And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ¹  ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” ²  (that is, to bring Christ down)

Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, ¹  for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” ²  says the Lord.

Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.

For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.

those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions,

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

Brothers and sisters, ¹  do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Therefore we do not despair, ¹  but even if our physical body ²  is wearing away, our inner person ³  is being renewed day by day.

Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves ¹  as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions. ² 

Tychicus, my ¹  dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, ²  how I am doing.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.

Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave ¹  in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ² 

Now on the topic of brotherly love ¹  you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.

For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; ¹  I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Deacons likewise must be dignified, ¹  not two-faced, ²  not given to excessive drinking, ³  not greedy for gain,

who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.

However, ¹  without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.