Just as we have a share in Christ's many sufferings, so also through Christ we share in God's great help.

We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead.

Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory.

I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

To conclude: let no one give me any more trouble, because the scars I have on my body show that I am the slave of Jesus.

All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death,

in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.

And now I am happy about my sufferings for you, for by means of my physical sufferings I am helping to complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, the church.

For even though it was in weakness that he was put to death on the cross, it is by God's power that he lives. In union with him we also are weak; but in our relations with you we shall share God's power in his life.

In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live.

One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, "Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up,

for I am with you. No one will be able to harm you, for many in this city are my people."

Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory.

This is a true saying: "If we have died with him, we shall also live with him.

Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed.

When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the first and the last.