The World Hates the Disciples

¹⁸ “If the world hates you,^(A) keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you^(B) out of the world. That is why the world hates you.^{(C) 20} Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[a](D) If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.^(E) If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name,^(F) for they do not know the one who sent me.^{(G) 22} If I had not come and spoken to them,^(H) they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.^{(I) 23} Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did,^(J) they would not be guilty of sin.^(K) As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law:^(L) ‘They hated me without reason.’^[b](M)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(A) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(B) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^{(C) 25} I have become its servant^(D) by the commission God gave me^(E) to present to you the word of God^(F) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(G) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(H) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(I) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(J) the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing^(K) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,^(L) so that we may present everyone fully mature^(M) in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously^(N) contend^(O) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.^(P)

¹⁹ For God was pleased^(A) to have all his fullness^(B) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(C) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(D) by making peace^(E) through his blood,^(F) shed on the cross.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness^(A) of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head^(B) over every power and authority.^(C)

¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^(A)

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,^(A) descended from David.^(B) This is my gospel,^{(C) 9} for which I am suffering^(D) even to the point of being chained^(E) like a criminal. But God’s word^(F) is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything^(G) for the sake of the elect,^(H) that they too may obtain the salvation^(I) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(J)

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents^(A) and have them put to death.^{(B) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of me,^(C) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^(D)

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(A) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(B) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(C) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(D)

⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(A) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.