<t /><p class="bodytext">Now<n id="1" /> I want you to know, brothers and sisters,<n id="2" /> that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> I offer an example from everyday life:<n id="2" /> When a covenant<n id="3" /> has been ratified,<n id="4" /> even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

I beg you, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!p>

Now, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?<n id="2" /> In that case the offense of the cross<n id="3" /> has been removed.<n id="4" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">I want you to know, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:<n id="2" />

Brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded:<n id="2" /> Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

<p class="bodytext">Be imitators of me,<n id="1" /> brothers and sisters,<n id="2" /> and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

<t /><p class="bodytext">So then, my brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> about our coming to you &#8211; it has not proven to be purposeless.<n id="2" />

So<n id="1" /> in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters,<n id="2" /> through your faith.

But you, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now regarding the arrival<n id="1" /> of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him,<n id="2" /> we ask you, brothers and sisters,<n id="3" />

Therefore, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.<n id="2" />

Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess,<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">See to it,<n id="1" /> brothers and sisters,<n id="2" /> that none of you has<n id="3" /> an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes<n id="4" /> the living God.<n id="5" />

<p class="bodytext">Now I urge you, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly.

<t /><p class="bodytext">My brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> do not show prejudice<n id="2" /> if you possess faith<n id="3" /> in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.<n id="4" />

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.<n id="1" />

Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.p>