to come to you a third time . And I will not burden you, for I do not seek your things, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.

But I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls, even if loving you more and more, I am loved the less.

Again, do you think we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, but in all things for your building up, beloved.

For I fear lest somehow, coming, I not find you as I wish, and I be found by you such as you do not wish; lest somehow there be strifes, envyings, angers, rivalries, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

(for even if He was crucified out of weakness, yet He lives by the power of God). For even we are weak in Him, yet we shall live by the power of God toward you.

But I pray to God for you not to do evil, none; not that we may appear to be approved, but that you may do the good, and we may be disapproved.

For we cannot have any power against the truth, but on behalf of the truth.

For we rejoice when we are weak and you are powerful. But we pray for this also, your perfection.

Because of this, I write these things while absent, that being present I may not deal sharply with you according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for pulling down.

For the rest, brothers, rejoice! Perfect yourselves; encourage yourselves, mind the same thing, be at peace; and the God of love and of peace will be with you.

who gave Himself for our sins, so that He might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a slave of Christ.

For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it , but by a revelation of Jesus Christ.