For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.

And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation,

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment. ¹ 

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition ¹  or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.

to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.

So then whether we are alive ¹  or away, we make it our ambition to please him. ² 

idolatry, sorcery, ¹  hostilities, ²  strife, ³  jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, ⁴  factions,

The hope ¹  of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled. ² 

This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you.

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, ¹  but the faithless will be captured ²  by their own desires. ³ 

What the righteous desire ¹  leads ²  only to good, but what the wicked hope for ³  leads ⁴  to wrath.

but ¹  wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition ²  and do not obey the truth but follow ³  unrighteousness.

The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.

For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me ¹  not what you wish. I am afraid that ²  somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, ³  slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

Then I considered ¹  all the skillful work ²  that is done: Surely it is nothing more than ³  competition ⁴  between one person and another. ⁵  This also is profitless – like ⁶  chasing the wind.

This is what the Lord who rules over all ¹  says, “Babylon’s thick wall ²  will be completely demolished. ³  Her high gates will be set on fire. The peoples strive for what does not satisfy. ⁴  The nations grow weary trying to get what will be destroyed.” ⁵ 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ¹  he must deny ²  himself, take up his cross, ³  and follow me.

Then ¹  he said to them all, ²  “If anyone wants to become my follower, ³  he must deny ⁴  himself, take up his cross daily, ⁵  and follow me.

‘You expected a large harvest, but instead ¹  there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away. ²  Why?’ asks the Lord who rules over all. ‘Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house! ³