We are not like so many others, who handle God's message as if it were cheap merchandise; but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in his presence, as servants of Christ.

See what God did with this sadness of yours: how earnest it has made you, how eager to prove your innocence! Such indignation, such alarm, such feelings, such devotion, such readiness to punish wrongdoing! You have shown yourselves to be without fault in the whole matter.

"Listen to these words, fellow Israelites! Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through him. You yourselves know this, for it happened here among you.

And when you serve Christ in this way, you please God and are approved by others.

Greetings to Apelles, whose loyalty to Christ has been proved. Greetings to those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.

We have sown spiritual seed among you. Is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?

Our appeal to you is not based on error or impure motives, nor do we try to trick anyone.

You know very well that we did not come to you with flattering talk, nor did we use words to cover up greed---God is our witness!

even though as apostles of Christ we could have made demands on you. But we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children.

Surely you remember, our friends, how we worked and toiled! We worked day and night so that we would not be any trouble to you as we preached to you the Good News from God.

You know that we treated each one of you just as parents treat their own children.

But a woman will be saved through having children, if she perseveres in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.

We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience.

But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!

it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Are they Christ's servants? I sound like a madman---but I am a better servant than they are! I have worked much harder, I have been in prison more times, I have been whipped much more, and I have been near death more often.

And you will be known as the priests of the LORD, The servants of our God. You will enjoy the wealth of the nations And be proud that it is yours.

There is no grain or wine to offer in the Temple; the priests mourn because they have no offerings for the LORD.

The priests, serving the LORD between the altar and the entrance of the Temple, must weep and pray: "Have pity on your people, LORD. Do not let other nations despise us and mock us by saying, 'Where is your God?' "

After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are simply God's servants, by whom you were led to believe. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do:

You should think of us as Christ's servants, who have been put in charge of God's secret truths.

while we sent Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in preaching the Good News about Christ. We sent him to strengthen you and help your faith,

If you give these instructions to the believers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, as you feed yourself spiritually on the words of faith and of the true teaching which you have followed.

The many miracles and wonders that prove that I am an apostle were performed among you with much patience.

Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.

We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance,

endurance brings God's approval, and his approval creates hope.

May you be made strong with all the strength which comes from his glorious power, so that you may be able to endure everything with patience. And with joy give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to have your share of what God has reserved for his people in the kingdom of light.

We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

But you have followed my teaching, my conduct, and my purpose in life; you have observed my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,

As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us.

Be patient, then, my friends, until the Lord comes. See how patient farmers are as they wait for their land to produce precious crops. They wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains.

Do not complain against one another, my friends, so that God will not judge you. The Judge is near, ready to appear.

I am John, your brother, and as a follower of Jesus I am your partner in patiently enduring the suffering that comes to those who belong to his Kingdom. I was put on the island of Patmos because I had proclaimed God's word and the truth that Jesus revealed.

Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you safe from the time of trouble which is coming upon the world to test all the people on earth.

And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit has warned me that prison and troubles wait for me.

But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me; I only want to complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the Good News about the grace of God.

And now I am happy about my sufferings for you, for by means of my physical sufferings I am helping to complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, the church.

so that none of you should turn back because of these persecutions. You yourselves know that such persecutions are part of God's will for us.

Do not be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord; neither be ashamed of me, a prisoner for Christ's sake. Instead, take your part in suffering for the Good News, as God gives you the strength for it.

my persecutions, and my sufferings. You know all that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the terrible persecutions I endured! But the Lord rescued me from them all.

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted;

But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.

And during the time I was with you I did not bother you for help when I needed money; the believers who came from Macedonia brought me everything I needed. As in the past, so in the future: I will never be a burden to you!

There has been work and toil; often I have gone without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty; I have often been without enough food, shelter, or clothing.

I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

You yourselves know that I have worked with these hands of mine to provide everything that my companions and I have needed.

To this very moment we go hungry and thirsty; we are clothed in rags; we are beaten; we wander from place to place;

we wear ourselves out with hard work. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have.

I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.

We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair;

Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?

As the scripture says, "For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered."

So, in all our trouble and suffering we have been encouraged about you, friends. It was your faith that encouraged us,