Paul Defends His Ministry

10 ^(A)I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the ^(B)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—

¹⁰ For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but ^(A)his bodily presence is weak, and ^(B)his speech of no account.”

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and ^(A)learn from me, for I am ^(B)gentle and lowly in heart, and ^(C)you will find rest for your souls.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(A)if you accept circumcision, ^(B)Christ will be of no advantage to you.

A Living Sacrifice

12 ^(A)I appeal to you therefore, brothers,^[a] by the mercies of God, ^(B)to present your bodies ^(C)as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.^[b]

⁷ So ^(A)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^{[a] (B)}a thorn was given me in the flesh, ^(C)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ^8 (D)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, ^(E)“My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(F)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that ^(G)the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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

³ And ^(A)I was with you ^(B)in weakness and in fear and much trembling,