Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should (A)not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

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Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,(A) who raises the dead.(B)

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(A)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but (B)our sufficiency is from God,

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Not that we are competent in ourselves(A) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.(B)

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17 (as it is written, (A)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, (B)who gives life to the dead and calls those (C)things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, (D)“So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, (E)he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), (F)and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised (G)He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore (H)“it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

23 Now (I)it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe (J)in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 (K)who was delivered up because of our offenses, and (L)was raised because of our justification.

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17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a](A) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(B) to the dead and calls(C) into being things that were not.(D)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,(E) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[b](F) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead(G)—since he was about a hundred years old(H)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.(I) 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened(J) in his faith and gave glory to God,(K) 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.(L) 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(M) 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us,(N) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(O) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(P) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(Q) and was raised to life for our justification.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  2. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5

Cast Down but Unconquered

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, (A)that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

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But we have this treasure in jars of clay(A) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God(B) and not from us.

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19 concluding that God (A)was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

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19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(A) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

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The Thorn in the Flesh

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a (A)thorn in the flesh was given to me, (B)a messenger of Satan to [a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. (C)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly (D)I will rather boast in my infirmities, (E)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore (F)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. (G)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:7 beat

or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(A) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(B) a messenger of Satan,(C) to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(D) But he said to me, “My grace(E) is sufficient for you, for my power(F) is made perfect in weakness.(G)(H) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(I) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(J) in persecutions,(K) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(L)

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14 Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.

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14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.(A)

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Through You (A)we will push down our enemies;
Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.
For (B)I will not trust in my bow,
Nor shall my sword save me.
But You have saved us from our enemies,
And have put to shame those who hated us.

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Through you we push back(A) our enemies;
    through your name we trample(B) our foes.
I put no trust in my bow,(C)
    my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory(D) over our enemies,
    you put our adversaries to shame.(E)

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The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Also He spoke this parable to some (A)who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

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The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

To some who were confident of their own righteousness(A) and looked down on everyone else,(B) Jesus told this parable:

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26 He who (A)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

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26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,(A)
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.(B)

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The Dry Bones Live

37 The (A)hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out (B)in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, (C)You know.”

Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will (D)cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. (E)Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the [a]breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: (F)“Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, (G)and [b]breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the (H)whole house of Israel. They indeed say, (I)‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, (J)O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and (K)bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I (L)will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 37:9 Breath of life
  2. Ezekiel 37:10 Breath of life

The Valley of Dry Bones

37 The hand of the Lord was on me,(A) and he brought me out by the Spirit(B) of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley;(C) it was full of bones.(D) He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.(E)

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!(F) This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life.(G) I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(H)’”

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath;(I) prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds(J) and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded(K) me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.(L)

11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’(M) 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.(N) 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord,(O) when I open your graves and bring you up from them.(P) 14 I will put my Spirit(Q) in you and you will live, and I will settle(R) you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.(S)’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 37:5 The Hebrew for this word can also mean wind or spirit (see verses 6-14).

23 Thus says the Lord:

(A)“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his (B)might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
24 But (C)let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, [a]judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
(D)For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 9:24 justice

23 This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom(A)
    or the strong boast of their strength(B)
    or the rich boast of their riches,(C)
24 but let the one who boasts boast(D) about this:
    that they have the understanding to know(E) me,
that I am the Lord,(F) who exercises kindness,(G)
    justice and righteousness(H) on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.

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13 And since we have (A)the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, (B)“I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that (C)He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

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13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a](A) Since we have that same spirit of[b] faith,(B) we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead(C) will also raise us with Jesus(D) and present us with you to himself.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given