Study Desk

So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Further Warning This is the third time I am coming to you. "Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses." I warned those who sinned previously and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again, I will not be lenient— since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect. So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!

But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor.

I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.

Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong.

It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.

I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.

But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand!

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,

This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church.

for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.