24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;(A) my only aim is to finish the race(B) and complete the task(C) the Lord Jesus has given me(D)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.(E)

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24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

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For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,(A) and the time for my departure is near.(B) I have fought the good fight,(C) I have finished the race,(D) I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me(E) the crown of righteousness,(F) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day(G)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.(H)

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For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

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Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

Therefore, since through God’s mercy(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(B)

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Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

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10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(A) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(B) in persecutions,(C) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(D)

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10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

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13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die(A) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(B)

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13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

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58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,(A) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.(B)

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58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(A) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(B) we are being renewed(C) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(D) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,(E) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

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We are hard pressed on every side,(A) but not crushed; perplexed,(B) but not in despair; persecuted,(C) but not abandoned;(D) struck down, but not destroyed.(E)

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We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

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13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(A) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(B) toward the goal to win the prize(C) for which God has called(D) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature(E) should take such a view of things.(F) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(G)

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13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

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12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(A) with perseverance(B) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(C) the pioneer(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(E) scorning its shame,(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(G) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary(H) and lose heart.

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12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

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But because of his great love for us,(A) God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions(B)—it is by grace you have been saved.(C) And God raised us up with Christ(D) and seated us with him(E) in the heavenly realms(F) in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,(G) expressed in his kindness(H) to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace(I) you have been saved,(J) through faith(K)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works,(L) so that no one can boast.(M) 10 For we are God’s handiwork,(N) created(O) in Christ Jesus to do good works,(P) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

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And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;(A) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

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And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

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35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(A) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(B) 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a](C)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(D) through him who loved us.(E) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future,(F) nor any powers,(G) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(H) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
  2. Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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