As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine<n id="1" /> will not be stopped<n id="2" /> in the regions of Achaia.

Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.

Therefore I am content with<n id="1" /> weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties<n id="2" /> for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.p>

Have you been thinking all this time<n id="1" /> that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.<n id="2" />

since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He<n id="1" /> is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you &#8211; unless, indeed, you fail the test!<n id="1" />

[[EMPTY]]<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">From Paul,<n id="1" /> an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)

not that there really is another gospel,<n id="1" /> but<n id="2" /> there are some who are disturbing you and wanting<n id="3" /> to distort the gospel of Christ.

Am I now trying to gain the approval of people,<n id="1" /> or of God? Or am I trying to please people?<n id="2" /> If I were still trying to please<n id="3" /> people,<n id="4" /> I would not be a slave<n id="5" /> of Christ!p>

Now this matter arose<n id="1" /> because of the false brothers with false pretenses<n id="2" /> who slipped in unnoticed to spy on<n id="3" /> our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.<n id="4" />

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming<n id="1" /> a curse for us (because it is written, &#8220;<b><i>Cursed is everyone who hangs on a treei>b>&#8221;)<n id="2" />

in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles,<n id="1" /> so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.p>

But the scripture imprisoned<n id="1" /> everything and everyone<n id="2" /> under sin so that the promise could be given &#8211; because of the faithfulness<n id="3" /> of Jesus Christ &#8211; to those who believe.p>

and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me.<n id="1" /> Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God,<n id="2" /> as though I were Christ Jesus himself!<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">Those who want to make a good showing in external matters<n id="1" /> are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so<n id="2" /> only to avoid being persecuted<n id="3" /> for the cross of Christ.

But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which<n id="1" /> the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up<n id="1" /> all things in Christ &#8211; the things in heaven<n id="2" /> and the things on earth.<n id="3" />

I pray that<n id="1" /> the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,<n id="2" /> may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation<n id="3" /> in your growing knowledge of him,<n id="4" />

to demonstrate in the coming ages<n id="1" /> the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward<n id="2" /> us in Christ Jesus.