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,

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea ¹  through us. We plead with you ²  on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

But as God’s servants, ¹  we have commended ourselves in every way, ²  with great endurance, in persecutions, ³  in difficulties, in distresses,

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.

As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell! ¹ 

For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, ¹  namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” ² 

So then, ¹  whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith. ² 

because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body.

But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

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

but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, ¹  by looking like other men, ²  and by sharing in human nature. ³ 

But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.

If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits ¹  of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, ¹  kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

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

You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

But you, brothers and sisters, ¹  are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment ¹  as a criminal, but God’s message ²  is not imprisoned! ³ 

and their message will spread its infection ¹  like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. ² 

I would rather appeal ¹  to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man ²  and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus ³  –