¹⁴ Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me.

²⁸ Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”

³ Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.

¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.

⁴² Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.

The Message to the Church in Laodicea

¹⁴ “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning^[a] of God’s new creation:

¹⁹ Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹ You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.

³¹ God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.

⁸ for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.