Not ¹  only this, but we also rejoice ²  in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God

Think about the circumstances of your call, ¹  brothers and sisters. ²  Not many were wise by human standards, ³  not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. ⁴ 

For even though I am absent physically, ¹  I am present in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did this, just as though I were present. ² 

And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.

For we do not write you anything other than what ¹  you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely ² 

And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, ¹  that the Lord’s message ²  may spread quickly and be honored ³  as in fact it was among you,

It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate. ¹ 

But the aim of our instruction ¹  is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. ² 

even for kings ¹  and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that ¹  Jesus is the Son of God?

His servants approached and said to him, “O master, ¹  if the prophet had told you to do some difficult task, ²  you would have been willing to do it. ³  It seems you should be happy that he simply said, “Wash and you will be healed.” ⁴ 

The Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous snake and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks ¹  at it, he will live.”

They took captive the women who were in it, from the youngest to the oldest, but they did not kill anyone. They simply carried them off and went on their way.

“But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? ¹  Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours. ² 

For forty years I was continually disgusted ¹  with that generation, and I said, ‘These people desire to go astray; ²  they do not obey my commands.’ ³ 

I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.