For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!

Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.

Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you,

Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are.

Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.

For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.

Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.

My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

This is the third time I am coming to visit you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.

For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.

The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?

Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows,

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;

This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.

For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight

Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer:

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.