Verse 17: I have therefore my glorying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. The "therefore" connects this verse with what Paul had just said. His ministering the gospel in making Gentile converts as his offering to God was the work in which he gloried. He thus reminded the Judaizers and all who might be influenced by them that he did not glory in his Jewish blood nor in anything that pertained to Judaism, but only in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God; "for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." That is, he had no confidence in his Jewish flesh--no confidence in the fact that he was a Jew. Christ Jesus was the center of all Paul's preach-ing; the purpose of his life was to do all things that were pleasing to him. "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). "They desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But be it far from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:13-14).