1 |
Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our
brother,
unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which
are in
all Achaia: 2Grace be to you and peace from God our Father,
and from
the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be God, even the
Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all
comfort; 4Who
comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort
them which
are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted
of God.
5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our
consolation
also aboundeth by Christ. 6And whether we be afflicted, it
is
for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring
of the
same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it
is
for your consolation and salvation. 7And our hope of you is
stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall
ye
be also of the consolation. 8For we would not,
brethren, have
you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were
pressed out
of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9But
we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in
ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10Who
delivered us
from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will
yet
deliver us; 11Ye also helping together by prayer
for us, that
for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons
thanks may be
given by many on our behalf.
12For
our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience,
that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by
the
grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more
abundantly to
you-ward. 13For we write none other things unto you, than
what ye
read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; 14As
also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even
as ye
also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
15And
in this confidence I was minded to come unto you
before, that ye might have a second benefit; 16And to pass
by you
into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you
to be
brought on my way toward Judaea. 17When I therefore was
thus minded,
did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose
according to
the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? 18But
as
God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. 19For
[The Son of God SG->24],
Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and
Silvanus
and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20For
all
the promises of God in him are yea, and in him [Amin
AM.C->10], unto the glory of God
by us. 21Now
he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is
God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of
the Spirit
in our hearts. 23Moreover I call God for a record upon my
soul, that
to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24Not for that
we have
dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye
stand.
2 |
But I
determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in
heaviness. 2For
if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same
which is
made sorry by me? 3And I wrote this same unto you, lest,
when I
came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having
confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4For
out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many
tears;
not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I
have
more abundantly unto you. 5But if any have caused grief, he
hath not
grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6Sufficient
to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7So
that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and
comfort him,
lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8Wherefore
I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9For
to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you,
whether ye be
obedient in all things. 10To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive
also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for
your sakes forgave
I it in the person of Christ; 11Lest Satan should get
an
advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 12Furthermore,
when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was
opened
unto me of the Lord, 13I had no rest in my spirit, because
I found
not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence
into
Macedonia. 14Now thanks be unto God, which always
causeth us
to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge
by us in
every place. 15For we are unto God a sweet savour of
Christ, in them
that are saved, and in them that perish: 16To the one we
are
the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life
unto life.
And who is sufficient for these things? 17For we
are not as
many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of
God, in the
sight of God speak we in Christ.
3 |
Do we
begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others,
epistles
of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2Ye
are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3Forasmuch
as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ
ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in
tables of
stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4And
such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5Not
that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves;
but our
sufficiency is of God; 6Who also hath made us able
ministers
of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the
letter
killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7But if the
ministration of
death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that
the
children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for
the glory
of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How
shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For
if
the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the
ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even
that which
was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory
that
excelleth. 11For if that which is done away was
glorious,
much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12Seeing
then
that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13And
not
as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of
Israel
could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14But
their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail
untaken
away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done
away in
Christ. 15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the
vail is
upon their heart. 16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the
Lord, the
vail shall be taken away. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit:
and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But
we
all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the
Lord.
4 |
Therefore
seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2But
have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in
craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3But
if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4In
whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the
light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine
unto them. 5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord;
and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who
commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ.
7But we
have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8We
are
troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed,
but not in
despair; 9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not
destroyed; 10Always bearing about in the body the dying of
the Lord
Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11For
we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the
life
also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So
then
death worketh in us, but life in you. 13We having the same
spirit of
faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I
spoken; we
also believe, and therefore speak; 14Knowing that he which
raised up
the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us
with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that
the
abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the
glory of
God. 16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward
man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17For
our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we
look not at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for
the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal.
5 |
For we
know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were
dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens. 2For
in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house
which is
from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be
found
naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle do
groan, being
burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that
mortality
might be swallowed up of life. 5Now he that hath wrought us
for the
selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest
of the
Spirit. 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing
that,
whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7For
we walk by faith, not by sight: 8We are confident, I
say, and
willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the
Lord. 9Wherefore
we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one
may
receive the things done in his body, according to that
he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
11Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;
but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest
in your
consciences. 12For we commend not ourselves again unto you,
but give
you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer
them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13For
whether we
be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it
is
for your cause. 14For the love of Christ constraineth us;
because we
thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And
that
he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16Wherefore
henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known
Christ
after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all
things are
of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath
given to us
the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in
Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto
them; and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now
then we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you
in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath
made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of
God in him.
6 |
We then, as
workers together with him, beseech you also that ye
receive not
the grace of God in vain. 2For he saith, I have heard thee
in a time
accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold,
now is
the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3Giving
no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4But
in
all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5In
stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in
fastings; 6By
pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy
Spirit, by
love unfeigned, 7By the word of truth, by the power of God,
by the
armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8By
honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and
yet
true; 9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying,
and, behold,
we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10As sorrowful, yet
alway
rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet
possessing all things.
11O ye
Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our
heart is enlarged. 12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye
are
straitened in your own bowels. 13Now for a recompence in
the same, I
speak as unto my children, be ye also enlarged. 14Be
ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or
what part
hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what
agreement hath
the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God;
as God
hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will
be their
God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from
among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you,
and ye
shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
7 |
Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God.
2Receive
us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no
man, we have defrauded no man. 3I speak not this to
condemn you:
for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4Great
is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my
glorying of you:
I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5For,
when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were
troubled
on every side; without were fightings, within were
fears. 6Nevertheless
God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the
coming of
Titus; 7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation
wherewith
he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your
mourning,
your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8For
though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did
repent:
for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it
were
but for a season. 9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made
sorry, but
that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly
manner,
that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10For godly
sorrow
worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow
of the
world worketh death. 11For behold this selfsame thing, that
ye
sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what
clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what
fear,
yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what
revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear
in this
matter. 12Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it
not
for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered
wrong,
but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. 13Therefore
we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed
we for
the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14For
if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we
spake
all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made
before
Titus, is found a truth. 15And his inward affection is more
abundant
toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with
fear and
trembling ye received him. 16I rejoice therefore that I
have
confidence in you in all things.
8 |
Moreover,
brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches
of
Macedonia; 2How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of
their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality. 3For
to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their
power they
were willing of themselves; 4Praying us with much
intreaty that
we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of
the
ministering to the saints. 5And this they did, not
as we
hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the
will of
God. 6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun,
so he
would also finish in you the same grace also. 7Therefore,
as ye
abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge,
and in
all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye
abound in this
grace also. 8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of
the
forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9For
ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich,
yet for
your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10And
herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who
have begun
before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11Now
therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a
readiness
to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which
ye have. 12For
if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to
that a man
hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13For I
mean
not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14But by an
equality, that
now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want,
that
their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there
may be
equality: 15As it is written, He that had gathered
much had
nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 16But
thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the
heart of
Titus for you. 17For indeed he accepted the exhortation;
but being
more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 18And we
have sent
with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the
churches; 19And not that only, but who was also
chosen of the
churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us
to the
glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 20Avoiding
this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is
administered by
us: 21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of
the
Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22And we have sent with
them our
brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but
now much
more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23Whether
any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and
fellowhelper
concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the
messengers
of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 24Wherefore
shew ye
to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our
boasting
on your behalf.
9 |
For as
touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to
write to
you: 2For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I
boast of
you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your
zeal hath
provoked very many. 3Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our
boasting
of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be
ready: 4Lest
haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we
that we
say not, ye should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5Therefore
I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go
before unto
you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before,
that the
same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of
covetousness. 6But this I say, He which soweth
sparingly
shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap
also
bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his
heart, so
let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a
cheerful
giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound
toward you;
that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
abound to
every good work: 9As it is written, He hath dispersed
abroad; he
hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10Now
he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your
food,
and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your
righteousness; 11Being
enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us
thanksgiving to God. 12For the administration of this
service not
only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many
thanksgivings unto God; 13Whiles by the experiment of this
ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection into the
gospel of
Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto
all men;
14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for
the
exceeding grace of God in you. 15Thanks be unto God
for his
unspeakable gift.
10 |
Now I Paul
myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in
presence am
base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2But I
beseech you,
that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence,
wherewith I
think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked
according to
the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
after the
flesh: 4For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 5Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against
the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of
Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when
your obedience is fulfilled. 7Do ye look on things after
the outward
appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of
himself
think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are
we
Christ’s. 8For though I should boast somewhat more of our
authority,
which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your
destruction, I
should not be ashamed: 9That I may not seem as if I would
terrify
you by letters. 10For his letters, say they, are
weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak,
and his
speech contemptible. 11Let such an one think this, that,
such as we
are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also
in deed
when we are present. 12For we dare not make ourselves of
the number,
or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they
measuring
themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves,
are not
wise. 13But we will not boast of things without our
measure,
but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to
us, a
measure to reach even unto you. 14For we stretch not
ourselves
beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we
are come
as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15Not
boasting of things without our measure, that is, of
other men’s labours;
but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be
enlarged by you
according to our rule abundantly, 16To preach the gospel in
the regions
beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things
made ready
to our hand. 17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord. 18For
not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord
commendeth.
11 |
Would to
God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear
with me.
2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have
espoused
you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin
to Christ.
3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve
through
his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in
Christ. 4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus,
whom we have
not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have
not
received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well
bear
with him. 5For I suppose I was not a whit behind
the very
chiefest apostles. 6But though I be rude in speech,
yet not
in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all
things.
7Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might
be
exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8I
robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
9And
when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man:
for that
which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia
supplied: and in
all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you,
and so
will I keep myself. 10As the truth of Christ is in
me, no man
shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11Wherefore?
because I love you not? God knoweth. 12But what I do, that
I will
do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that
wherein
they glory, they may be found even as we. 13For such are
false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of
Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
into an
angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if
his
ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose
end
shall be according to their works.
16I say
again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet
as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. 17That
which
I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were
foolishly, in
this confidence of boasting. 18Seeing that many glory after
the
flesh, I will glory also. 19For ye suffer fools gladly,
seeing ye yourselves
are wise. 20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage,
if a man
devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt
himself, if a
man smite you on the face. 21I speak as concerning
reproach, as
though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, I speak
foolishly,
I am bold also. 22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are
they
Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am
I. 23Are
they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool I am more; in
labours more
abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths
oft. 24Of
the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice
was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck,
a night
and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings
often, in
perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine
own
countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the
city, in
perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in
perils among
false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in
watchings often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28Beside
those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the
care of all
the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is
offended, and
I burn not? 30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the
things
which concern mine infirmities. 31The God and Father of our
Lord
Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32In
Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the
Damascenes
with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33And through a
window in
a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
12 |
It is not
expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and
revelations of
the Lord. 2I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago,
whether
in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell:
God
knoweth; such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3And I
knew such
a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God
knoweth; 4How
that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which
it is
not lawful for a man to utter. 5Of such an one will I
glory: yet of
myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6For
though I
would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth:
but now
I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me
to
be, or that he heareth of me. 7And lest I
should be
exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there
was given
to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I
should
be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the
Lord
thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me,
My grace
is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power
of
Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities,
in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ’s
sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11I am
become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I
ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the
very
chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12Truly the signs
of an
apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders,
and
mighty deeds. 13For what is it wherein ye were inferior to
other
churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you?
forgive
me this wrong. 14Behold, the third time I am ready to come
to you;
and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for
the
children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the
children.
15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though
the more
abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16But be it so,
I did
not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17Did
I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18I
desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a
gain of
you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the
same steps? 19Again,
think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in
Christ: but we
do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20For
I fear,
lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that
I
shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be
debates,
envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings,
tumults: 21And
lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that
I
shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of
the
uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have
committed.
13 |
This is
the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three
witnesses shall every word be established. 2I told you
before, and
foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent
now I
write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if
I come
again, I will not spare: 3Since ye seek a proof of Christ
speaking
in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4For
though he was [crucified CR.B->37] through weakness, yet he liveth by the power
of God.
For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of
God
toward you. 5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the
faith; prove
your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is
in you,
except ye be reprobates? 6But I trust that ye shall know
that we are
not reprobates. 7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not
that we
should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest,
though we
be as reprobates. 8For we can do nothing against the truth,
but for
the truth. 9For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are
strong:
and this also we wish, even your perfection. 10Therefore
I
write these things being absent, lest being present I should use
sharpness,
according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and
not to
destruction.
11Finally,
brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good
comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace
shall be
with you. 12Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13All
the saints salute you. 14The grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Spirit, be
with you all. [Amin AM.C->11].