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2 Corinthians 7-13
King James Version
2 Corinthians 7-13
King James Version
7 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.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
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.
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.
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.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
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.
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.
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.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
8 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
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.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
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.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
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 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
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.
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.
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.
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.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
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:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
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:
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
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.
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.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
9 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
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.
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:
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.
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.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
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.
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 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
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;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
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;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
10 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:
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.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
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;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
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.
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:
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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,
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.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
11 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
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.
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.
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.
5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
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?
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
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.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
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.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
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.
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.
17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
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.
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
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.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
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;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
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.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
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.
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.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
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.
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.
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 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
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.
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.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
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?
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.
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:
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 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
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:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
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.
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?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
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.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
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.
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.
12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13 All the saints salute you.
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.
2 Corinthians 7-13
New International Version
2 Corinthians 7-13
New International Version
7 Therefore, since we have these promises,(A) dear friends,(B) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(C) out of reverence for God.
Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance
2 Make room for us in your hearts.(D) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts(E) that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.(F) I am greatly encouraged;(G) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.(H)
5 For when we came into Macedonia,(I) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(J)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(K) 6 But God, who comforts the downcast,(L) comforted us by the coming of Titus,(M) 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter,(N) I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation(O) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,(P) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you,(Q) it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong(R) nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus(S) was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you,(T) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus(U) has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,(V) receiving him with fear and trembling.(W) 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.(X)
The Collection for the Lord’s People
8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian(Y) churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(Z) 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(AA) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(AB) in this service(AC) to the Lord’s people.(AD) 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged(AE) Titus,(AF) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion(AG) this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything(AH)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,(AI) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you,(AJ) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace(AK) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(AL) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(AM) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(AN)
10 And here is my judgment(AO) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.(AP) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(AQ) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(AR) not according to what one does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(AS) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[b](AT)
Titus Sent to Receive the Collection
16 Thanks be to God,(AU) who put into the heart(AV) of Titus(AW) the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.(AX) 18 And we are sending along with him the brother(AY) who is praised by all the churches(AZ) for his service to the gospel.(BA) 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us(BB) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.(BC) 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.(BD)
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus,(BE) he is my partner(BF) and co-worker(BG) among you; as for our brothers,(BH) they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,(BI) so that the churches can see it.
9 There is no need(BJ) for me to write to you about this service(BK) to the Lord’s people.(BL) 2 For I know your eagerness to help,(BM) and I have been boasting(BN) about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year(BO) you in Achaia(BP) were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers(BQ) in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.(BR) 4 For if any Macedonians(BS) come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers(BT) to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift,(BU) not as one grudgingly given.(BV)
Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(BW) 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(BX) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(BY) for God loves a cheerful giver.(BZ) 8 And God is able(CA) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(CB) you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts(CC) to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”[c](CD)
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food(CE) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.(CF) 11 You will be enriched(CG) in every way so that you can be generous(CH) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(CI)
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs(CJ) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(CK) 13 Because of the service(CL) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God(CM) for the obedience that accompanies your confession(CN) of the gospel of Christ,(CO) and for your generosity(CP) in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God(CQ) for his indescribable gift!(CR)
Paul’s Defense of His Ministry
10 By the humility and gentleness(CS) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,(CT) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold(CU) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.(CV) 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.(CW) 4 The weapons we fight with(CX) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power(CY) to demolish strongholds.(CZ) 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,(DA) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient(DB) to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.(DC)
7 You are judging by appearances.[d](DD) If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ,(DE) they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.(DF) 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us(DG) for building you up rather than tearing you down,(DH) I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive(DI) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”(DJ) 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.(DK) When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,(DL) a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you(DM) with the gospel of Christ.(DN) 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits(DO) by boasting of work done by others.(DP) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,(DQ) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel(DR) in the regions beyond you.(DS) For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[e](DT) 18 For it is not the one who commends himself(DU) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.(DV)
Paul and the False Apostles
11 I hope you will put up with(DW) me in a little foolishness.(DX) Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,(DY) to Christ, so that I might present you(DZ) as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,(EA) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,(EB) or if you receive a different spirit(EC) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel(ED) from the one you accepted, you put up with it(EE) easily enough.
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”[f](EF) 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,(EG) but I do have knowledge.(EH) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin(EI) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God(EJ) to you free of charge?(EK) 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them(EL) so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.(EM) I have kept myself from being a burden to you(EN) in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,(EO) nobody in the regions of Achaia(EP) will stop this boasting(EQ) of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows(ER) I do!(ES)
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles,(ET) deceitful(EU) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.(EV) 14 And no wonder, for Satan(EW) himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.(EX)
Paul Boasts About His Sufferings
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.(EY) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,(EZ) but as a fool.(FA) 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does,(FB) I too will boast.(FC) 19 You gladly put up with(FD) fools since you are so wise!(FE) 20 In fact, you even put up with(FF) anyone who enslaves you(FG) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak(FH) for that!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.(FI) 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I.(FJ) Are they Israelites? So am I.(FK) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.(FL) 23 Are they servants of Christ?(FM) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,(FN) been in prison more frequently,(FO) been flogged more severely,(FP) and been exposed to death again and again.(FQ) 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes(FR) minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods,(FS) once I was pelted with stones,(FT) three times I was shipwrecked,(FU) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,(FV) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,(FW) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.(FX) 27 I have labored and toiled(FY) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;(FZ) I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.(GA) 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?(GB) Who is led into sin,(GC) and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast(GD) of the things that show my weakness.(GE) 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,(GF) knows(GG) that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.(GH) 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.(GI)
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
12 I must go on boasting.(GJ) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations(GK) from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ(GL) who fourteen years ago was caught up(GM) to the third heaven.(GN) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.(GO) 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up(GP) to paradise(GQ) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.(GR) 6 Even if I should choose to boast,(GS) I would not be a fool,(GT) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(GU) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(GV) a messenger of Satan,(GW) to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(GX) 9 But he said to me, “My grace(GY) is sufficient for you, for my power(GZ) is made perfect in weakness.(HA)”(HB) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(HC) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(HD) in persecutions,(HE) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(HF)
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11 I have made a fool of myself,(HG) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”[g](HH) even though I am nothing.(HI) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.(HJ) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(HK) Forgive me this wrong!(HL)
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,(HM) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,(HN) but parents for their children.(HO) 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.(HP) If I love you more,(HQ) will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.(HR) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged(HS) Titus(HT) to go to you and I sent our brother(HU) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God(HV) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,(HW) is for your strengthening.(HX) 20 For I am afraid that when I come(HY) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.(HZ) I fear that there may be discord,(IA) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,(IB) slander,(IC) gossip,(ID) arrogance(IE) and disorder.(IF) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved(IG) over many who have sinned earlier(IH) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery(II) in which they have indulged.
Final Warnings
13 This will be my third visit to you.(IJ) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[h](IK) 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:(IL) On my return I will not spare(IM) those who sinned earlier(IN) or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.(IO) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,(IP) yet he lives by God’s power.(IQ) Likewise, we are weak(IR) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him(IS) in our dealing with you.
5 Examine yourselves(IT) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.(IU) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you(IV)—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak(IW) but you are strong;(IX) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.(IY) 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh(IZ) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.(JA)
Final Greetings
11 Finally, brothers and sisters,(JB) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.(JC) And the God of love(JD) and peace(JE) will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(JF) 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.(JG)
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,(JH) and the love of God,(JI) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit(JJ) be with you all.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
- 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18
- 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 Or Look at the obvious facts
- 2 Corinthians 10:17 Jer. 9:24
- 2 Corinthians 11:5 Or to the most eminent apostles
- 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 Deut. 19:15
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