Y’all are to remain in me, and I in y’all. Just as a branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can y’all unless y’all remain in me.
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.
But the seed that fell on the excellent ground, these are the ones who have an honest and excellent heart, who hear the word, hold it tightly, and through perseverance, produce fruit.
Y’all must examine yourselves to see whether y’all are in the faith. Y’all should test yourselves. Or do y’all not recognize that Jesus Christ is in y’all?—unless indeed y’all fail the test.
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must go through many persecutions to enter the Empire of God.”
if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a deacon.
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I sent to find out about y’all’s faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted y’all, and our labor would have been in vain.
Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.