Study Desk

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.

To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

was caught up into Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?

For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God's power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God's power we will live with Him to serve you.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can't you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you-unless you actually fail the test?

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

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

For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not devised by man.

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.