| 1:1 |
Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy our brother To the church of God whichthat is atin Corinth withincluding all the saints whothroughout are in the whole of Acha′iaAchaia: |
| 1:3 |
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfortconsolation |
| 1:4 |
who comfortsconsoles us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfortconsole those who are in any affliction with the comfortconsolation with which we ourselves are comfortedconsoled by God |
| 1:5 |
For just as wethe sharesufferings abundantlyof inChrist Christsare sufferingsabundant for us so throughalso Christour weconsolation shareis abundantlyabundant inthrough comfortChrist too |
| 1:6 |
If we are being afflicted it is for your comfortconsolation and salvation; and if we are comfortedbeing consoled it is for your comfortconsolation which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we sufferare also suffering |
| 1:7 |
Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings youso will also you share in our comfortconsolation |
| 1:8 |
ForWe we do not want you to be ignorantunaware brethrenbrothers and sisters of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself |
| 1:9 |
WhyIndeed we felt that we had received the sentence of death; butso that waswe towould make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead; |
| 1:10 |
heHe deliveredwho rescued us from so deadly a peril andwill hecontinue willto deliverrescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will deliverrescue us again |
| 1:11 |
Youas you also mustjoin helpin helping us by prayeryour prayers so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us inthrough answerthe toprayers of many prayers |
| 1:12 |
ForIndeed this is our boast is this the testimony of our conscience: that we have behaved in the world and still more toward you with holinessfrankness and godly sincerity not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God—and all the more toward you |
| 1:13 |
For we write you nothing butother than what you can read and also understand; I hope you will understand fullyuntil the end— |
| 1:14 |
as you have already understood us in part —that youon canthe beday proud of usthe asLord Jesus we canare beyour ofboast youeven onas theyou dayare ofour the Lord Jesusboast |
| 1:15 |
BecauseSince I was sure of this I wanted to come to you first so that you might have a double pleasurefavor; |
| 1:16 |
I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedo′niaMacedonia and to come back to you from Macedo′niaMacedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea |
| 1:17 |
Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this Do I make my plans likeaccording ato worldlyordinary manhuman standards ready to say Yes yes and No no at oncethe same time |
| 1:19 |
For the Son of God Jesus Christ whom we preachedproclaimed among you Silva′nusSilvanus and Timothy and I was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes |
| 1:20 |
For allin thehim promisesevery one of GodGods findpromises theiris a Yes inFor himthis Thatreason it is whythrough him that we uttersay the Amen through him to the glory of God |
| 1:21 |
But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commissionedanointed us; |
| 1:22 |
heby hasputting put his seal uponon us and givengiving us his Spirit in our hearts as a guaranteefirst installment |
| 1:23 |
But I call on God toas witness against me—: it was to spare you that I refraineddid fromnot comingcome again to Corinth |
| 1:24 |
NotI do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather we workare workers with you for your joy forbecause you stand firm in yourthe faith |
| 2:1 |
ForSo I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit |
| 2:3 |
And I wrote as I did so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I feltam sureconfident ofabout all of you that my joy would be the joy of all of you all |
| 2:4 |
For I wrote you out of much afflictiondistress and anguish of heart and with many tears not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you |
| 2:5 |
But if anyanyone one has caused pain he has caused it not to me but into some measureextent—not to putexaggerate it too severely—to all of you all |
| 2:6 |
ForThis such a one this punishment by the majority is enough for such a person; |
| 2:7 |
so now instead you should rather turn to forgive and comfortconsole him orso that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow |
| 2:8 |
So I begurge you to reaffirm your love for him |
| 2:9 |
For this is why I wrote thatfor Ithis mightreason: to test you and to know whether you are obedient in everything |
| 2:10 |
AnyAnyone one whom you forgive I also forgive What I have forgiven if I have forgiven anything has been for your sake in the presence of Christ |
| 2:11 |
toAnd keepwe Satando fromthis gainingso thethat advantagewe overmay usnot be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs |
| 2:12 |
When I came to Tro′asTroas to preachproclaim the gospelgood news of Christ a door was opened for me in the Lord; |
| 2:13 |
but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there So I tooksaid leavefarewell ofto them and went on to Macedo′niaMacedonia |
| 2:14 |
But thanks be to God who in Christ always leads us in triumphtriumphal procession and through us spreads in every place the fragrance ofthat thecomes knowledgefrom ofknowing him everywhere |
| 2:15 |
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; |
| 2:16 |
to the one a fragrance from death to death to the other a fragrance from life to life Who is sufficient for these things |
| 2:17 |
For we are not like so many peddlers of Gods word like so many; but asin menChrist ofwe sincerityspeak as commissionedpersons byof Godsincerity inas thepersons sightsent offrom God weand speakstanding in Christhis presence |
| 3:1 |
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again OrSurely we do wenot need as some do letters of recommendation to you or from you do we |
| 3:2 |
You yourselves are our letter of recommendation written on yourour hearts to be known and read by all men; |
| 3:3 |
and you show that you are a letter fromof Christ deliveredprepared by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts |
| 3:6 |
who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant not inof aletter written code but inof the Spiritspirit; for the writtenletter code kills but the Spirit gives life |
| 3:7 |
Now if the dispensationministry of death carvedchiseled in letters on stone tablets came within suchglory splendorso that the Israelitespeople of Israel could not lookgaze at Moses face because of itsthe brightnessglory fadingof ashis thisface wasa glory now set aside |
| 3:8 |
how much more will not the dispensationministry of the Spirit become attendedin withglory greater splendor |
| 3:9 |
For if there was splendorglory in the dispensationministry of condemnation themuch dispensationmore ofdoes righteousnessthe mustministry farof exceedjustification itabound in splendorglory |
| 3:10 |
Indeed in this case what once had splendorglory has comelost toits haveglory no splendor at all because of the splendorgreater thatglory; surpasses it |
| 3:11 |
Forfor if what fadedwas awayset aside came withthrough splendorglory whatmuch ismore permanenthas mustthe havepermanent muchcome morein splendorglory |
| 3:12 |
Since then we have such a hope we areact verywith boldgreat boldness |
| 3:13 |
not like Moses who put a veil over his face soto thatkeep the Israelitespeople mightof notIsrael seefrom gazing at the end of the fadingglory splendorthat was being set aside |
| 3:14 |
But their minds were hardened; forIndeed to this very day when they readhear the reading of the old covenant that same veil remainsis unliftedstill becausethere since only throughin Christ is it takenset awayaside |
| 3:15 |
YesIndeed to this very day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; |
| 3:16 |
but when aone man turns to the Lord the veil is removed |
| 3:18 |
And we all of us with unveiled facefaces beholdingseeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror are being changedtransformed into histhe likenesssame image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit |
| 4:1 |
Therefore havingsince thisit ministryis by theGods mercy ofthat Godwe are engaged in this ministry we do not lose heart |
| 4:2 |
We have renounced disgracefulthe underhandedshameful waysthings that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamperfalsify with Gods word; but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everythe mans conscience of everyone in the sight of God |
| 4:3 |
And even if our gospel is veiled it is veiled only to those who are perishing |
| 4:4 |
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the likenessimage of God |
| 4:5 |
For what we preachdo is not proclaim ourselves; butwe proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord withand ourselves as your servantsslaves for Jesus sake |
| 4:6 |
For it is the God who said Let light shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ |
| 4:7 |
But we have this treasure in earthenclay vesselsjars toso showthat it may be made clear that thethis transcendentextraordinary power belongs to God and does not tocome from us |
| 4:10 |
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifestedmade visible in our bodies |
| 4:11 |
For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus sake so that the life of Jesus may be manifestedmade visible in our mortal flesh |
| 4:13 |
SinceBut just as we have the same spirit of faith asthat heis hadin whoaccordance wrotewith scripture—I believed and so I spoke —we tooalso believe and so we speak |
| 4:14 |
knowingbecause we know that hethe one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence |
| 4:15 |
ForYes iteverything is all for your sake so that grace as graceit extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God |
| 4:16 |
So we do not lose heart ThoughEven though our outer nature is wasting away our inner nature is being renewed everyday by day |
| 4:17 |
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparisonmeasure |
| 4:18 |
because we look not toat thewhat thingscan thatbe are seen but toat thewhat thingscannot thatbe are unseenseen; for thewhat thingscan thatbe are seen areis transienttemporary but thewhat thingscannot thatbe areseen unseenis are eternal |
| 5:2 |
HereFor indeedin this tent we groan andlonging long to putbe onclothed with our heavenly dwelling— |
| 5:3 |
soif thatindeed bywhen puttingwe have taken it onoff we maywill not be found naked |
| 5:4 |
For while we are still in this tent we sighgroan withunder anxiety;our notburden thatbecause we wouldwish not to be unclothed but thatto we would be further clothed so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life |
| 5:6 |
So we are always ofconfident; goodeven courage;though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— |
| 5:8 |
WeYes arewe ofdo goodhave courageconfidence and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord |
| 5:10 |
For weall of us must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive goodrecompense orfor evil according to what he has been done in the body whether good or evil |
| 5:11 |
Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord we try to persuade menothers; but what we ourselves are iswell known to God and I hope itthat iswe knownare also well known to your conscienceconsciences |
| 5:12 |
We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you causean opportunity to beboast proudabout of us so that you may be able to answer those who prideboast themselvesin onoutward aappearance mans position and not onin histhe heart |
| 5:14 |
For the love of Christ controlsurges us on because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died |
| 5:15 |
And he died for all so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised for them |
| 5:16 |
From now on therefore we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regardedknew Christ from a human point of view we regardknow him thus no longer in that way |
| 5:17 |
ThereforeSo if anyanyone one is in Christ hethere is a new creation;: theeverything old has passed away; beholdsee theeverything new has comebecome new |
| 5:18 |
All this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself through Christ and gavehas given us the ministry of reconciliation; |
| 5:19 |
that is in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation to us |
| 5:20 |
So we are ambassadors for Christ since God is making his appeal through us; Wewe beseechentreat you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God |
| 6:1 |
WorkingAs we work together with him then we entreaturge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain |
| 6:2 |
For he says At thean acceptable time I have listened to you and helped you on thea day of salvation BeholdI have helped you See now is the acceptable time; beholdsee now is the day of salvation |
| 6:3 |
We putare putting no obstacle in anyanyones ones way so that no fault may be found with our ministry |
| 6:4 |
but as servants of God we commendhave commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance in afflictions hardships calamities |
| 6:5 |
beatings imprisonments tumultsriots labors watchingsleepless nights hunger; |
| 6:6 |
by purity knowledge forbearancepatience kindness theholiness Holyof Spiritspirit genuine love |
| 6:9 |
as unknown and yet are well known; as dying and behold see—we liveare alive; as punished and yet not killed; |
| 6:11 |
OurWe mouthhave isspoken openfrankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you |
| 6:12 |
YouThere areis notno restrictedrestriction byin usour affections but youonly are restricted in youryours own affections |
| 6:13 |
In return—I speak as to children—widenopen wide your hearts also |
| 6:14 |
Do not be mismatedmismatched with unbelievers For what partnership haveis there between righteousness and iniquitylawlessness Or what fellowship hasis there between light withand darkness |
| 6:15 |
What accordagreement hasdoes Christ have with Be′lialBeliar Or what hasdoes a believer inshare common with an unbeliever |
| 6:16 |
What agreement has the temple of God with idols For we are the temple of the living God; as God said I will live in them and movewalk among them and I will be their God and they shall be my people |
| 6:18 |
and I will be ayour father to you and you shall be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty |
| 7:1 |
Since we have these promises beloved let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit andmaking make holiness perfect in the fear of God |
| 7:2 |
OpenMake room in your hearts tofor us; we have wronged no one we have corrupted no one we have taken advantage of no one |
| 7:4 |
I haveoften greatboast confidenceabout in you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfortconsolation; WithI am overjoyed in all our affliction I am overjoyed |
| 7:5 |
For even when we came into Macedo′niaMacedonia our bodies had no rest but we were afflicted atin every turnway—fightingdisputes without and fearfears within |
| 7:6 |
But God who comfortsconsoles the downcast comfortedconsoled us by the comingarrival of Titus |
| 7:7 |
and not only by his coming but also by the comfortconsolation with which he was comfortedconsoled inabout you as he told us of your longing your mourning your zeal for me so that I rejoiced still more |
| 7:8 |
For even if I made you sorry with my letter I do not regret it though I did regret it for I see that thatI letter grieved you with that letter though only forbriefly a while |
| 7:9 |
AsNow it is I rejoice not because you were grieved but because youyour weregrief grievedled intoto repentingrepentance; for you felt a godly grief so that you sufferedwere nonot lossharmed throughin any way by us |
| 7:12 |
So although I wrote to you it was not on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the one who sufferedwas thewronged wrong but in order that your zeal for us might be revealedmade known to you inbefore the sight of God |
| 7:13 |
ThereforeIn this we arefind comfortedcomfort AndIn besidesaddition to our own comfortconsolation we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus because his mind has been set at rest by all of you all |
| 7:14 |
For if I have expressedbeen tosomewhat himboastful someabout prideyou into youhim I was not put to shamedisgraced; but just as everything we said to you was true so our boasting beforeto Titus has proved true as well |
| 7:15 |
And his heart goes out all the more to you as he remembers the obedience of all of you all and thehow fearyou andwelcomed tremblinghim with whichfear youand receivedtrembling him |
| 7:16 |
I rejoice because I have perfectcomplete confidence in you |
| 8:1 |
We want you to know brethrenbrothers and sisters about the grace of God whichthat has been showngranted into the churches of Macedo′niaMacedonia; |
| 8:2 |
for induring a severe testordeal of affliction their abundanceabundant of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberalitygenerosity on their part |
| 8:3 |
For as I can testify they voluntarily gave according to their means asand Ieven can testify and beyond their means of their own free will |
| 8:4 |
begging us earnestly for the favorprivilege of takingsharing part in thethis reliefministry ofto the saints— |
| 8:5 |
and this not merely as we expected; but first they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God to us |
| 8:6 |
Accordinglyso that we havemight urgedurge Titus that as he had already made a beginning so he should also complete amongthis yougenerous thisundertaking graciousamong workyou |
| 8:7 |
Now as you excel in everything—in faith in utterancespeech in knowledge in allutmost earnestnesseagerness and in yourour love for usyou —seeso thatwe want you to excel also in this graciousgenerous work alsoundertaking |
| 8:8 |
I do not say this not as a command but toI proveam bytesting the earnestnessgenuineness of others that your love alsoagainst isthe genuineearnestness of others |
| 8:9 |
For you know the gracegenerous act of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakesakes he became poor so that by his poverty you might become rich |
| 8:10 |
And in this matter I giveam giving my advice: it is bestappropriate for you nowwho tobegan completelast what a year ago you began not only to do something but even to desire to do something— |
| 8:11 |
now finish doing it so that your readinesseagerness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it outaccording ofto whatyour youmeans have |
| 8:12 |
For if the readinesseagerness is there itthe gift is acceptable according to what aone man has —not according to what heone hasdoes not have |
| 8:13 |
I do not mean that othersthere should be easedrelief for others and pressure on you burdenedbut it is a question of a fair balance between |
| 8:14 |
but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present timeabundance shouldand supply their wantneed so that their abundance may supplybe for your wantneed in order that there may be equalitya fair balance |
| 8:15 |
As it is written HeThe one who gatheredhad much haddid nothingnot overhave too much and hethe one who gatheredhad little haddid nonot lackhave too little |
| 8:16 |
But thanks be to God who putsput in the heart of Titus the same earnesteagerness care for you intothat theI heartmyself ofhave Titus |
| 8:17 |
For he not only accepted our appeal but beingsince himselfhe veryis earnestmore eager than ever he is going to you of his own accord |
| 8:18 |
With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preachingproclaiming of the gospelgood news; |
| 8:19 |
and not only that but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us inwhile thiswe graciousare workadministering whichthis wegenerous areundertaking carrying on for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodgoodwill will |
| 8:20 |
We intend that no one should blame us about this liberalgenerous gift whichthat we are administering |
| 8:21 |
for we aimintend atto do what is honorableright not only in the Lords sight but also in the sight of menothers |
| 8:22 |
And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnesteager in many matters but who is now more earnesteager than ever because of his great confidence in you |
| 8:23 |
As for Titus he is my partner and fellowco worker in your service; and as for our brethrenbrothers they are messengers of the churches the glory of Christ |
| 8:24 |
SoTherefore giveopenly proof before the churches show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you to these men |
| 9:1 |
Now it is superfluousnot necessary for me to write to you about the offeringministry forto the saints |
| 9:2 |
for I know your readinesseagerness which is the subject of whichmy Iboasting boast about you to the people of Macedo′niaMacedonia saying that Acha′iaAchaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them |
| 9:3 |
But I am sending the brethrenbrothers soin order that our boasting about you may not prove vainto have been empty in this case so that you may be ready as I said you would be; |
| 9:4 |
lestotherwise if some Macedo′niansMacedonians come with me and find that you are not ready we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—forin beingthis soundertaking confident |
| 9:5 |
So I thought it necessary to urge the brethrenbrothers to go on ahead to you before me and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised so that it may be ready not as ana exactionvoluntary butgift and not as aan willing giftextortion |
| 9:6 |
The point is this: hethe one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and hethe one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully |
| 9:7 |
Each oneof you must dogive as heyou hashave made up hisyour mind not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver |
| 9:8 |
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that youby may always havehaving enough of everything andyou may provideshare abundantly in abundance for every good work |
| 9:9 |
As it is written He scatters abroad he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for everforever |
| 9:10 |
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resourcesseed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness |
| 9:11 |
You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity which through us will produce thanksgiving to God through us; |
| 9:12 |
for the rendering of this serviceministry not only supplies the wantsneeds of the saints but also overflows inwith many thanksgivings to God |
| 9:13 |
UnderThrough the testtesting of this serviceministry you will glorify God by your obedience into acknowledgingthe confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your contributionsharing forwith them and forwith all others; |
| 9:14 |
while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God inthat he has given you |
| 9:15 |
Thanks be to God for his inexpressibleindescribable gift |
| 10:1 |
I myself Paul myselfappeal entreatto you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you but bold totoward you when I am away— |
| 10:2 |
I begask of you that when I am present I mayneed not have to show boldness withby suchdaring confidenceto asoppose Ithose count on showing against some who suspectthink uswe ofare acting inaccording worldlyto fashionhuman standards |
| 10:3 |
ForIndeed though we live inas thehuman worldbeings but we aredo not carryingwage onwar aaccording worldlyto warhuman standards; |
| 10:4 |
for the weapons of our warfare are not worldlymerely human but they have divine power to destroy strongholds We destroy arguments |
| 10:5 |
We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle toraised up against the knowledge of God and we take every thought captive to obey Christ |
| 10:6 |
beingWe are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete |
| 10:7 |
Look at what is before your eyes If anyyou oneare is confident that heyou isbelong Christsto letChrist him remind himselfyourself of this that just as heyou isbelong Christsto Christ so arealso do we |
| 10:8 |
ForNow even if I boast a little too much of our authority which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroyingtearing you down I shallwill not be putashamed toof shameit |
| 10:9 |
I woulddo not want to seem as though I am trying to befrighten frightening you with my letters |
| 10:10 |
For they say His letters are weighty and strong but his bodily presence is weak and his speech ofcontemptible no account |
| 10:11 |
Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent we will also do when present |
| 10:12 |
NotWe thatdo wenot venturedare to classclassify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another they aredo withoutnot understandingshow good sense |
| 10:13 |
ButWe wehowever will not boast beyond limitlimits but will keep towithin the limitsfield that God has apportionedassigned to us to reach out even toas far as you |
| 10:14 |
For we arewere not overextendingoverstepping ourselvesour aslimits thoughwhen we didreached not reach you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospelgood news of Christ |
| 10:15 |
We do not boast beyond limitlimits that is in otherthe menslabors laborsof others; but our hope is that as your faith increases our fieldsphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged |
| 10:16 |
so that we may preachproclaim the gospelgood news in lands beyond you without boasting of work already done in anotherssomeone fieldelses sphere of action |
| 10:17 |
Let himthe one who boasts boast ofin the Lord |
| 10:18 |
For it is not thethose man who commendscommend himselfthemselves that isare acceptedapproved but thethose man whom the Lord commends |
| 11:2 |
I feel a divine jealousy for you for I betrothedpromised you in marriage to Christone husband to present you as a purechaste bridevirgin to herChrist one husband |
| 11:3 |
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by hisits cunning your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ |
| 11:4 |
For if somesomeone one comes and preachesproclaims another Jesus than the one we preachedproclaimed or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted you submit to it readily enough |
| 11:5 |
I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlativesuper apostles |
| 11:6 |
EvenI ifmay Ibe amuntrained unskilled in speakingspeech Ibut am not in knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this plainevident to you in all things |
| 11:7 |
Did I commit a sin inby abasinghumbling myself so that you might be exalted because I preachedproclaimed Gods gospelgood withoutnews cost to you free of charge |
| 11:9 |
And when I was with you and was in wantneed I did not burden anyanyone one for my needs were supplied by the brethrenfriends who came from Macedo′niaMacedonia So I refrained and will continue to refrain from burdening you in any way |
| 11:10 |
As the truth of Christ is in me this boast of mine shallwill not be silenced in the regions of Acha′iaAchaia |
| 11:12 |
And what I do I will also continue to do in order to underminedeny thean claimopportunity ofto those who wouldwant likean opportunity to claimbe thatrecognized inas theirour boastedequals missionin what they workboast onabout the same terms as we do |
| 11:13 |
For such menboasters are false apostles deceitful workmenworkers disguising themselves as apostles of Christ |
| 11:14 |
And no wonder forEven even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light |
| 11:15 |
So it is not strange if his servantsministers also disguise themselves as servantsministers of righteousness Their end will correspondmatch to their deeds |
| 11:16 |
I repeat let no one think methat foolishI am a fool; but even if you do then accept me as a fool so that I too may boast a little |
| 11:17 |
What I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence I sayam saying not with the Lords authority but as a fool in this boastful confidence; |
| 11:18 |
since many boast ofaccording worldlyto thingshuman standards I too will also boast |
| 11:19 |
For you gladly bearput up with fools being wise yourselves |
| 11:20 |
For you bearput up with it ifwhen asomeone man makes slaves of you or preys upon you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or strikesgives you a slap in the face |
| 11:21 |
To my shame I must say we were too weak for that But whatever anyanyone one dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that |
| 11:23 |
Are they servantsministers of Christ I am talking like a better onemadman—I am talkinga likebetter aone: madman—with far greater labors far more imprisonments with countless beatingsfloggings and often near death |
| 11:24 |
Five times I have received atfrom the hands of the Jews the forty lashes lessminus one |
| 11:25 |
Three times I havewas been beaten with rods; onceOnce I wasreceived stoneda stoning Three times I havewas been shipwrecked; for a night and a day I havewas been adrift at sea; |
| 11:26 |
on frequent journeys in danger from rivers danger from robbersbandits danger from my own people danger from Gentiles danger in the city danger in the wilderness danger at sea danger from false brethrenbrothers and sisters; |
| 11:27 |
in toil and hardship through many a sleepless night inhungry hunger and thirstthirsty often without food in cold and exposurenaked |
| 11:28 |
And apartbesides from other things thereI isam theunder daily pressure uponbecause me of my anxiety for all the churches |
| 11:29 |
Who is weak and I am not weak Who is made to fallstumble and I am not indignant |
| 11:31 |
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus heblessed whobe ishe blessedforever for ever knows that I do not lie |
| 11:32 |
AtIn Damascus the governor under King Ar′etasAretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me |
| 11:33 |
but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands |
| 12:1 |
IIt mustis necessary to boast; therenothing is nothing to be gained by it but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord |
| 12:2 |
I know a manperson in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows |
| 12:3 |
And I know that thissuch mana was caught up into Paradiseperson—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— |
| 12:4 |
was caught up into Paradise and he heard things that cannotare not to be told whichthat manno maymortal notis utterpermitted to repeat |
| 12:5 |
On behalf of thissuch mana one I will boast but on my own behalf I will not boast except of my weaknesses |
| 12:6 |
ThoughBut if I wish to boast I shallwill not be a fool for I shallwill be speaking the truth But I refrain from it so that no one may think morebetter of me than hewhat seesis seen in me or hearsheard from me |
| 12:7 |
Andeven considering the exceptional character of the revelations Therefore to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations a thorn was given me in the flesh a messenger of Satan to harasstorment me to keep me from being too elated |
| 12:8 |
Three times I besoughtappealed to the Lord about this that it shouldwould leave me; |
| 12:9 |
but he said to me My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness So I will boast all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may restdwell uponin me |
| 12:10 |
ForTherefore the sake of Christ then I am content with weaknesses insults hardships persecutions and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenwhenever I am weak then I am strong |
| 12:11 |
I have been a fool You forced me to it forIndeed Iyou oughtshould to have been commendedthe byones youcommending Forme for I wasam not at all inferior to these superlativesuper apostles even though I am nothing |
| 12:12 |
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you inwith allutmost patience with signs and wonders and mighty works |
| 12:13 |
ForHow inhave whatyou werebeen youworse lessoff favored than the restother of the churches except that I myself did not burden you Forgive me this wrong |
| 12:14 |
Here for the third time I am ready to come to you this third time And I will not be a burden forbecause I seekdo not want what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents but parents for their children |
| 12:15 |
I will most gladly spend and be spent for youryou souls If I love you the more am I to be loved the less |
| 12:16 |
ButLet grantingit be assumed that I myself did not burden you INevertheless was crafty you say andsince gotI thewas bettercrafty ofI took you in by guiledeceit |
| 12:18 |
I urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him Did Titus did not take advantage of you did he Did we not actconduct inourselves with the same spirit Did we not take the same steps |
| 12:19 |
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you ItWe isare speaking in theChrist sightbefore of God thatEverything we havedo beenbeloved speakingis infor Christthe andsake allof forbuilding youryou upbuildingup beloved |
| 12:20 |
For I fear that perhapswhen I may come andI may find you not whatas I wish and that you may find me not whatas you wish; I fear that perhaps there may perhaps be quarreling jealousy anger selfishness slander gossip conceit and disorder |
| 12:21 |
I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you and that I may have to mourn over many ofwho thosepreviously who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity sexual immorality and licentiousness whichthat they have practiced |
| 13:2 |
I warned those who sinned beforepreviously and all the others and I warn them now while absent as I did when present on my second visit that if I come again I will not sparebe themlenient— |
| 13:4 |
For he was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God For we are weak in him but in dealing with you we shallwill live with him by the power of God |
| 13:5 |
Examine yourselves to see whether you are holdingliving toin yourthe faith Test yourselves Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail to meet the test |
| 13:7 |
But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test but that you may do what is right though we may seem to have failed |
| 13:9 |
For we arerejoice glad when we are weak and you are strong WhatThis is what we pray for isthat youryou improvementmay become perfect |
| 13:10 |
So I write thisthese things while I am away from you inso order that when I come I may not have to be severe in myusing use of the authority whichthat the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down |
| 13:11 |
Finally brethrenbrothers and sisters farewell MendPut yourthings waysin heedorder listen to my appeal agree with one another live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you |
| 13:12 |
Greet one another with a holy kiss All the saints greet you |
| 13:13 |
AllThe grace of the saintsLord greetJesus Christ the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you |
| 13:14 |
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all |