³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?^(A) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?^(B)

²⁸ I give them eternal life,^(A) and they shall never perish;^(B) no one will snatch them out of my hand.^(C)

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.^(A) In this world you will have trouble.^(B) But take heart! I have overcome^(C) the world.”

³ Not only so, but we^[a] also glory in our sufferings,^(A) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;^{(B) 4} perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope^(C) does not put us to shame, because God’s love^(D) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,^(E) who has been given to us.

¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^(A)

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(A) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice^(B) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,^(C) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.^{(D) 14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,^(E) you are blessed,^(F) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God^(A) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(B)

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.^{(A) 17} But the Lord stood at my side^(B) and gave me strength,^(C) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.^(D) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.^{(E) 18} The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack^(F) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.^(G) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(H)