Study Desk

Now if the ministration of death, as contained in the letter of the law and engraved on stones, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance; which glory was not lasting:

To those in this world whose minds have been blinded by God, because they did not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the likeness of God, should shine on them.

While we are in this earthly house, we groan because of its weight: yet we are unwilling to leave it, but rather wish to add to it, so that death will be overcome by life.

For indeed he has accepted our appeal; and because he was very desirous, he went to you of his own accord.

And we have sent with them also our brother, who has oftentimes been proven by us in many things, that he is earnest, and now is more earnest because of the abundant trust he has in you.

Yet I have sent the brethren, so that our pride in you should not be in vain because of this question; for as I have said, you must be prepared:

Lest it happen some Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared and we would be ashamed for, because of our pride in you, we would not say anything which would put the blame on you.

And they offer prayer on your behalf with greater love, because of the abundance of the grace of God which has been on you.

For we dare not count or compare ourselves with those who are proud of themselves; for it is because they measure themselves by themselves that they do not understand.

It is not because we are unable to climb where you are; nor are trying to misrepresent ourselves; for we have climbed where we are through the gospel of Christ:

Probably I have acted foolishly in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God freely.

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do love you.

Because many boast on the things of the flesh, I boast also.

And they praised God because of me.

And I went up because of a revelation, and I declared to them the gospel which I preached among the Gentiles, and I privately explained to those who were considered leaders among us, lest by any means I had labored, or should labor in vain.

But because of the false brethren who had been brought in unknown to us to spy out the freedom which we have in Jesus Christ, with the intention of enslaving us;

But when Cephas came to An''ti-och, I reproved him to his face, because he was to be blamed.

For before certain men came from James, Cephas ate with the Gentiles: but after they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he was afraid of them who belonged to the circumcision.

Because God knew in advance that the Gentiles would be declared righteous through faith, he first preached to Abraham, as it is said in the Holy Scripture, In you shall all the Gentiles be blessed.

Then what is the use of the law? It was added because of transgression, till the coming of the heir to whom the promise was made; and the law was given by angels by the hand of a mediator;