Study Desk

and if I thankfully do partake, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?

Followers of me become ye, as I also [am] of Christ.

if the foot may say, `Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body;

and if the ear may say, `Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body?

and if I have prophecy, and know all the secrets, and all the knowledge, and if I have all the faith, so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing;

and if I give away to feed others all my goods, and if I give up my body that I may be burned, and have not love, I am profited nothing.

for I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I did persecute the assembly of God,

and by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace that [is] towards me came not in vain, but more abundantly than they all did I labour, yet not I, but the grace of God that [is] with me;

And I, Paul, myself, do call upon you -- through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ -- who in presence, indeed [am] humble among you, and being absent, have courage toward you,

for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did betroth you to one husband, a pure virgin, to present to Christ,

in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say [it] -- I also am bold.

Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled, and I am not fired;

wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses -- for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful;

I have become a fool -- boasting; ye -- ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles -- even if I am nothing.

Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children,

and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved.

I am afraid of you, lest in vain I did labour toward you.

Become as I [am] -- because I also [am] as ye brethren, I beseech you; to me ye did no hurt,

and I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.

And I, brethren, if uncircumcision I yet preach, why yet am I persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away;