If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.

For ¹  he chose us in Christ ²  before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished ³  in his sight ⁴  in love. ⁵ 

namely, that through the gospel ¹  the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members ²  of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.

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

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently. ¹ 

The overseer ¹  then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, ²  temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,

and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness ¹  is a way of making a profit.

By his sovereign plan he gave us birth ¹  through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

The one who says he is in the light but still hates ¹  his fellow Christian ²  is still in the darkness.

He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, ¹  “You are the Christ.” ² 

After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) ¹  they went a day’s journey. Then ²  they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ³ 

But ¹  he replied, ²  “Why were you looking for me? ³  Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁴ 

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go ¹  with him, but Jesus ²  sent him away, saying,

Then ¹  he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter ²  answered, ³  “The Christ ⁴  of God.”

In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions. ¹ 

But if we say, ‘From people,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

Nathanael ¹  replied, ²  “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” ³  Philip replied, ⁴  “Come and see.”

For no one who seeks to make a reputation for himself ¹  does anything in secret. ²  If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”