For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.

I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –

I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you

and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,

who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.

For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body – for the sake of his body, the church – what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,

He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many.

A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher.

But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered.)

No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends.

(Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)

So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.