Study Desk

For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.

So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—

I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.