-
Hebrews 5:1
Every high priest is chosen from among the people. He is appointed to act for the people. He acts for them in whatever has to do with God. He offers gifts and sacrifices for their sins.
-
2 Corinthians 2 14-2 Corinthians 2 16
Give thanks to God! He always leads us as if we were prisoners in Christ’s victory parade. Through us, God spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere like perfume.God considers us to be the pleasing smell that Christ is spreading. He is spreading it among people who are being saved and people who are dying.To those who are dying, we are the smell of death. To those who are being saved, we are the perfume of life. Who is able to do this work?
-
Philippians 3:3
But we have been truly circumcised. We serve God by the power of his Spirit. We boast about what Christ Jesus has done. We don’t put our trust in who we are or what we can do.
-
Hebrews 2:17
So he had to be made like people, fully human in every way. Then he could serve God as a kind and faithful high priest. And then he could pay for the sins of the people by dying for them.
-
Romans 4:2
Did he become right with God because of something he did? If so, he could brag about it. But he couldn’t brag to God.
-
2 Corinthians 7 4
I have spoken to you very honestly. I am very proud of you. I am very happy. Even with all our troubles, my joy has no limit.
-
2 Corinthians 12 11-2 Corinthians 12 21
I have made a fool of myself. But you made me do it. You should have praised me. Even though I am nothing, I am in no way less important than the“ super- apostles.”While I was with you, I kept on showing you the actions of a true apostle. These actions include signs, wonders and miracles.How were you less important than the other churches? The only difference was that I didn’t cause you any expense. Forgive me for that wrong!Now I am ready to visit you for the third time. I won’t cause you any expense. I don’t want what you have. What I really want is you. After all, children shouldn’t have to save up for their parents. Parents should save up for their children.So I will be very happy to spend everything I have for you. I will even spend myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?In any case, I haven’t caused you any expense. But I’m so tricky! I have caught you by tricking you! Or so you think!Did I take advantage of you through any of the men I sent to you?I asked Titus to go to you. And I sent our brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?All this time, have you been thinking that I’ve been speaking up for myself? No, I’ve been speaking with God as my witness. I’ve been speaking like a believer in Christ. Dear friends, everything I do is to help you become stronger.I’m afraid that when I come I won’t find you as I want you to be. I’m afraid that you won’t find me as you want me to be. I’m afraid there will be arguing, jealousy and fits of anger. I’m afraid each of you will focus only on getting ahead. Then you will tell lies about each other. You will talk about each other. I’m afraid you will be proud and cause trouble.I’m afraid that when I come again my God will put me to shame in front of you. Then I will be sad about many who sinned earlier and have not turned away from it. They have not turned away from uncleanness, sexual sins and wild living. They have done all those things.
-
2 Corinthians 11 16-2 Corinthians 11 30
I will say it again. Don’t let anyone think I’m a fool. But if you do, put up with me just as you would put up with a fool. Then I can do a little bragging.When I brag about myself like this, I’m not talking the way the Lord would. I’m talking like a fool.Many are bragging the way the people of the world do. So I will brag like that too.You are so wise! You gladly put up with fools!In fact, you even put up with anyone who makes you a slave or uses you. You put up with those who take advantage of you. You put up with those who claim to be better than you. You put up with those who slap you in the face.I’m ashamed to have to say that I was too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to brag about, I also dare to brag about. I’m speaking like a fool!Are they Hebrews? So am I. Do they belong to the people of Israel? So do I. Are they Abraham’s children? So am I.Are they serving Christ? I am serving him even more. I’m out of my mind to talk like this! I have worked much harder. I have been in prison more often. I have suffered terrible beatings. Again and again I almost died.Five times the Jews gave me 39 strokes with a whip.Three times I was beaten with sticks. Once they tried to kill me by throwing stones at me. Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.I have had to keep on the move. I have been in danger from rivers. I have been in danger from robbers. I have been in danger from my fellow Jews and in danger from Gentiles. I have been in danger in the city, in the country, and at sea. I have been in danger from people who pretended they were believers.I have worked very hard. Often I have gone without sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Often I have gone without food. I have been cold and naked.Besides everything else, every day I am concerned about all the churches. It is a very heavy load.If anyone is weak, I feel weak. If anyone is led into sin, I burn on the inside.If I have to brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am.
-
2 Corinthians 3 4-2 Corinthians 3 6
Through Christ, we can be sure of this before God.In ourselves we are not able to claim anything for ourselves. The power to do what we do comes from God.He has given us the power to serve under a new covenant. The covenant is not based on the written Law of Moses. It comes from the Holy Spirit. The written Law kills, but the Spirit gives life.
-
2 Corinthians 12 1
We can’t gain anything by bragging. But I have to do it anyway. I am going to tell you what I’ve seen. I want to talk about what the Lord has shown me.
