¹⁹ Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, `are' for your up-building,

¹ Truth I say in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing testimony with me in the Holy Spirit,

⁸ for even if also anything more abundantly I shall boast concerning our authority, that the Lord gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed;

²⁶ What then is it, brethren? whenever ye may come together, each of you hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation? let all things be for building up;

¹ So then, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand ye in the Lord, beloved.

¹⁰ because of this, these things -- being absent -- I write, that being present, I may not treat `any' sharply, according to the authority that the Lord did give me for building up, and not for casting down.

¹⁵ and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved.

³¹ the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --

¹⁰ The truth of Christ is in me, because this boasting shall not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia;

¹ Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;

¹² for not again ourselves do we recommend to you, but we are giving occasion to you of glorifying in our behalf, that ye may have `something' in reference to those glorifying in face and not in heart;

¹³ for whether we were beside ourselves, `it was' to God; whether we be of sound mind -- `it is' to you,

¹ Do we begin again to recommend ourselves, except we need, as some, letters of recommendation unto you, or from you?

³³ as I also in all things do please all, not seeking my own profit, but that of many -- that they may be saved.

¹⁴ Wherefore, my beloved, flee from the idolatry;

¹² if others do partake of the authority over you -- not we more? but we did not use this authority, but all things we bear, that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ.

¹³ Have ye not known that those working about the things of the temple -- of the temple do eat, and those waiting at the altar -- with the altar are partakers?

¹⁴ so also did the Lord direct to those proclaiming the good news: of the good news to live.

¹⁵ And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for `it is' good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void;

¹⁶ for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and wo is to me if I may not proclaim good news;

¹⁷ for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly -- with a stewardship I have been entrusted!

¹⁸ What, then, is my reward? -- that proclaiming good news, without charge I shall make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news;

¹⁹ for being free from all men, to all men I made myself servant, that the more I might gain;

²⁰ and I became to the Jews as a Jew, that Jews I might gain; to those under law as under law, that those under law I might gain;

²¹ to those without law, as without law -- (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ) -- that I might gain those without law;

²² I became to the infirm as infirm, that the infirm I might gain; to all men I have become all things, that by all means I may save some.

²³ And this I do because of the good news, that a fellow-partaker of it I may become;

¹⁹ not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance `is' Mine,