Greeting

1 ^(A)Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

^3 (B)We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,^[a] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. ⁴ Therefore ^(C)we ourselves boast about you ^(D)in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith ^(E)in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

The Judgment at Christ's Coming

⁵ This is ^(F)evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be ^(G)considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— ⁶ since indeed God considers it ^(H)just ^(I)to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to grant ^(J)relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when ^(K)the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven ^(L)with his mighty angels ^8 (M)in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those ^(N)who do not know God and on those who ^(O)do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will suffer the punishment of ^(P)eternal destruction, ^(Q)away from^[b] the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ^10 (R)when he comes on ^(S)that day ^(T)to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our ^(U)testimony to you ^(V)was believed. ¹¹ To this end we ^(W)always pray for you, that our God may ^(X)make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every ^(Y)work of faith by his power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus ^(Z)may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now concerning ^(AA)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our ^(AB)being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,^{[c] 2} not to be quickly shaken in mind or ^(AC)alarmed, either ^(AD)by a spirit or a ^(AE)spoken word, or ^(AF)a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that ^(AG)the day of the Lord has come. ^3 (AH)Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, ^(AI)unless the rebellion comes first, and ^(AJ)the man of lawlessness^[d] is revealed, ^(AK)the son of destruction,^{[e] 4} who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(AL)proclaiming himself to be God. ⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. ⁷ For ^(AM)the mystery of lawlessness ^(AN)is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. ⁸ And then ^(AO)the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus ^(AP)will kill with ^(AQ)the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by ^(AR)the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan ^(AS)with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for ^(AT)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ Therefore ^(AU)God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe ^(AV)what is false, ¹² in order that all may be condemned ^(AW)who did not believe the truth but ^(AX)had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

¹³ But ^(AY)we ought always to give thanks to God for you, ^(AZ)brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you ^(BA)as the firstfruits^{[f] (BB)}to be saved, ^(BC)through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. ¹⁴ To this he called you through ^(BD)our gospel, ^(BE)so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, ^(BF)stand firm and hold to ^(BG)the traditions that you were taught by us, either ^(BH)by our spoken word or by ^(BI)our letter.

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

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brothers,^{[g] (BM)}pray for us, that ^(BN)the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,^[h] as happened among you, ² and ^(BO)that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For ^(BP)not all have faith. ³ But ^(BQ)the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and ^(BR)guard you against ^(BS)the evil one.^{[i] 4} And ^(BT)we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ⁵ May the Lord ^(BU)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, ^(BV)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(BW)that you keep away from any ^(BX)brother ^(BY)who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know ^(BZ)how you ought to imitate us, because ^(CA)we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but ^(CB)with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It was ^(CC)not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves ^(CD)an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: ^(CE)If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you ^(CF)walk in idleness, not busy at work, but ^(CG)busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^[j]

¹³ As for you, brothers, ^(CH)do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and ^(CI)have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. ^15 (CJ)Do not regard him as an enemy, but ^(CK)warn him as a brother.

Benediction

¹⁶ Now may ^(CL)the Lord of peace himself ^(CM)give you peace at all times in every way. ^(CN)The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷ I, Paul, write ^(CO)this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. ^18 (CP)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

¹⁹ And they came to ^(A)Ephesus, and he left them there, but ^(B)he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. ²¹ But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you ^(C)if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

Greeting

1 Paul, an ^(A)apostle—^(B)not from men nor through man, but ^(C)through Jesus Christ and God the Father, ^(D)who raised him from the dead— ² and all ^(E)the brothers^[a] who are with me,

To ^(F)the churches of Galatia:

^3 (G)Grace to you and peace ^(H)from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^4 (I)who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present ^(J)evil age, according to the will of ^(K)our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

⁶ I am astonished that you are ^(L)so quickly deserting ^(M)him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to ^(N)a different gospel— ^7 (O)not that there is another one, but ^(P)there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or ^(Q)an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, ^(R)let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, ^(S)let him be accursed.

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying ^(T)to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a ^(U)servant^[b] of Christ.

Paul Called by God

¹¹ For ^(V)I would have you know, brothers, that ^(W)the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.^{[c] 12 (X)}For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it ^(Y)through a revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of ^(Z)my former life in Judaism, how ^(AA)I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely ^(AB)zealous was I for ^(AC)the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when he ^(AD)who had set me apart ^(AE)before I was born,^[d] and who ^(AF)called me by his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to^[e] me, in order ^(AG)that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;^{[f] 17} nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then ^(AH)after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James ^(AI)the Lord's brother. ²⁰ (In what I am writing to you, ^(AJ)before God, I do not lie!) ^21 (AK)Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was still unknown in person to ^(AL)the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. ² I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those ^(AM)who seemed influential) the gospel that ^(AN)I proclaim among the Gentiles, ^(AO)in order to make sure I was not running or had not ^(AP)run in vain. ³ But even Titus, who was with me, ^(AQ)was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. ^4 (AR)Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who ^(AS)slipped in to spy out ^(AT)our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, ^(AU)so that they might bring us into slavery— ⁵ to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that ^(AV)the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. ⁶ And from those ^(AW)who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; ^(AX)God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential ^(AY)added nothing to me. ⁷ On the contrary, when they saw that I had been ^(AZ)entrusted with ^(BA)the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised ⁸ (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), ⁹ and when James and Cephas and John, ^(BB)who seemed to be ^(BC)pillars, perceived the ^(BD)grace that was given to me, they ^(BE)gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ Only, they asked us to remember the poor, ^(BF)the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter

¹¹ But ^(BG)when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him ^(BH)to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James, ^(BI)he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing ^(BJ)the circumcision party.^{[g] 13} And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that their ^(BK)conduct was not in step with ^(BL)the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas ^(BM)before them all, “If you, though a Jew, ^(BN)live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Justified by Faith

¹⁵ We ourselves are Jews by birth and not ^(BO)Gentile sinners; ¹⁶ yet we know that ^(BP)a person is not justified^[h] by works of the law ^(BQ)but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, ^(BR)because by works of the law no one will be justified.

¹⁷ But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found ^(BS)to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. ¹⁹ For through the law I ^(BT)died to the law, so that I might ^(BU)live to God. ²⁰ I have been ^(BV)crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives ^(BW)in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, ^(BX)who loved me and ^(BY)gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(BZ)if righteousness^[i] were through the law, ^(CA)then Christ died for no purpose.

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? ^(CB)It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly ^(CC)portrayed as crucified. ² Let me ask you only this: ^(CD)Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by ^(CE)hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? ^(CF)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by^[j] the flesh? ^4 (CG)Did you suffer^[k] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and ^(CH)works miracles among you do so ^(CI)by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ⁶ just as ^(CJ)Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

⁷ Know then that it is ^(CK)those of faith who are ^(CL)the sons of Abraham. ⁸ And the Scripture, foreseeing that ^(CM)God would justify^[l] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ^(CN)“In you shall all the nations be blessed.” ⁹ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

¹⁰ For all who rely on works of the law are ^(CO)under a curse; for it is written, ^(CP)“Cursed be everyone who does not ^(CQ)abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” ¹¹ Now it is evident that ^(CR)no one is justified before God by the law, for ^(CS)“The righteous shall live by faith.”^{[m] 12} But the law is not of faith, rather ^(CT)“The one who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ ^(CU)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ^(CV)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged ^(CW)on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^(CX)come to the Gentiles, so that ^(CY)we might receive ^(CZ)the promised Spirit^[n] through faith.

The Law and the Promise

^15 (DA)To give a human example, brothers:^{[o] (DB)}even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now ^(DC)the promises were made ^(DD)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, ^(DE)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came ^(DF)430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as ^(DG)to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but ^(DH)God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

¹⁹ Why then the law? ^(DI)It was added because of transgressions, ^(DJ)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ^(DK)put in place through angels ^(DL)by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now ^(DM)an intermediary implies more than one, but ^(DN)God is one.

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For ^(DO)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture ^(DP)imprisoned everything under sin, so that ^(DQ)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given ^(DR)to those who believe.

²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, ^(DS)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, ^(DT)the law was our ^(DU)guardian until Christ came, ^(DV)in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus ^(DW)you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as ^(DX)were baptized ^(DY)into Christ have ^(DZ)put on Christ. ^28 (EA)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[p] nor free, ^(EB)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(EC)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, ^(ED)heirs according to promise.

Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,^[q] though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, ^(EE)were enslaved to the elementary principles^[r] of the world. ⁴ But ^(EF)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^(EG)born ^(EH)of woman, born ^(EI)under the law, ^5 (EJ)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ^(EK)adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent ^(EL)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then ^(EM)an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you ^(EN)did not know God, you ^(EO)were enslaved to those that by nature ^(EP)are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^(EQ)to be known by God, ^(ER)how can you turn back again to ^(ES)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ^10 (ET)You observe days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I am afraid ^(EU)I may have labored over you in vain.

¹² Brothers,^{[s] (EV)}I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ^(EW)You did me no wrong. ¹³ You know it was ^(EX)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^(EY)at first, ¹⁴ and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^(EZ)as an angel of God, ^(FA)as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I then become your enemy by ^(FB)telling you the truth?^{[t] 17} They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. ¹⁸ It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and ^(FC)not only when I am present with you, ^19 (FD)my little children, ^(FE)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^(FF)is formed in you! ²⁰ I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(FG)one by a slave woman and ^(FH)one by a free woman. ²³ But ^(FI)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^(FJ)the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^(FK)covenants. ^(FL)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;^[u] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But ^(FM)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ Now you,^[v] brothers, ^(FO)like Isaac, ^(FP)are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^(FQ)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(FR)so also it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? ^(FS)“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but ^(FT)of the free woman.

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For ^(FU)freedom Christ has ^(FV)set us free; ^(FW)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(FX)a yoke of ^(FY)slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(FZ)if you accept circumcision, ^(GA)Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^(GB)he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are ^(GC)severed from Christ, ^(GD)you who would be justified^[w] by the law; ^(GE)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(GF)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus ^(GG)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^(GH)only faith working through love.

^7 (GI)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(GJ)the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from ^(GK)him who calls you. ^9 (GL)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ^10 (GM)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(GN)take no other view, and ^(GO)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers,^[x] still preach^[y] circumcision, ^(GP)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(GQ)the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish ^(GR)those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^(GS)Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^(GT)serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(GU)the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^(GV)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(GW)bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, ^(GX)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(GY)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(GZ)the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^(HA)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(HB)led by the Spirit, ^(HC)you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now ^(HD)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(HE)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[z] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(HF)those who do^[aa] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(HG)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(HH)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(HI)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (HJ)gentleness, ^(HK)self-control; ^(HL)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(HM)have crucified the flesh with its ^(HN)passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, ^(HO)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ^26 (HP)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another's Burdens

6 Brothers,^{[ab] (HQ)}if anyone is caught in any transgression, ^(HR)you who are spiritual should restore him in ^(HS)a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ^2 (HT)Bear one another's burdens, and ^(HU)so fulfill ^(HV)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(HW)if anyone thinks he is something, ^(HX)when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one ^(HY)test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For ^(HZ)each will have to bear his own load.

^6 (IA)Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ^7 (IB)Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^(IC)whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For ^(ID)the one who sows to his own flesh ^(IE)will from the flesh reap corruption, but ^(IF)the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And ^(IG)let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^(IH)if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, ^(II)as we have opportunity, let us ^(IJ)do good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^(IK)of the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you ^(IL)with my own hand. ^12 (IM)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(IN)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(IO)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast ^(IP)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[ac] the world ^(IQ)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(IR)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^(IS)a new creation. ¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, ^(IT)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^(IU)the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

^18 (IV)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(IW)with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

²² When he had landed at Caesarea, he ^(A)went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. ²³ After spending some time there, he departed and ^(B)went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, ^(C)strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus

²⁴ Now a Jew named ^(D)Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, ^(E)competent in the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in ^(F)the way of the Lord. And ^(G)being fervent in spirit,^[a] he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only ^(H)the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when ^(I)Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him ^(J)the way of God more accurately. ²⁷ And when he wished to cross to ^(K)Achaia, ^(L)the brothers encouraged him and ^(M)wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, ^(N)he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, ²⁸ for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures ^(O)that the Christ was Jesus.

Paul in Ephesus

19 And it happened that while ^(P)Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed ^(Q)through the inland^[b] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. ² And he said to them, ^(R)“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, ^(S)we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, ^(T)“Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into ^(U)John's baptism.” ⁴ And Paul said, ^(V)“John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people ^(W)to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, ^(X)they were baptized in^[c] the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And ^(Y)when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and ^(Z)they began speaking in tongues and ^(AA)prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

⁸ And ^(AB)he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them ^(AC)about the kingdom of God. ^9 (AD)But when some became stubborn and ^(AE)continued in unbelief, speaking evil of ^(AF)the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.^{[d] 10} This continued for ^(AG)two years, so that ^(AH)all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The Sons of Sceva

¹¹ And ^(AI)God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ^12 (AJ)so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and ^(AK)the evil spirits came out of them. ¹³ Then some of the itinerant Jewish ^(AL)exorcists ^(AM)undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ^(AN)“I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. ¹⁵ But the evil spirit answered them, ^(AO)“Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” ¹⁶ And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all^[e] of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and ^(AP)the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. ¹⁸ Also many of those who were now believers came, ^(AQ)confessing and divulging their practices. ¹⁹ And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord ^(AR)continued to increase and prevail mightily.

A Riot at Ephesus

²¹ Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit ^(AS)to pass through ^(AT)Macedonia and Achaia and ^(AU)go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, ^(AV)I must also see Rome.” ²² And having sent into Macedonia two of ^(AW)his helpers, ^(AX)Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia ^(AY)for a while.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(A)called ^(B)by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

² To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those ^(C)sanctified in Christ Jesus, ^(D)called to be saints together with all those who in every place ^(E)call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

^3 (F)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

⁴ I ^(G)give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that in every way ^(H)you were enriched in him in all ^(I)speech and all knowledge— ⁶ even as ^(J)the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you ^(K)wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^8 (L)who will sustain you to the end, ^(M)guiltless ^(N)in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^9 (O)God is faithful, by whom you were called into the ^(P)fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions in the Church

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers,^[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no ^(Q)divisions among you, but that you be united ^(R)in the same mind and the same judgment. ¹¹ For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is ^(S)quarreling among you, my brothers. ¹² What I mean is that ^(T)each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow ^(U)Apollos,” or “I follow ^(V)Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” ^13 (W)Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you ^(X)baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except ^(Y)Crispus and ^(Z)Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (I did baptize also ^(AA)the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and ^(AB)not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is ^(AC)folly to ^(AD)those who are perishing, but to us ^(AE)who are being saved it is ^(AF)the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

^20 (AH)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? ^(AI)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach^[b] to save those who believe. ²² For ^(AJ)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,