And now, ¹  compelled ²  by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem ³  without knowing what will happen to me there, ⁴ 

do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, ¹  that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.

With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” ¹  Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I am too.

They court you eagerly, ¹  but for no good purpose; ²  they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. ³ 

I feel torn between the two, ¹  because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

So then, my brothers and sisters, ¹  dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed.

But do not accept younger widows on the list, ¹  because their passions may lead them away from Christ ²  and they will desire to marry,

I ¹  have had great joy and encouragement because ²  of your love, for the hearts ³  of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.

Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, ¹  and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment. ² 

that ¹  if our conscience condemns ²  us, that ³  God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.

But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend. ¹ 

These people are grumblers and ¹  fault-finders who go ²  wherever their desires lead them, ³  and they give bombastic speeches, ⁴  enchanting folks ⁵  for their own gain. ⁶ 

The Lord answered, ¹  “If you have raced on foot against men and they have worn you out, how will you be able to compete with horses? And if you feel secure only ²  in safe and open country, ³  how will you manage in the thick undergrowth along the Jordan River? ⁴