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 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.
1:5: For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our
consolation also aboundeth 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 stedfast, knowing, that as ye
are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye 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 raiseth
the dead:
1:10: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth
deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
1:11: 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.
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 to
you-ward.
1:13: For we write none other things unto you, than what
ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge
even to the end;
1:14: As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are
your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the
Lord Jesus.
1:15: And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you
before, that ye 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
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?
1:18: But as God is true, our word 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 stablisheth us with you in Christ, and
hath anointed us, is God;
1:22: Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of
the Spirit 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 ye 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 maketh
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 ye should be
grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more
abundantly unto you.
2:5: But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me,
but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
2:6: Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which
was inflicted of many.
2:7: So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him,
and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be
swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
2:8: Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your
love toward him.
2:9: For to this end also did I write, that I might know
the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
2:10: 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;
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, 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 causeth us to
triumph in Christ, and maketh 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 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: Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and
read of all men:
3:3: 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.
3:4: And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
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 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.
3:7: 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:
3:8: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be
rather glorious?
3:9: For if the ministration of condemnation be glory,
much more doth 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 excelleth.
3:11: For if that which is done away was glorious, much
more that which remaineth 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 stedfastly look to
the end of that which is abolished:
3:14: 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.
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: and where the Spirit 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 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 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 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.
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, hath 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 alway 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 worketh in us, but life in you.
4:13: 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;
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,
worketh 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 hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is
God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the
Spirit.
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 hath 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 ye 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 of Christ constraineth 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 hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry
of reconciliation;
5:19: 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.
5:20: 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.
5:21: 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.
6:1: We then, as workers together with him, beseech you
also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
6:2: (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.)
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 Ghost, by love unfeigned,
6:7: By the word 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 alway rejoicing; as poor, yet
making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing
all things.
6:11: O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our
heart is enlarged.
6:12: Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened
in your own bowels.
6:13: Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto
my children,) be ye also enlarged.
6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness?
6:15: And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what
part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
6:16: 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.
6:17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you,
6:18: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my
sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
7:1: 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.
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 ye 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 comforteth 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
earnest 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 hath made you sorry, though it were but for a
season.
7:9: 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.
7:10: For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not
to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death.
7:11: 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.
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 the more joyed we for the joy of Titus,
because his spirit 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 spake 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 remembereth the obedience of you all, how
with fear and trembling ye received him.
7:16: I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in
all things.
8:1: Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit 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: For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond
their power they were willing of themselves;
8:4: Praying us with much intreaty 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 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.
8:8: I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the
forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your
love.
8:9: 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.
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 ye have.
8:12: 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.
8:13: For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye
burdened:
8:14: 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:
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 earnest
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 fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be
enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and
the glory of Christ.
8:24: Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches,
the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your
behalf.
9:1: For as touching 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 hath 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, ye
may be ready:
9:4: 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.
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 ye 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 soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap
also bountifully.
9:7: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so
let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God
loveth a cheerful giver.
9:8: 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:
9:9: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath
given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
9:10: 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;)
9:11: Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness,
which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
9:12: For the administration of this service not only
supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by
many thanksgivings unto God;
9:13: 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;
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 beseech 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 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.
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
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
10:6: And having in a readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
10:7: 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.
10:8: 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:
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
contemptible.
10:11: 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.
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 hath 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 glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
10:18: For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but
whom the Lord commendeth.
11:1: Would to God ye 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
beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
11:4: 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.
11:5: For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very
chiefest apostles.
11:6: But though I be rude in speech, yet not in
knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among
you in all things.
11:7: Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that
ye 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 knoweth.
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 ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves
are wise.
11:20: 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.
11:21: I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had
been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any 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 oft.
11:24: Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes
save one.
11:25: 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;
11:26: 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;
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
cometh 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 needs 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, knoweth 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 knoweth;) 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 knoweth;)
12:4: How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard
unspeakable words, 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 seeth me to
be, or that he heareth 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 thrice, that it
might depart from me.
12:9: 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.
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; 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.
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 ye 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 yours,
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? walked we not in the same steps?
12:19: 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.
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 ye 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 bewail 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 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 heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that,
if I come again, I will not spare:
13:3: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,
which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
13:4: 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.
13:5: 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?
13:6: But I trust that ye shall know that we are not
reprobates.
13:7: 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.
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 ye 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 hath 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 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 of
God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.
Amen.