Epep 21, 1743

19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.

24Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

28Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

39But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble.

40And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

9"But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.

10And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

11But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

12Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

13And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

1Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

2But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

7Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.

8For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed--

9lest I seem to terrify you by letters.

10"For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."

11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us--a sphere which especially includes you.

14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;

15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,

16to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.

17But "he who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

18For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

1Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

3For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

4In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

5They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."

9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

10As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.