II Corinthians
1:1 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:
1:2 Grace
be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 Blessed
be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the
God of all comfort;
1:4
Who comforts 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.
1:5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation
also abounds by Christ.
1:6
And 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.
1:7 And
our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as all of you are partakers of the
sufferings, so shall all of you be also of the consolation.
1:8
For 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:
1:9
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should
not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:
1:10
Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver:
in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
1:11
All of you 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.
1:12
For 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 toward
you.
1:13 For
we write no other things unto you, than what all of you read or acknowledge; and
I trust all of you shall acknowledge even to the end;
1:14
As also all of you have acknowledged us in part, that we
are your rejoicing, even as all of you also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1:15 And
in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that all of you might
have a second benefit;
1:16
And 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.
1:17 When
I therefore was thus minded, did I use levity? or the things that I purpose, do
I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay
nay?
1:18 But
as God is true, our word (o. logos) toward you was not yea and nay.
1:19
For the Son of God, 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.
1:20 For
all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God
by us.
1:21 Now
he which establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God;
1:22 Who
has also sealed us, and given the earn of the Spirit (o. pneuma) in our hearts.
1:23 Moreover
I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto
Corinth.
1:24 Not
for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by
faith all of you stand.
2:1
But I determined this with myself, that I would not come
again to you in heaviness.
2:2
For if I make you sorry, who is he then that makes me glad,
but the same which is made sorry by me?
2:3
And 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.
2:4
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote
unto you with many tears; not that all of you should be grieved, but that all
of you might know the love (o. agape) which I have more abundantly unto you.
2:5 But if
any have caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part: that I may not burden
you all.
2:6 Sufficient
to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
2:7
So that contrariwise all of you ought rather to forgive
him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch
sorrow.
2:8 Wherefore
I plead to you that all of you would confirm your love (o. agape) toward him.
2:9 In
order to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether
all of you be obedient in all things.
2:10
To whom all of you 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;
2:11
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not
ignorant of his devices.
2:12
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel,
and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2:13
I had no rest in my spirit, (o. pneuma) because I found
not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
2:14 Now
thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest
the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
2:15
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that
are saved, and in them that perish:
2:16
To 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?
2:17 For
we are not as many, which corrupt the word (o. logos) of God: but as of sincerity,
but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
3:1
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some
others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
3:2 All
of you are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3:3 Forasmuch
as all of you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by
us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit (o. pneuma) of the living God; not
in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
3:4
And such trust have we through Christ toward God:
3:5 Not that
we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency
is of God;
3:6 Who
also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of
the spirit: (o. pneuma) for the letter kills, but the spirit (o. pneuma) gives
life.
3:7 But
if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so
that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for
the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
3:8
How shall not the ministration of the spirit (o. pneuma)
be rather glorious?
3:9
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more
does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
3:10
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this
respect, by reason of the glory that excels.
3:11
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that
which remains is glorious.
3:12
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness
of speech:
3:13 And
not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could
not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
3:14
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains
the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is
done away in Christ.
3:15
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is
upon their heart.
3:16
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall
be taken away.
3:17 Now
the Lord is that Spirit: (o. pneuma) and where the Spirit (o. pneuma) of the Lord
is, there is liberty.
3:18
But 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 (o. pneuma) of the LORD.
4:1
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received
mercy, we faint not;
4:2
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not
walking in craftiness, nor handling the word (o. logos) of God deceitfully; but
by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in
the sight of God.
4:3 But
if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4:4
In whom the god of this world has 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.
4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord;
and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
has shined 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 earthen vessels, that the excellency
of the power may be of God, and not of us.
4:8
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are
perplexed, but not in despair;
4:9
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
4:10 Always
bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body.
4:11
For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus'
sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
4:12 So
then death works in us, but life in you.
4:13
We having the same spirit (o. pneuma) of faith, according
as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and
therefore speak;
4:14 Knowing
that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall
present us with you.
4:15
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace
might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
4:16
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
4:18
While 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.
5:1
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.
5:2 For
in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is
from heaven:
5:3 If
so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
5:4
For 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.
5:5
Now he that has wrought us for the very same thing is God,
who also has given unto us the earn of the Spirit. (o. pneuma)
5:6
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst
we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
5:9
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we
may be accepted of him.
5:10
For 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 has
done, whether it be good or bad.
5:11
Knowing 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.
5:12 For
we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our
behalf, that all of you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance,
and not in heart.
5:13
For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether
we be sober, it is for your cause.
5:14
For the love (o. agape) of Christ constrains us; because
we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
5:15
And 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.
5:16 Wherefore
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.
5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5:18
And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
5:19
To know, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the
word (o. logos) of reconciliation.
5:20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
plead to you by us: we pray you in Christ's position, be all of you reconciled
to God.
5:21 For
he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him.
6:1 We
then, as workers together with him, plead to you also that all of you receive
not the grace of God in vain.
6:2
(For he says, I have heard you in a time accepted, and in
the day of salvation have I helped you: behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.)
6:3
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not
blamed:
6:4 But
in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in
afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
6:5
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in
watchings, in fastings;
6:6
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness,
by the Holy Spirit, (o. pneuma) by love (o. agape) sincere,
6:7
By the word (o. logos) of truth, by the power of God, by
the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
6:8
By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report:
as deceivers, and yet true;
6:9
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we
live; as chastened, and not killed;
6:10
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making
many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
6:11
O all of you Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our
heart is enlarged.
6:12
All of you are not straitened in us, but all of you are
straitened in your own bowels.
6:13
Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,)
be all of you also enlarged.
6:14
Be all of you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion
has light with darkness?
6:15
And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has
he that believes with an infidel?
6:16
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for
all of you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
6:17 Wherefore
come out from among them, and be all of you separate, says the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
6:18
And will be a Father unto you, and all of you shall be my
sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, (o. pneuma) perfecting
holiness in the fear of God.
7:2
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no
man, we have defrauded no man.
7:3
I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before,
that all of you are in our hearts to die and live with you.
7:4
Great 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.
7:5 For,
when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled
on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
7:6
Nevertheless God, that comforts those that are cast down,
comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7:7
And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith
he was comforted in you, when he told us your earn desire, your mourning, your
fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
7:8
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent,
though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle has made you sorry,
though it were but for a season.
7:9
Now I rejoice, not that all of you were made sorry, but
that all of you sorrowed to repentance: for all of you were made sorry after a
godly manner, that all of you might receive damage by us in nothing.
7:10
For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be
repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.
7:11
For behold this very same thing, that all of you 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 all of you have approved yourselves
to be clear in this matter.
7:12
Wherefore, 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.
7:13
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly
more rejoice did we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit (o. pneuma) was refreshed
by you all.
7:14 For
if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spoke all
things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found
a truth.
7:15 And
his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembers the obedience
of you all, how with fear and trembling all of you received him.
7:16
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all
things.
8:1 Moreover,
brethren, we do you to know of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
8:2 How
that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep
poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
8:3
In order to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond
their power they were willing of themselves;
8:4
Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the
gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
8:5 And this
they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto
us by the will of God.
8:6
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so
he would also finish in you the same grace also.
8:7
Therefore, as all of you abound in every thing, in faith,
and utterance, (o. logos) and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love
(o. agape) to us, see that all of you abound in this grace also.
8:8
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness
of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. (o. agape)
8:9
For all of you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that all of you through
his poverty might be rich.
8:10
And 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.
8:11 Now
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 all of you have.
8:12
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according
to that a man has, and not according to that he has not.
8:13
For I mean not that other men be eased, and all of you burdened:
8:14 But
by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their
lack, that their abundance also may be a supply for your lack: that there may
be equality:
8:15 As
it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered
little had no lack.
8:16
But thanks be to God, which put the same earn care into
the heart of Titus for you.
8:17
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward,
of his own accord he went unto you.
8:18
And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in
the gospel throughout all the churches;
8:19
And 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:
8:20
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance
which is administered by us:
8:21
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the
Lord, but also in the sight of men.
8:22
And 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.
8:23
Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper
concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the
churches, and the glory of Christ.
8:24
Wherefore show all of you to them, and before the churches,
the proof of your love, (o. agape) and of our boasting on your behalf.
9:1 For as
concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to
you:
9:2 For
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 has provoked very many.
9:3 Yet have
I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf;
that, as I said, all of you may be ready:
9:4
Lest lest by any means if they of Macedonia come with me,
and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, all of you) should be ashamed in
this same confident boasting.
9:5
Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren,
that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof
all of you had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty,
and not as of covetousness.
9:6
But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
9:7 Every
man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or
of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.
9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that
all of you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good
work:
9:9 (As
it is written, He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor: his righteousness
remains for ever.
9:10
Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread
for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
9:11 Being
enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving
to God.
9:12 For
the administration of this service not only supplies the lack of the saints, but
is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
9:13
While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify
God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal
distribution unto them, and unto all men;
9:14
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the
exceeding grace of God in you.
9:15
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
10:1
Now I Paul myself plead to you by the meekness and gentleness
of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward
you:
10:2 But
I plead to 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.
10:3 For
though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
10:4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;
10:6
And being alert to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience
is fulfilled.
10:7 Do
all of you 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.
10:8
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority,
which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should
not be ashamed:
10:9 That
I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10:10
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but
his bodily presence is weak, and his speech (o. logos) contemptible.
10:11
Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word
(o. logos) by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we
are present.
10:12 For
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.
10:13
But we will not boast of things without our measure, but
according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure
to reach even unto you.
10:14
For 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:
10:15
Not 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,
10:16
To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not
to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
10:17
But he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
10:18 For
not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
11:1 Would
to God all of you could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with
me.
11:2 For
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.
11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent misled Eve
through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that
is in Christ.
11:4 For
if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if all
of you receive another spirit, (o. pneuma) which all of you have not received,
or another gospel, which all of you have not accepted, all of you might well bear
with him.
11:5 For
I suppose I was not a thing behind the very chiefest apostles.
11:6
But though I be rude in speech, (o. logos) yet not in knowledge;
but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.
11:7
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that all of
you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
11:8 I
robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
11:9
And 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.
11:10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of
this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11:11
Wherefore? because I love you not? God knows.
11:12
But 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.
11:13 For
such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles
of Christ.
11:14 And
no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
11:15
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to
their works.
11:16 I
say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me,
that I may boast myself a little.
11:17
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as
it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
11:18
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
11:19 For
all of you suffer fools gladly, seeing all of you yourselves are wise.
11:20 For
all of you 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 strike you on the face.
11:21 I speak
as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Nevertheless whatever that
anyone is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
11:22
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I.
Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
11:23
Are 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 often.
11:24
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
11:25 Three
times was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck,
a night and a day I have been in the deep;
11:26
In journeys 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;
11:27 In
weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings
often, in cold and nakedness.
11:28
Beside those things that are without, that which comes upon
me daily, the care of all the churches.
11:29
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn
not?
11:30 If
I must essentially glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
11:31 The
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knows
that I lie not.
11:32 In
Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with
a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
11:33
And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall,
and escaped his hands.
12:1
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come
to visions and revelations of the Lord.
12:2
I 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 knows;)
such an one caught up to the third heaven.
12:3
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knows;)
12:4
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable
words, (o. rhema) which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
12:5
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory,
but in mine infirmities.
12:6
For 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 sees me to be, or that he hears of me.
12:7
And 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.
12:8
For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it
might depart from me.
12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: 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.
12:10
Therefore 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.
12:11
I am become a fool in glorying; all of you 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.
12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in
all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
12:13
For what is it wherein all of you were inferior to other
churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this
wrong.
12:14 Behold,
the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you:
for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents,
but the parents for the children.
12:15
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though
the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
12:16
But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being
crafty, I caught you with guile.
12:17
Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto
you?
12:18 I
desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked
we not in the same spirit? (o. pneuma) walked we not in the same steps?
12:19 Again,
think all of you that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ:
but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
12:20
For 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 all of you would not: lest
there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings,
tumults:
12:21 And
lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn
for many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and
fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
13:1
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth
of two or three witnesses shall every word (o. rhema) be established.
13:2 I told
you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being
absent now I write to them which in time past have sinned, and to all other, that,
if I come again, I will not spare:
13:3
Since all of you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,
which toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you.
13:4
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives
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.
13:5
Examine yourselves, whether all of you be in the faith;
prove your own selves. Know all of you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ
is in you, except all of you be reprobates?
13:6
But I trust that all of you shall know that we are not reprobates.
13:7 Now
I pray to God that all of you do no evil; not that we should appear approved,
but that all of you should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
13:8 For
we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
13:9
For we are glad, when we are weak, and all of you are strong:
and this also we wish, even your perfection.
13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being
present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord has given
me to edification, and not to destruction.
13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort,
be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love (o. agape) and peace shall
be with you.
13:12 Greet
one another with an holy kiss.
13:13
All the saints salute you.
13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love (o. agape)
of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, (o. pneuma) be with you all. Amen.