The Second Letter Of Paul The Apostle To
The Corinthians
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
by the will of God, and Timothy
our brother, unto the church of God which
is at Corinth, with all the
saints which are in all Achaia:
1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God
our Father, and from the Lord
Jesus Christ.
1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies, and the God of all
comfort;
1:4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble,
by the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted of God.
1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound
in us, so our consolation
also abounds by Christ.
1:6 And whether we be afflicted, it is
for your consolation and
salvation, which is effective in the
enduring of the same sufferings
which we also suffer: or whether we be
comforted, it is for your
consolation and salvation.
1:7 And our hope of you is steadfast,
knowing, that as you are
partakers of the sufferings, so shall
you be also of the consolation.
1:8 For we would not, brothers, have
you ignorant of our trouble which
came to us in Asia, that we were pressed
out of measure, above
strength, insomuch that we despaired
even of life:
1:9 But we had the sentence of death
in ourselves, that we should not
trust in ourselves, but in God which
raises the dead:
1:10 Who delivered us from so great a
death, and does deliver: in whom
we trust that he will yet deliver us;
1:11 You also helping together by prayer
for us, that for the gift
bestowed upon us by the means of many
persons thanks may be given by
many on our behalf.
1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony
of our conscience, that
in simplicity and godly sincerity, not
with fleshly wisdom, but by the
grace of God, we have had our conduct
in the world, and more
abundantly toward you.
1:13 For we write none other things unto
you, than what you read or
acknowledge; and I trust you shall acknowledge
even to the end;
1:14 As also you have acknowledged us
in part, that we are your
rejoicing, even as you also are our's
in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1:15 And in this confidence I was minded
to come unto you before, that
you might have a second benefit;
1:16 And to pass by you into Macedonia,
and to come again out of
Macedonia unto you, and of you to be
brought on my way toward Judaea.
1:17 When I therefore was thus minded,
did I use lightness? or the
things that I purpose, do I purpose according
to the flesh, that with
me there should be yes yes, and no no?
1:18 But as God is true, our word toward
you was not yes and no.
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 yes and no, but in
him was yes.
1:20 For all the promises of God in him
are yes, and in him Amen, unto
the glory of God by us.
1:21 Now he which establishes us with
you in Christ, and has anointed
us, is God;
1:22 Who has also sealed us, and given
the 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 you stand.
2:1 But I determined this with myself,
that I would not come again to
you in heaviness.
2:2 For if I make you sorry, who is he
then that makes me glad, but
the same which is made sorry by me?
2:3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest,
when I came, I should have
sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice;
having confidence in you
all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish
of heart I wrote unto you
with many tears; not that you should
be grieved, but that you might
know the love which I have more abundantly
unto you.
2:5 But if any have caused grief, he
has not grieved me, but in part:
that I may not overcharge you all.
2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this
punishment, which was inflicted
of many.
2:7 So that contrariwise you ought rather
to forgive him, and comfort
him, lest perhaps such a one should be
swallowed up with overmuch
sorrow.
2:8 Therefore I beseech you that you
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 you be obedient in all things.
2:10 To whom you forgive any thing, I
forgive also: for if I forgave
any thing, to whom I forgave it, for
your sakes forgave I it in the
person of Christ;
2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage
of us: for we are not ignorant
of his devices.
2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas
to preach Christ's gospel, and
a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2:13 I had no rest in my spirit, because
I found not Titus my brother:
but taking my leave of them, I went from
there into Macedonia.
2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always
causes us to triumph in
Christ, and makes manifest the savour
of his knowledge by us in every
place.
2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour
of Christ, in them that are
saved, and in them that perish:
2:16 To the one we are the savour of
death unto death; and to the
other the savour of life unto life. And
who is sufficient for these
things?
2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt
the word 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 You are our epistle written in our
hearts, known and read of all
men:
3:3 Since as you 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 has made us able ministers
of the new testament; not of
the letter, but of the spirit: for the
letter kills, but the spirit
gives life.
3:7 But if the ministration of death,
written and engraved in stones,
was glorious, so that the children of
Israel could not steadfastly
behold the face of Moses for the glory
of his countenance; which glory
was to be done away:
3:8 How shall not the ministration of
the spirit be rather glorious?
3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation
be glory, much more does
the ministration of righteousness exceed
in glory.
3:10 For even that which was made glorious
had no glory in this
respect, by reason of the glory that
excels.
3:11 For if that which is done away was
glorious, much more that which
remains is glorious.
3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope,
we use great plainness of
speech:
3:13 And not as Moses, which put a veil
over his face, that the
children of Israel could not steadfastly
look to the end of that which
is abolished:
3:14 But their minds were blinded: for
until this day remains the same
veil untaken away in the reading of the
old testament; which veil is
done away in Christ.
3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses
is read, the veil is upon
their heart.
3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn
to the Lord, the veil 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, just 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 has blinded
the minds of those who believe
not, lest the light of the glorious gospel
of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine unto them.
4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
4:6 For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, has
shined in our hearts, to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, that the excellency
of the power may be of God, and not of
us.
4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet
not distressed; we are
perplexed, but not in despair;
4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast
down, but not destroyed;
4:10 Always bearing about in the body
the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus might be
made manifest in our body.
4:11 For we which live are always delivered
unto death for Jesus'
sake, that the life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our mortal
flesh.
4:12 So then death works in us, but life
in you.
4:13 We having the same spirit of faith,
according as it is written, I
believed, and therefore have I spoken;
we also believe, and therefore
speak;
4:14 Knowing that he which raised up
the Lord Jesus shall raise up us
also by Jesus, and shall present us with
you.
4:15 For all things are for your sakes,
that the abundant grace might
through the thanksgiving of many redound
to the glory of God.
4:16 For which cause we faint not; but
though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by
day.
4:17 For our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, works for us
a far more exceedingly 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,
a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring
to be clothed upon with
our house which is from heaven:
5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall
not be found naked.
5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle
do groan, being burdened: not
for that we would be unclothed, but clothed
upon, that mortality might
be swallowed up of life.
5:5 Now he that has wrought us for the
very same thing is God, who
also has given unto us the earnest of
the Spirit.
5:6 Therefore we are always confident,
knowing that, while 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 Therefore we labor, that, whether
present or absent, we may be
accepted of him.
5:10 For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that
every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that
he has done, whether it be good or bad.
5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of
the Lord, we persuade men; but we
are made manifest unto God; and I trust
also are made manifest in your
consciences.
5:12 For we commend not ourselves again
unto you, but give you
occasion to glory on our behalf, that
you may have somewhat to answer
those who 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 constrains
us; because we thus judge, that
if one died for all, then were all dead:
5:15 And that he died for all, that they
which live should not
henceforth live unto themselves, but
unto him which died for them, and
rose again.
5:16 Therefore henceforth know we no
man after the flesh: yes, 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
have become new.
5:18 And all things are of God, who has
reconciled us to himself by
Jesus Christ, and has given to us the
ministry of reconciliation;
5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them; and has 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 reconciled to God.
5:21 For he has made him to be sin for
us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God
in him.
6:1 We then, as workers together with
him, beseech you also that you
receive not the grace of God in vain.
6:2 (For he says, I have heard you in
a time accepted, and in the day
of salvation have I succored you: behold,
now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)
6:3 Giving no offense 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 labors, 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 honor and dishonor, by evil report
and good report: as
deceivers, and yet true;
6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as
dying, and, behold, we live; as
chastened, and not killed;
6:10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
as poor, yet making many
rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing
all things.
6:11 O you Corinthians, our mouth is
open unto you, our heart is
enlarged.
6:12 You are not restricted in us, but
you are restricted in your own
insides.
6:13 Now for a recompense in the same,
(I speak as unto my children,)
be you also enlarged.
6:14 Be you not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers: for what
fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion
has light with darkness?
6:15 And what concord has Christ with
Belial? or what part has he that
believes with an infidel?
6:16 And what agreement has the temple
of God with idols? for you are
the temple of the living God; as God
has said, I will dwell in them,
and walk in them; and I will be their
God, and they shall be my
people.
6:17 Therefore come out from among them,
and be separate, says the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you.
6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and
you shall be my sons and
daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
7:1 Having therefore these promises,
dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the
flesh and spirit, 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 you
are in our hearts to die and live with
you.
7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward
you, great is my glorying of
you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceedingly
joyful in all our
tribulation.
7:5 For, when we had come into Macedonia,
our flesh had no rest, but
we were troubled on every side; outside
were fightings, within were
fears.
7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforts those
that are cast down,
comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7:7 And not by his coming only, but by
the consolation with which 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 has made you sorry,
though it were but for a season.
7:9 Now I rejoice, not that you were
made sorry, but that you sorrowed
to repentance: for you were made sorry
after a godly manner, that you
might receive damage by us in nothing.
7:10 For godly sorrow works repentance
to salvation not to be repented
of: but the sorrow of the world works
death.
7:11 For behold this very same thing,
that you sorrowed after a godly
sort, what carefulness it wrought in
you, yes, what clearing of
yourselves, yes, what indignation, yes,
what fear, yes, what vehement
desire, yes, what zeal, yes, what revenge!
In all things you have
approved yourselves to be clear in this
matter.
7:12 Therefore, 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: yes, and exceedingly
the more we rejoiced 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 spoke all things to you in
truth, even so our boasting,
which I made before Titus, is found a
truth.
7:15 And his inward affection is more
abundant toward you, while he
remembers the obedience of you all, how
with fear and trembling you
received him.
7:16 I rejoice therefore that I have
confidence in you in all things.
8:1 Moreover, brothers, we do you to
know of the grace of God bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia;
8:2 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,
yes, and beyond their power
they were willing of themselves;
8:4 Praying us with much entreaty that
we would receive the gift, and
take upon us the fellowship of the ministering
to the saints.
8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped,
but first gave their own
selves to the Lord, and unto us by the
will of God.
8:6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that
as he had begun, so he would
also finish in you the same grace also.
8:7 Therefore, as you abound in everything,
in faith, and utterance,
and knowledge, and in all diligence,
and in your love to us, see that
you abound in this grace also.
8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by
occasion of the forwardness of
others, and to prove the sincerity of
your love.
8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that, though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that you through his
poverty might be rich.
8:10 And herein I give my advice: for
this is expedient for you, who
have begun before, not only to do, but
also to be forward a year ago.
8:11 Now therefore perform the doing
of it; that as there was a
readiness to will, so there may be a
performance also out of that
which you have.
8:12 For if there be first a willing
mind, it is accepted according to
that a man has, and not according to
that he has not.
8:13 For I mean not that other men be
eased, and you 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 inquire of Titus,
he is my partner and fellow
helper concerning you: or our brothers
be inquired of, they are the
messengers of the churches, and the glory
of Christ.
8:24 Therefore show you 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
has provoked very many.
9:3 yet have I sent the brothers, lest
our boasting of you should be
in vain in this behalf; that, as I said,
you may be ready:
9:4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come
with me, and find you
unprepared, we (that we say not, you)
should be ashamed in this same
confident boasting.
9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary
to exhort the brothers, that they
would go before unto you, and make up
beforehand your bounty, whereof
you had notice before, that the same
might be ready, as a matter of
bounty, and not as of covetousness.
9:6 But this I say, He which sows sparingly
shall reap also sparingly;
and he which sows bountifully shall reap
also bountifully.
9:7 Every man according as he purposes
in his heart, so let him give;
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for
God loves a cheerful giver.
9:8 And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that you,
always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good
work:
9:9 (As it is written, He has dispersed
abroad; he has given to the
poor: his righteousness remains forever.
9:10 Now he that ministers seed to the
sower both minister bread for
your food, and multiply your seed sown,
and increase the fruits of
your righteousness;)
9:11 Being enriched in everything to
all bountifulness, which causes
through us thanksgiving to God.
9:12 For the administration of this service
not only supplies 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
exceedingly 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, with which I think to
be bold against some, which
think of us as if we walked according
to the flesh.
10:3 For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war after the flesh:
10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong
holds;)
10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every
high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ;
10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge
all disobedience, when your
obedience is fulfilled.
10:7 Do you look on things after the
outward appearance? If any man
trust to himself that he is Christ's,
let him of himself think this
again, that, as he is Christ's, even
so are we Christ's.
10:8 For though I should boast somewhat
more of our authority, which
the Lord has given us for edification,
and not for your destruction, I
should not be ashamed:
10:9 That I may not seem as if I would
terrify you by letters.
10:10 For his letters, say they, are
weighty and powerful; but his
bodily presence is weak, and his speech
contemptible.
10:11 Let such a 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 has distributed to us,
a measure to reach even unto you.
10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond
our measure, as though we
reached not unto you: for we are come
as far as to you also in
preaching the gospel of Christ:
10:15 Not boasting of things without
our measure, that is, of other
men's labors; but having hope, when your
faith is increased, that we
shall be enlarged by you according to
our rule abundantly,
10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions
beyond you, and not to boast
in another man's line of things made
ready to our hand.
10:17 But he that glories, let him glory
in the Lord.
10:18 For not he that commends himself
is approved, but whom the Lord
commends.
11:1 Would to God you could bear with
me a little in my folly: and
indeed bear with me.
11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly
jealousy: for I have
espoused you to one husband, that I may
present you as a chaste virgin
to Christ.
11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as
the serpent beguiled Eve
through his trickery, so your minds should
be corrupted from the
simplicity that is in Christ.
11:4 For if he that comes preaches another
Jesus, whom we have not
preached, or if you receive another spirit,
which you have not
received, or another gospel, which you
have not accepted, you 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 thoroughly made manifest among you
in all things.
11:7 Have I committed an offense in abasing
myself that you might be
exalted, because I have preached to you
the gospel of God freely?
11:8 I robbed other churches, taking
wages of them, to do you service.
11:9 And when I was present with you,
and wanted, I was chargeable to
no man: for that which was lacking to
me the brothers 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 Why? because I love you not? God
knows.
11:12 But what I do, that I will do,
that I may cut off occasion from
those who desire occasion; that in which
they glory, they may be found
just 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 you tolerate fools gladly,
seeing you yourselves are wise.
11:20 For you suffer, if a man bring
you into bondage, if a man devour
you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt
himself, if a man smite you
on the face.
11:21 I speak as concerning reproach,
as though we had been weak.
Howbeit in whichsoever 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
labors more abundant, in stripes above
measure, in prisons more
frequent, in deaths often.
11:24 Of the Jews five times received
I forty stripes less one.
11:25 Three times was I beaten with rods,
once was I stoned, three
times I suffered shipwreck, a night and
a day I have been in the deep;
11:26 In journeyings often, in perils
of waters, in perils of robbers,
in perils by my 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 brothers;
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 outside,
that which comes upon me
daily, the care of all the churches.
11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak?
who is offended, and I burn not?
11:30 If I must 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, knows that I lie not.
11:32 In Damascus the governor under
Aretas the king kept the city of
the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous
to apprehend me:
11:33 And through a window in a basket
was I let down by the wall, and
escaped his hands.
12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless
to glory. I will come to
visions and revelations of the Lord.
12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen
years ago, (whether in the
body, I cannot tell; or whether out of
the body, I cannot tell: God
knows;) such a one caught up to the third
heaven.
12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether
in the body, or out of the body,
I cannot tell: God knows;)
12:4 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 a one will I glory: yet
of myself I will not glory, but
in my 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 hold back,
lest any man should think of
me above that which he sees me to be,
or that he hears of me.
12:7 And lest I should be exalted above
measure through the abundance
of the revelations, there was given to
me a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest
I should be exalted above
measure.
12:8 For this thing I asked the Lord
three times, that it might depart
from me.
12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for you: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I
rather glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses
for Christ's sake: for
when I am weak, then am I strong.
12:11 I am become a fool in glorying;
you have compelled me: for I
ought to have been commended of you:
for in nothing am I behind the
very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were
wrought among you in all
patience, in signs, and wonders, and
mighty deeds.
12:13 For what is it in which you were
inferior to other churches,
except it be that I myself was not burdensome
to you? forgive me this
wrong.
12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready
to come to you; and I will not
be burdensome to you: for I seek not
your's but you: for the children
ought not to lay up for the parents,
but the parents for the children.
12:15 And I will very gladly spend and
be spent for you; though the
more abundantly I love you, the less
I be loved.
12:16 But be it so, I did not burden
you: nevertheless, being crafty,
I caught you with guile.
12:17 Did I make a gain of you by any
of them whom I sent unto you?
12:18 I desired Titus, and with him I
sent a brother. Did Titus make a
gain of you? walked we not in the same
spirit? walked we not in the
same steps?
12:19 Again, think you that we excuse
ourselves unto you? we speak
before God in Christ: but we do all things,
dearly beloved, for your
edifying.
12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come,
I shall not find you such as I
would, and that I shall be found unto
you such as you would not: lest
there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes,
backbitings, whisperings,
swellings, tumults:
12:21 And lest, when I come again, my
God will humble me among you,
and that I shall 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 those who heretofore have
sinned, and to all other, that, if I
come again, I will not spare:
13:3 Since you 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 lives by the
power of God. For we also are weak in
him, but we shall live with him
by the power of God toward you.
13:5 Examine yourselves, whether you
be in the faith; prove your own
selves. Do you not know your own selves,
that Jesus Christ is in you,
unless you be reprobates?
13:6 But I trust that you shall know
that we are not reprobates.
13:7 Now I pray to God that you do no
evil; not that we should appear
approved, but that you should do that
which is honest, though we be as
reprobates.
13:8 For we can do nothing against the
truth, but for the truth.
13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak,
and you are strong: and this
also we wish, even your perfection.
13:10 Therefore I write these things
being absent, lest being present
I should use sharpness, according to
the power which the Lord has
given me to edification, and not to destruction.
13:11 Finally, brothers, 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 a 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.