⁵ For as we share abundantly in ^(A)Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.^[a]

Paul's Ministry to the Church

²⁴ Now ^(A)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(B)I am filling up ^(C)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions ^(D)for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

^10 (A)that I may know him and ^(B)the power of his resurrection, and ^(C)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope ^(A)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full ^(B)courage now as always Christ ^(C)will be honored in my body, ^(D)whether by life or by death.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, ^(A)who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good ^(B)hope through grace, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts and ^(C)establish them in every good work and word.

^10 (A)always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, ^(B)so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹ For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from ^(A)love, any ^(B)participation in the Spirit, any ^(C)affection and sympathy,

^10 (A)We are fools for Christ's sake, but ^(B)you are wise in Christ. ^(C)We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. ¹¹ To the present hour ^(D)we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and ^(E)buffeted and ^(F)homeless, ¹² and we ^(G)labor, working with our own hands. ^(H)When reviled, we bless; ^(I)when persecuted, we endure; ¹³ when slandered, we entreat. ^(J)We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, ^(K)the refuse of all things.

²³ Are they ^(A)servants of Christ? ^(B)I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, ^(C)far more imprisonments, ^(D)with countless beatings, and ^(E)often near death. ²⁴ Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the ^(F)forty lashes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(G)beaten with rods. ^(H)Once I was stoned. Three times I ^(I)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶ on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, ^(J)danger from my own people, ^(K)danger from Gentiles, ^(L)danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ^27 (M)in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, ^(N)in hunger and thirst, often without food,^[a] in cold and exposure. ²⁸ And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for ^(O)all the churches. ^29 (P)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

^30 (Q)If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.