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,

³ Not only that, but we ^(A)rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering ^(B)produces endurance,

⁸ Therefore ^(A)do not be ashamed of ^(B)the testimony about our Lord, nor of ^(C)me his prisoner, but ^(D)share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

^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,

⁴ I am acting with ^(A)great boldness toward you; ^(B)I have great pride in you; ^(C)I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

⁵ For as we share abundantly in ^(A)Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.^{[a] 6 (B)}If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you ^(C)share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

⁸ For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,^[b] of ^(D)the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

^9 (A)for which I am suffering, ^(B)bound with chains as a criminal. But ^(C)the word of God is not bound! ¹⁰ Therefore ^(D)I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain ^(E)the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with ^(F)eternal glory.

¹⁸ And ^(A)he is the head of the body, the church. He is ^(B)the beginning, ^(C)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering ^(A)for you, ^(B)which is your glory.