“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.

To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.

“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.

Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.

so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you have just now caught.”

because you will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.

nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing.

Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.

I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek.

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you.

You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself.

Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water.

But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you.

to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”