2 Corinthians 5:12

Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s.

For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.

But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often.

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.

For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.

But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae,

that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”

and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?

If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.

For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

For you are our glory and our joy.

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.

Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;

But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

“If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.

As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.”

Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him?

For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.

who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

not of works, that no one would boast.

holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.

Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ,

to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.