Ye are Superior to Me.
May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to any of you that are at liberty. I know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have Jesus Christ in yourselves. And all the more when I commend you, I know that ye cherish modesty [711] of spirit; as it is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser." [712]

May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to one of you that are at liberty. I know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have Jesus in yourselves. And all the more when I commend you, I know that ye cherish modesty [713] of spirit; as it is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser;" [714] and again, "Declare thou first thine iniquities, that thou mayest be justified;" [715] and again, "When ye shall have done all things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants;" [716] "for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." [717] For says [the Scripture], "God be merciful to me a sinner." [718] Therefore those great ones, Abraham and Job, [719] styled themselves "dust and ashes [720] before God. And David says, "Who am I before Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast glorified me hitherto?" [721] And Moses, who was "the meekest of all men," [722] saith to God, "I am of a feeble voice, and of a slow tongue." [723] Be ye therefore also of a humble spirit, that ye may be exalted; for "he that abaseth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased." [724]


Footnotes:

[711] Literally, "are reverent."

[712] Proverbs 18:17. (LXX).

[713] Literally, "are reverent."

[714] Proverbs 18:17. (LXX).

[715] Isaiah 43:26.

[716] Luke 17:10.

[717] Luke 16:15.

[718] Luke 18:13.

[719] Some read, "Jacob."

[720] Genesis 18:27; Job 30:19.

[721] 1 Chronicles 17:16.

[722] Numbers 12:3.

[723] Exodus 4:10.

[724] Luke 14:11.

chapter xi i write these things
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