Study Desk

My children—I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!

I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, because I am perplexed about you.

I am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.

Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

This mystery is great—but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, how I am doing.

For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ,

The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.

Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don't know which I prefer:

And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith,

since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you.

though I am confident in the Lord that I too will be coming to see you soon.

Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.