⁵circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; ⁶concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

⁷However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ. ⁸Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ

To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

²⁴Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? ²⁷For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.