even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me – so that I would not become arrogant.

Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!

But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.

Brothers and sisters, pray for us too.

I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,

For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Make every effort to come to me soon.

Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

Again he says, “I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am, with the children God has given me.”

For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.

We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.

and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.

By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit.

By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments.