For no one is declared righteous before him ¹  by the works of the law, ²  for through the law comes ³  the knowledge of sin.

It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel, ¹ 

Why not? Because they pursued ¹  it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. ²  They stumbled over the stumbling stone, ³ 

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.

But God will judge those outside. Remove the evil person from among you. ¹ 

Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters ¹  at one time, most of whom are still alive, ²  though some have fallen asleep. ³ 

For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad ¹  but the one I caused to be sad?

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 

Not that we are adequate ¹  in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy ²  is from God,

Each one of you should give ¹  just as he has decided in his heart, ²  not reluctantly ³  or under compulsion, ⁴  because God loves a cheerful giver.

But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach ¹  a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, ²  let him be condemned to hell! ³ 

For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave ¹  it to Abraham through the promise.

For by grace you are saved ¹  through faith, ²  and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;

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

But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

I sent him ¹  with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. ²  They will tell ³  you about everything here.

nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,

A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹ 

and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, ¹  because he has nothing evil to say about us.

For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership? ¹