Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
12 I beg you, my friends, be like me. After all, I am like you. You have not done me any wrong.
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I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
13 You remember why I preached the gospel to you the first time; it was because I was sick.
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As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,
14 But even though my physical condition was a great trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you received me as you would an angel from heaven; you received me as you would Christ Jesus.
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and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.
15 You were so happy! What has happened? I myself can say that you would have taken out your own eyes, if you could, and given them to me.
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Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
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Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those other people show a deep interest in you, but their intentions are not good. All they want is to separate you from me, so that you will have the same interest in them as they have in you.
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Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
18 Now, it is good to have such a deep interest if the purpose is good - this is true always, and not merely when I am with you.
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It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.
19 My dear children! Once again, just like a mother in childbirth, I feel the same kind of pain for you until Christ's nature is formed in you.
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My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20 How I wish I were with you now, so that I could take a different attitude toward you. I am so worried about you!
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how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.