Study Desk

We do not boast beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you.

For I am zealous for you with the zealousness of God, for I have espoused you to a husband, that I may present you as a pure virgin to 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.

The God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever and ever, knows that I do not lie.

I knew a man in Christ more than fourteen years ago, but whether I knew him in the body or without the body, I do not know: God knows; this very one was caught up to the third heaven.

And I still know this man, but whether in the body or whether without the body, I cannot tell; God knows;

Why? Do you still think we are apologizing? No! We speak before God in Christ: and we do all these things, my beloved, for your edification.

Perhaps when I come to you, my God will humble me, and I will mourn over many who have sinned, and who have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and lasciviousness which they have committed.

For though Jesus was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. As we are weak with him, so we are alive with him by the power of God who is among you.

And I pray to God that our investigation will find nothing wrong with you; but that you may be found doing good things, even though we may appear as though we were rejected.

Henceforth, my brethren, rejoice, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

The peace of our LORD Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

PAUL, an Apostle, not sent by men, nor appointed by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;

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

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father:

Do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I tried to please men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

You have heard of the manner of my life in time past in the Jews'' religion, how beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it:

But when it pleased God, who had chosen me from my birth, and called me by his grace,

Now the things which I write to you, behold, I confess before God, I do not lie.