UNTO THE CORINTHIANS II
[1] PAUL, apostle of Christ Jesus through God's will, and Timothy the brother, to the church of :God which is in Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia: [2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[3] Blessed the God and Father of our :Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of :mercies and God of all comfort; [4] who comforteth us in all our :affliction, that we be able to comfort those in any :affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of :God. [5] For as the sufferings of the Christ abound unto us, even so our :comfort also aboundeth through the Christ. [6] But whether we are afflicted, it is for your :comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your :comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: [7] and our :hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the comfort. [8] For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our :affliction which befell us in :Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: [9] yea,1 ourselves have had the sentence2 of :death within ourselves, that we should not be trusting in ourselves, but in :God who raiseth the dead: [10] who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; [11] ye also helping together on our behalf by your :supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks be given by many persons3 on our behalf.
[12] For our :glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of :God, and not in fleshly wisdom but in God's grace, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. [13] For we write you no other things, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end: [14] as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our :Lord Jesus.
[15] And in this :confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second joy; [16] and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto :Judæa. [17] When I therefore was thus minded, did I show :fickleness? or the things I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay? [11] But :God is faithful that our :word :unto you is not yea and nay. [19] For the Son of :God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you through us, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea. [20] For how many soever the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory to :God through us. [21] Now he that establisheth us with you unto Christ, and anointed us, is God; [22] who4 also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our :hearts.
[23] But I call God for a witness upon my :soul, that to spare you I came not yet unto Corinth. [24] Not that we lord it over your :faith, but are fellow-laborers of your :joy: for in5 :faith ye stand fast.
[1] For I determined this for myself: not to come again to you with sorrow. [2] For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me? [3] And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; trusting you all, that my :joy is the joy of you all. [4] For out of much tribulation and anguish of heart I wrote you with many tears; not that ye be made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
[5] But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all. [6] Sufficient to :such a one is this :punishment which was inflicted by the many;1 [7] so that contrariwise ye should forgive and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch :sorrow. [8] Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him. [9] For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things. [10] But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven in the presence2 of Christ; [11] that no advantage be gained over us by :Satan: for we are not ignorant of his :devices.
[12] Now when I came to :Troas for the gospel of the Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord, [13] I had no relief for my :spirit, because I found not Titus my :brother: but taking leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.
[14] But thanks be to :God, who always leadeth us in triumph in the Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his :knowledge in every place. [15] For we are a sweet savor of Christ to God, in those being saved, and in those perishing; [16] to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not as the many, bartering the word of :God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.
[1] Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation unto you or from you? [2] Ye are our :epistle, written in our :hearts, known and read of all men; [3] being made manifest that ye are an 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 tables that are hearts of flesh.
[4] And such confidence have we through the Christ to :God-ward: [5] not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our :sufficiency is from :God; [6] who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
[7] But if the ministration of :death, written,1 and engraven on stones, came with2 glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his :face; which glory was3 passing away: [8] how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory? [9] For if the ministration of :condemnation is glory, much rather doth the ministration of :righteousness exceed in glory. [10] For verily what hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this :part, by reason of the surpassing glory. [11] For if what passeth4 away was through glory, much more that which remaineth is in glory.
[12] Having therefore such hope, we use great boldness, [13] and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his :face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of what was5 passing away: [14] but their thoughts were hardened: for until this very :day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth,6 it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ. [15] But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their :heart. [16] But whensoever it7 shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [17] Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. [18] But we all, with unveiled face beholding8 as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.9
[1] Therefore seeing we have this :ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not: [2] but we have renounced the hidden things of :shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of :God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men in the sight of :God. [3] And even if our :gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that are perishing: [4] in whom the god of this :age, hath blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, that1 the enlightenment of the gospel of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of :God, should not dawn upon them. [5] For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondmen for Jesus' sake. [6] Because it is :God that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our :hearts, unto enlightenment of the knowledge of the glory of :God in the face of Christ.
[7] But we have this :treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power be of :God, and not from us; [8] we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;2 [9] pursued, yet not left behind; smitten down, yet not destroyed; [10] always bearing about in the body the dying3 of :Jesus, that the life also of :Jesus be manifested in our :body. [11] For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of :Jesus be manifested in our mortal :flesh. [12] So then :death worketh in us, but :life in you. [13] But having the same spirit of :faith, according to what is written, I believed, wherefore I spake; we also believe, wherefore also we speak; [14] knowing that who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you. [15] For :all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many,4 may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of :God.
[16] Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward :man is decaying, yet our :inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For the light momentary :affliction worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; [18] while we look not at what are seen, but at what are not seen: for what are seen are temporal; but what are not seen are eternal.
[1] For we know that if the earthly house of our :tabernacle1 be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. [2] For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our :habitation which is from heaven: [3] if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. [4] For verily we that are in the tabernacle1 do groan, being2 burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that the mortal be swallowed up of the life. [5] Now who wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave us the earnest of the Spirit.
[6] Always therefore of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord [7] (for we walk through faith, not through sight3)— [8] we are of good courage, and are pleased rather to be away from home from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. [9] Wherefore also we are ambitious, whether at home or away from home, to be well-pleasing to him. [10] For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ; that each receive the things done through the body, according to what he hath done, whether good or bad.
[11] Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your :consciences. [12] We are not again commending ourselves to you, but speak as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in face, and not in heart. [13] For whether we are4 beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is to you. [14] For the love of the Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore :all died; [15] and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
[16] So that we from :now on know no one after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. [17] So that if any is in Christ, he5 is a new creature: the old things are passed away; lo, they are become new. [18] But :all things are of :God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave to us the ministry of :reconciliation; [19] to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their :trespasses, and having committed6 to us the word of :reconciliation.
[20] We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though :God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to :God. [21] Him who knew no sin he made sin on our behalf; that we might become righteousness of God in him.
[1] And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of :God in vain
[2] (for he saith,
At an acceptable season I hearkened to thee,
And in a day of salvation I succored thee:
lo, now is an acceptable season; lo, now is a day of salvation): [3] giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that the ministration be not blamed; [4] but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience,1 in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses, [5] in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in toils, in watchings, in fastings; [6] in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, [7] in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the armor of :righteousness on the right and left, [8] through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true: [9] as unknown, and well known; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not killed; [10] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
[11] Our mouth is ope unto you, O Corinthians, our :heart is enlarged.2 [12] Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own :affections.3 [13] Now for a recompense in like :kind (I speak as to my children), be ye also enlarged.2
[14] Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Beliar? or what portion hath believer with unbeliever?
[16] And what agreement hath a temple4 of God with idols? for we are a temple4 of a living God; even as the God said,
I will dwell in them, and walk;
And be their :God, and they shall be my people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them,
And be separate, saith the Lord,
And touch no unclean thing;
And I5 will receive you,
[18] And will be Father to you,
And ye shall be to me sons and daughters,
Saith the Lord Almighty.
[1] Having therefore these :promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in fear of God.
[2] Make room for us: we wronged none, corrupted none, took advantage of none. [3] I say it not to condemn: for I have said before, that ye are in our :hearts :to die together and live together. [4] Great my boldness toward you, great my glorying on your behalf. Am filled with :comfort, I overflow with :joy in all our :tribulation.
[5] For even when we were come into Macedonia our :flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; fightings without, fears within.
[6] Nevertheless who comforteth the lowly, :God, comforted us by the presence of Titus;
[7] and not by his :presence only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your :longing, your :mourning, your :zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more.
[8] For though I made you sorry with the letter, I do not regret it: though I did regret (I see that that :letter made you sorry, though but for an hour),
[9] I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry according to God,1 that ye might suffer loss from us in nothing.
[10] For sorrow, according to God, worketh repentance unto2 salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
[11] For lo, this self-same thing, that ye were made sorry according to God,1 what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing3 of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.
[12] So although I wrote you, I wrote not for his sake that has wronged, not for his sake that was wronged, but for the sake of your earnest care for us being manifested unto you in the sight of :God.
[13] Therefore we have been comforted:
Now in our :comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his :spirit hath been refreshed by you all.
[14] For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not shamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also before Titus came to be truth.
[15] And his :affection4 is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
[16] I rejoice that in everything I am of good cheer concerning you.
[1] Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of :God :given in the churches of :Macedonia; [2] how that in much proof of tribulation the abundance of their :joy and their deep :poverty abounded unto the riches even of their :liberality.1 [3] For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, [4] beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of the grace and the fellowship in the ministry to the saints: [5] and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through God's will. [6] Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had begun afore, so he would also complete in you this :grace also. [7] But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and word and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in our love to you, see that ye abound in this :grace also.
[8] I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your :love. [9] For ye know the grace of our :Lord Jesus Christ, that, being rich, for your sakes he became poor, that ye by his :poverty might become rich. [10] And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who began afore a year ago, not only :to do, but also :to will. [11] But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness :to will, so there may be the completion also out of what you have. [12] For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as one hath, not according as he hath not. [13] For I say not this that others might have ease and ye tribulation; [14] but by equality: your :abundance being supply at this present :season for their :want, that their :abundance also become supply for your :want; that there be equality: [15] as it is written, Who gathered :much had nothing over; and who gathered :little had no lack.
[16] But thanks be to :God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. [17] For he accepted indeed the exhortation; but being himself rather earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord. [18] And we have sent along with him the brother whose :praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches; [19] and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches as our fellow-traveller in the matter of this :grace, which is ministered by us unto the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness: [20] avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this :bounty :ministered by us: [21] for we take thought for things honorable, not only in sight of the Lord, but also in sight of men. [22] And we have sent with them our :brother, whom we have oft proved to be earnest in many things, but now more earnest, by reason of :great confidence unto you. [23] Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward; or our :brethren, they are messengers2 of the churches, they are the glory of Christ. [24] Show3 ye therefore unto them in face of the churches the proof of your :love, and of our glorying on your behalf.
[1] For as touching the ministry :unto the saints it is superfluous for me :to write you: [2] for I know your :readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to the Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year;1 and your2 :zeal hath stirred up the more part of them. [3] But I have sent the brethren, that our :glorying :on your behalf may not be made void in this :respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared: [4] lest somehow, if any of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) be put to shame in this :confidence. [5] I thought it necessary therefore to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised :bounty,3 that the same might thus be ready as a matter of bounty,3 and not of extortion.4
[6] But this I say, Who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and who soweth bountifully5 shall reap also bountifully.5
[7] Let each do according as he hath purposed in his :heart: not grudgingly,6 or of necessity: for :God loveth a cheerful giver.
[8] And :God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:
[9] as it is written,
He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor;
His :righteousness abideth unto the age.
[10] And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your :seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your :righteousness: [11] ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality,7 which worketh through us thanksgiving to :God.— [12] Because the ministration of this :service is not only fully supplying8 the wants of the saints, but is abounding also through many thanksgivings to :God— [13] seeing that through the proving of you by this :ministration they glorify :God for the obedience of your :confession unto the gospel of the Christ, and for the liberality7 of your :contribution unto them and unto all; [14] while they themselves also, with supplication for you, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of :God upon you. [15] Thanks to :God for his unspeakable :gift.
[1] Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ, I who in presence1 am lowly among you, but absent am of good courage toward you: [2] yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh. [3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh [4] (for the weapons of our :warfare are not of flesh, but mighty before :God unto casting down of strongholds); [5] casting down reasonings, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of :God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of the Christ; [6] and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your :obedience shall be made full. [7] Ye2 look at :things according to appearances.1 If any trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we. [8] For though I should glory somewhat more abundantly concerning our :authority (which the Lord gave for building up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be shamed: [9] that I seem not as if I would terrify you by my :letters. [10] Because, His :letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his :bodily :presence is weak, and his speech of no account. [11] Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when absent, such are we also in deed when present. [12] For we are not bold to judge ourselves among, or to judge ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and judging3 themselves with themselves, are without understanding. [13] But we will not glory beyond :measure, but according to the measure of the measuring-rod4 which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.— [14] For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came5 even as far as unto you in the gospel of the Christ: [15] not glorying beyond :measure, that is, in other's labors; but having hope that, as your :faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our :measuring-rod unto further abundance, [16] so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another's measuring-rod in regard of things :ready at hand. [17] But who glorieth in the Lord let him glory. [18] For not that man is approved who commendeth himself but he whom the Lord commendeth.
[1] Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but1 indeed ye do bear with me. [2] For I am zealous over you with a zeal of God; for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to the Christ. [3] But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his :craftiness, your :thoughts should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward the Christ. [4] For if he who cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him. [5] For I reckon that I am behind the2 chiefest apostles in nothing. [6] But though rude in :speech, yet am I not in :knowledge; nay,3 in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.
[7] Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of :God for nought? [8] I robbed other churches, taking wage of them that I might minister unto you; [9] and when present with you and in want, I was not a burden on any one; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, fully supplied my :want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will keep myself. [10] Christ's truth is in me, that this :glorying in the regions of :Achaia shall not be closed against me. [11] Wherefore? because I love you not? :God knoweth. [12] But what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of them that desire occasion that wherein they glory, they be found even as we. [13] For :such are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for the very Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. [15] No great thing therefore if his :ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose :end shall be according to their :works.
[16] I say again, Let no one think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little. [17] That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this :confidence of :glorying. [18] Since many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. [19] For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves. [20] For ye bear with one, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth, if he taketh you, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. [21] I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I4 am bold also. [22] Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they the seed of Abraham? I also. [23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in toils more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft. [24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. [25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been5 in the deep; [26] in journeyings oft, in perils of rivers,6 in perils of robbers, in perils from my race, in perils from the nations, in perils in city, in perils in wilderness, in perils at sea, in perils among false brethren; [27] in toil and travail, in watchings oft, in hunger and thirst, in fastings oft, in cold and nakedness. [28] Besides7 the things without, there is :what presseth upon me :daily, :anxiety for all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is stumbled, and I burn not? [30] If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things of my :weakness. [31] The8 God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed unto the ages, knoweth that I lie not. [32] In Damascus the governor9 under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes to take me: [33] and through a window was I let down in a basket through the wall, and escaped his :hands.
[1] I must needs glory,1 though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
[2] I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; :God knoweth), :such a one caught up even to the third heaven.
[3] And I know :such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; :God knoweth),
[4] how that he was caught up into :Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to speak.
[5] On behalf of :such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in :weaknesses.
[6] For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak truth: but I forbear, lest any one should account of me above what he seeth me to be, or heareth from me,
[7] and by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations. Wherefore that I be not exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn2 in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I be not exalted overmuch.
[8] Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
[9] And he said to me, My :grace is sufficient for thee: for :power is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in :weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may spread a tabernacle over me.
[10] Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
[11] I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the3 chiefest apostles, though I am nothing. [12] Indeed the signs of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience,4 both by signs and wonders and powers. [13] For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this :wrong.
[14] Lo, this is the third time I am ready to come unto you; and I will not be a burden: for I seek not :yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up5 for the parents, but the parents for the children. [15] And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your :souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved less? [16] But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I took you with guile. [17] Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent unto you? [18] I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother along. Did Titus take advantage of you? walked we not in6 the same spirit? not in the same steps?
[19] Ye7 think all the while that we are excusing ourselves to you. Before God speak we in Christ. But :all things, beloved, are for your :edifying. [20] For I fear, lest when I come, I somehow find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest somehow there be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, puffings up, tumults;8 [21] lest again when I come my :God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they wrought.
[1] This is the third time I am coming unto you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established. [2] I have said before,1 and do say before,1 as2 when present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned afore, and to all the rest, that, if I come :again, I will not spare: [3] since ye seek proof of the Christ that speaketh in me; who unto you is not weak, but is powerful in you: [4] for though he was crucified from weakness, yet he liveth from the power of God. For we also3 are weak in him, but4 we shall live with him from the power of God toward you. [5] Test5 yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; prove yourselves. Or know ye not as to yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be disapproved. [6] But I hope that ye shall know that we are not disapproved. [7] Now we pray unto :God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do what is honorable, though6 we be as disapproved. [8] For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. [9] For we rejoice, when we be weak, and ye be strong: this we also pray for, even your :perfecting. [10] For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for casting down.
[11] For the rest, brethren, farewell.7 Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; be at peace: and the God of :love and peace shall be with you. [12] Salute one another with a holy kiss.
[13] All the saints salute you.
[14] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of :God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.