Book 47 2 Corinthians
001:001 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:
001:002 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the
Lord Jesus Christ.
001:003 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
001:004 Who 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.
001:005 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our
consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
001:006 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.
001:007 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are
partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the
consolation.
001:008 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:
001:009 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should
not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
001:010 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in
whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
001:011 Ye 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.
001:012 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 to you-ward.
001:013 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or
acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
001:014 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your
rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord
Jesus.
001:015 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before,
that ye might have a second benefit;
001:016 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.
001:017 When 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?
001:018 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
001:019 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.
001:020 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen,
unto the glory of God by us.
001:021 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath
anointed us, is God;
001:022 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit
in our hearts.
001:023 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare
you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
001:024 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers
of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
002:001 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again
to you in heaviness.
002:002 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad,
but the same which is made sorry by me?
002:003 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.
002:004 For 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.
002:005 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in
part: that I may not overcharge you all.
002:006 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was
inflicted of many.
002:007 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and
comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up
with overmuch sorrow.
002:008 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward
him.
002:009 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof
of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
002:010 To 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;
002:011 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not
ignorant of his devices.
002:012 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel,
and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
002:013 I 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.
002:014 Now 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.
002:015 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are
saved, and in them that perish:
002:016 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?
002:017 For 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.
003:001 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some
others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of
commendation from you?
003:002 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of
all men:
003:003 Forasmuch 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.
003:004 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
003:005 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as
of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
003:006 Who 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.
003:007 But 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:
003:008 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather
glorious?
003:009 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more
doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
003:010 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this
respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
003:011 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that
which remaineth is glorious.
003:012 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of
speech:
003:013 And 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:
003:014 But 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.
003:015 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon
their heart.
003:016 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be
taken away.
003:017 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty.
003:018 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 of the Lord.
004:001 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received
mercy, we faint not;
004:002 But 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.
004:003 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
004:004 In 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.
004:005 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
004:006 For 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.
004:007 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
004:008 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are
perplexed, but not in despair;
004:009 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
004:010 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.
004:011 For 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.
004:012 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
004:013 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is
written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also
believe, and therefore speak;
004:014 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up
us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
004:015 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace
might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of
God.
004:016 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
004:017 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
004:018 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.
005:001 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.
005:002 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon
with our house which is from heaven:
005:003 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
005:004 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.
005:005 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who
also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
005:006 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are
at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
005:007 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
005:008 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from
the body, and to be present with the Lord.
005:009 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may
be accepted of him.
005:010 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 hath done, whether it be good or bad.
005:011 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.
005:012 For 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.
005:013 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether
we be sober, it is for your cause.
005:014 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,
that if one died for all, then were all dead:
005:015 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.
005:016 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.
005:017 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
005:018 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation;
005:019 To 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.
005:020 Now 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.
005:021 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
006:001 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that
ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
006:002 (For 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.)
006:003 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not
blamed:
006:004 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,
in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in
distresses,
006:005 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in
watchings, in fastings;
006:006 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by
the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
006:007 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of
righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
006:008 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as
deceivers, and yet true;
006:009 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we
live; as chastened, and not killed;
006:010 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many
rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
006:011 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is
enlarged.
006:012 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own
bowels.
006:013 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my
children,) be ye also enlarged.
006:014 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?
006:015 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he
that believeth with an infidel?
006:016 And 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.
006:017 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you.
006:018 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
007:001 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.
007:002 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man,
we have defrauded no man.
007:003 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that
ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
007:004 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.
007:005 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.
007:006 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down,
comforted us by the coming of Titus;
007:007 And 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.
007:008 For 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.
007:009 Now 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.
007:010 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be
repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
007:011 For 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.
007:012 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.
007:013 Therefore 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.
007:014 For 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.
007:015 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst
he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and
trembling ye received him.
007:016 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all
things.
008:001 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God
bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
008:002 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their
joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality.
008:003 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power
they were willing of themselves;
008:004 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift,
and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the
saints.
008:005 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.
008:006 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he
would also finish in you the same grace also.
008:007 Therefore, 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.
008:008 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness
of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
008:009 For 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.
008:010 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.
008:011 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 ye have.
008:012 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according
to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
008:013 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
008:014 But 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:
008:015 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over;
and he that had gathered little had no lack.
008:016 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the
heart of Titus for you.
008:017 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more
forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
008:018 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the
gospel throughout all the churches;
008:019 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:
008:020 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance
which is administered by us:
008:021 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the
Lord, but also in the sight of men.
008:022 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.
008:023 Whether 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.
008:024 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof
of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
009:001 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is
superfluous for me to write to you:
009:002 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 hath provoked very many.
009:003 Yet 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:
009:004 Lest 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.
009:005 Therefore 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.
009:006 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully.
009:007 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him
give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a
cheerful giver.
009:008 And 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:
009:009 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to
the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
009:010 Now 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;)
009:011 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which
causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
009:012 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the
want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings
unto God;
009:013 Whiles 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;
009:014 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the
exceeding grace of God in you.
009:015 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
010:001 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:
010:002 But 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.
010:003 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the
flesh:
010:004 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
010:005 Casting 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;
010:006 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when
your obedience is fulfilled.
010:007 Do 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.
010:008 For 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:
010:009 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
010:010 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his
bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
010:011 Let 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.
010:012 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.
010:013 But 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.
010:014 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:
010:015 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,
010:016 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.
010:017 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
010:018 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the
Lord commendeth.
011:001 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and
indeed bear with me.
011:002 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.
011:003 But 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.
011:004 For 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.
011:005 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest
apostles.
011:006 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we
have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
011:007 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be
exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God
freely?
011:008 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you
service.
011:009 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.
011:010 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this
boasting in the regions of Achaia.
011:011 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
011:012 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.
011:013 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ.
011:014 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel
of light.
011:015 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.
011:016 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.
011:017 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it
were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
011:018 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
011:019 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
011:020 For 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.
011:021 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak.
Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am
bold also.
011:022 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are
they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
011:023 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 oft.
011:024 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
011:025 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I
suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
011:026 In 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;
011:027 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger
and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
011:028 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon
me daily, the care of all the churches.
011:029 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn
not?
011:030 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which
concern mine infirmities.
011:031 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed
for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
011:032 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city
of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
011:033 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall,
and escaped his hands.
012:001 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to
visions and revelations of the Lord.
012:002 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 knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
012:003 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
012:004 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable
words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
012:005 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory,
but in mine infirmities.
012:006 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 seeth me to be, or that he
heareth of me.
012:007 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.
012:008 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me.
012:009 And 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.
012:010 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.
012:011 I 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.
012:012 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all
patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
012:013 For 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.
012:014 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.
012:015 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the
more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
012:016 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being
crafty, I caught you with guile.
012:017 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
012:018 I 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?
012:019 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak
before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved,
for your edifying.
012:020 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 ye would
not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes,
backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
012:021 And 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.
013:001 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two
or three witnesses shall every word be established.
013:002 I 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:
013:003 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to
you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
013:004 For though he was crucified 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.
013:005 Examine 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?
013:006 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
013:007 Now 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.
013:008 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
013:009 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this
also we wish, even your perfection.
013:010 Therefore 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.
013:011 Finally, 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.
013:012 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
013:013 All the saints salute you.
013:014 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
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