¹⁵ Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry but others from goodwill.

Final Instructions

¹⁷ I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who create dissensions and hindrances, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them.^{(A) 18} For such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites,^[a] and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.^(B)

³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.^(A)

¹³ For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.^(A)

² to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight,^[a] not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it,^[b] not for sordid gain but eagerly.^{(A) 3} Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.^{(B) 4} And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.^(C)

¹⁶ These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; ¹⁷ the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true, and in that I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice,

⁵ For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake.^(A)

¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not “Yes and No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”^(A)

³ for you are still fleshly. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling^[a] among you, are you not fleshly and behaving according to human inclinations?^{(A) 4} For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not all too human?^(B)

⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.^(A)