Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant ¹  of the church in Cenchrea,

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? ¹ 

And now I entrust ¹  you to God and to the message ²  of his grace. This message ³  is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

But as God’s servants, ¹  we have commended ourselves in every way, ²  with great endurance, in persecutions, ³  in difficulties, in distresses,

One generation will praise your deeds to another, and tell about your mighty acts! ¹ 

For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. ¹ 

I praise you ¹  because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you.

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

We are not trying to commend ¹  ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, ²  so that you may be able to answer those who take pride ³  in outward appearance ⁴  and not in what is in the heart.

But we have rejected ¹  shameful hidden deeds, ²  not behaving ³  with deceptiveness ⁴  or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” ¹  And after he said this he breathed his last.

Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!

For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

or to governors as those he commissions ¹  to punish wrongdoers and praise ²  those who do good.

Then ¹  when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.

So I recommend the enjoyment of life, ¹  for there is nothing better on earth ²  for a person to do ³  except ⁴  to eat, drink, and enjoy ⁵  life. ⁶  So ⁷  joy ⁸  will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth. ⁹ 

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates ¹  the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? ²  (I am speaking in human terms.) ³ 

(for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation,