²¹ After all this had happened, Paul decided^[a] to go to Jerusalem,^(A) passing through Macedonia^(B) and Achaia.^(C) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”^(D)

² He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,

³⁴ Anyone who is hungry^(A) should eat something at home,^(B) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come^(C) I will give further directions.

Personal Requests

⁵ After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you^(A)—for I will be going through Macedonia.^{(B) 6} Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey,^(C) wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.^{(D) 8} But I will stay on at Ephesus^(E) until Pentecost,^{(F) 9} because a great door for effective work has opened to me,^(G) and there are many who oppose me.

¹⁰ When Timothy^(H) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord,^(I) just as I am. ¹¹ No one, then, should treat him with contempt.^(J) Send him on his way^(K) in peace^(L) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

¹² Now about our brother Apollos:^(M) I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm^(N) in the faith; be courageous; be strong.^{(O) 14} Do everything in love.^(P)

¹⁵ You know that the household of Stephanas^(Q) were the first converts^(R) in Achaia,^(S) and they have devoted themselves to the service^(T) of the Lord’s people.^(U) I urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁶ to submit^(V) to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. ¹⁷ I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.^{(W) 18} For they refreshed^(X) my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.^(Y)

Final Greetings

¹⁹ The churches in the province of Asia^(Z) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla^[a](AA) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.^{(AB) 20} All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(AC)

²¹ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(AD)

²² If anyone does not love the Lord,^(AE) let that person be cursed!^(AF) Come, Lord^[b]!^(AG)

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.^(AH)

²⁴ My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.^[c]

⁷ For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.^{(A) 8} But I will stay on at Ephesus^(B) until Pentecost,^{(C) 9} because a great door for effective work has opened to me,^(D) and there are many who oppose me.

¹⁵ Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you^(A) first so that you might benefit twice.^{(B) 16} I wanted to visit you on my way^(C) to Macedonia^(D) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way^(E) to Judea.^{(F) 17} Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner^(G) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful,^(H) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God,^(I) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[a](J) and Timothy^(K)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always^(L) been “Yes.” ²⁰ For no matter how many promises^(M) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(N) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^{(O) 21} Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm^(P) in Christ. He anointed^(Q) us, ²² set his seal^(R) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(S)

²³ I call God as my witness^(T)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you^(U) that I did not return to Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we lord it over^(V) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.^(W)