For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.

And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.

For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.

I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?

since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.

not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ.

Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need.

I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God – given to me for you – in order to complete the word of God,

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition.