We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.

Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.

For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

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.

I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.

But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.

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.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him,

to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.

I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,

you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.