God’s Election of Israel

9 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit^(A)—

⁷ For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth;^[a] I am not lying), a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth.^(A)

⁹ For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel^[a] of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers,^(A)

²⁰ In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!

¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.^(A)

⁸ For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the tender affection of Christ Jesus.^(A)

¹⁶ it is that very Spirit bearing witness^[a] with our spirit that we are children of God,^(A)

⁵ But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.^(A)

⁵ As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed,^(A)

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? We are speaking in Christ before God. Everything we do, beloved, is for the sake of building you up.^(A)