Study Desk

That Good News, the message you heard from me, is God's way to save you. But you must continue believing it. If you don't, you believed for nothing.

I gave you the message that I received. I told you the most important truths: that Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say;

And if Christ has not been raised from death, then your faith is for nothing; you are still guilty of your sins.

If our hope in Christ is only for this life here on earth, then people should feel more sorry for us than for anyone else.

If no one will ever be raised from death, then what will the people do who are baptized for those who have died? If the dead are never raised, then why are people baptized for them?

I fought wild animals in Ephesus. If I did that only for human reasons, then I have gained nothing. If we are not raised from death, "Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we die."

But God gives it the body that he has planned for it, and he gives each kind of seed its own body.

Now, about the collection of money for God's people: Do the same as I told the Galatian churches to do.

If it seems good for me to go too, we can all travel together.

Maybe I will stay with you for a time. I might even stay all winter. Then you can help me on my trip, wherever I go.

I will stay here, because a good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given to me now. And there are many people working against it.

Timothy might come to you. Try to make him feel comfortable with you. He is working for the Lord the same as I am.

If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is so that we can comfort you. And this helps you patiently accept the same sufferings we have.

Our hope for you is strong. We know that you share in our sufferings. So we know that you also share in our comfort.

Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there, which were greater than our own strength. We even gave up hope for life.

And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us—that God blessed us because of their many prayers.

I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and again on my way back. I wanted to get help from you for my trip to Judea.

And God is the one who makes you and us strong in Christ. God is also the one who chose us for his work.

I don't mean that we are trying to control your faith. You are strong in faith. But we are workers with you for your own happiness.

The punishment that most of your group gave him is enough for him.