¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is ^(A)in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and ^(B)all for your upbuilding, beloved.

God's Sovereign Choice

9 ^(A)I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—

⁸ For even if I boast a little too much of ^(A)our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.

Orderly Worship

²⁶ What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has ^(A)a hymn, ^(B)a lesson, ^(C)a revelation, ^(D)a tongue, or ^(E)an interpretation. ^(F)Let all things be done for building up.

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, ^(A)flee from idolatry.

4 Therefore, my brothers,^[a] whom I love and ^(A)long for, ^(B)my joy and ^(C)crown, ^(D)stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

¹⁰ For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come ^(A)I may not have to be ^(B)severe in my use of ^(C)the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

^15 (A)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If ^(B)I love you more, am I to be loved less?

^31 (A)The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, ^(B)he who is blessed forever, ^(C)knows that I am not lying.