I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.

Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, ¹  or does the law not say this as well?

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

For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. ¹ 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as ¹  my boasting in you, ²  which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: ¹  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

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.

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, ¹  to present you as a pure ²  virgin to Christ.

But I am afraid that ¹  just as the serpent ²  deceived Eve by his treachery, ³  your minds may be led astray ⁴  from a sincere and pure ⁵  devotion to Christ.

What I am saying with this boastful confidence ¹  I do not say the way the Lord would. ²  Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! ¹  If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

This is the third time I am coming to visit ¹  you. By the testimony ²  of two or three witnesses every matter will be established. ³ 

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one ¹  who called you by the grace of Christ ²  and are following ³  a different ⁴  gospel –

But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, ¹  I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law. ² 

However, it is good ¹  to be sought eagerly ²  for a good purpose ³  at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

I am confident ¹  in the Lord that you will accept no other view. ²  But the one who is confusing ³  you will pay the penalty, ⁴  whoever he may be.

For this reason I ask you ¹  not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, ²  which ³  is your glory. ⁴ 

for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.