¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

^11 (A)to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher ^[a]of the Gentiles. ¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, ^(B)for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

^3 (A)Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but ^(B)in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for ^(A)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, ^(B)I have a reward; but if against my will, ^(C)I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^(A)May it not be charged against them.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For ^(A)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(B)my departure is at hand. ^7 (C)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

^7 (A)for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth ^[a]in Christ and not lying—^(B)a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

⁷ But on the contrary, ^(A)when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised ^(B)had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter ⁸ (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the ^(C)circumcised ^(D)also ^(E)worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),

¹³ Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but ^(A)was hindered until now), that I might have some ^(B)fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. ¹⁵ So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

The Just Live by Faith

¹⁶ For ^(C)I am not ashamed of the gospel ^[a]of Christ, for ^(D)it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, ^(E)for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷ For ^(F)in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ^(G)“The just shall live by faith.”