Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge?

In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to arrest me,

but I was let down in a rope-basket through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.

On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.

Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel –

But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed.

So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world.

Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.

He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will –

He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,

Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed.

So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,