Study Desk

Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows that I do!

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—

All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for building you up, beloved.

I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.

For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we too are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may appear unapproved.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;

(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.)

And they were glorifying God because of me.

But from those who were of considerable repute (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me.

"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God.