Israel Needs the Gospel

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ^[a]Israel is that they may be saved.

¹⁶ above all, taking ^(A)the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And ^(B)take the helmet of salvation, and ^(C)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ^18 (D)praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, ^(E)being watchful to this end with all perseverance and ^(F)supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, ^(G)that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which ^(H)I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: ^16 [a]The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

¹⁹ For I know that ^(A)this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but ^(B)with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life ^(C)or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.