16:1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. 16:2On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. 16:3When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 16:4If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me. 16:5But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 16:6But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. 16:7For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 16:8But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, 16:9for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 16:10Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 16:11Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers. 16:12Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity. 16:13Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! 16:14Let all that you do be done in love. 16:15Now I beg you, brothers (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints), 16:16that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 16:17I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied. 16:18For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that. 16:19The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house. 16:20All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 16:21This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand. 16:22If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Come, Lord! 16:23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 16:24My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians
1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 1:2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 1:4who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 1:5For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. 1:6But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. 1:7Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort. 1:8For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. 1:9Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 1:10who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; 1:11you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf. 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you. 1:13For we write no other things to you, than what you read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end; 1:14as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. 1:15In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit; 1:16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea. 1:17When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the “Yes, yes” and the “No, no?” 1:18But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not “Yes and no.” 1:19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes and no,” but in him is “Yes.” 1:20For however many are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us. 1:21Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 1:22who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts. 1:23But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn’t come to Corinth to spare you. 1:24Not that we control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.
2:1But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. 2:2For if I make you sorry, then who will make me glad but he who is made sorry by me? 2:3And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you. 2:4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you. 2:5But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all. 2:6This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one; 2:7so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow. 2:8Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him. 2:9For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. 2:10Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 2:11that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 2:12Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord, 2:13I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia. 2:14Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. 2:15For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish; 2:16to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 2:17For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
3:1Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 3:2You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3:3being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. 3:4Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 3:5not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 3:6who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 3:7But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away; 3:8won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 3:9For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 3:10For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 3:11For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. 3:12Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 3:13and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. 3:14But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. 3:15But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 3:16But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 3:18But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
4:1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint. 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 4:3Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying; 4:4in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. 4:5For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake; 4:6seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 4:7But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. 4:8We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; 4:9pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; 4:10always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 4:11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. 4:12So then death works in us, but life in you. 4:13But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and therefore also we speak; 4:14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you. 4:15For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 4:16Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. 4:17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; 4:18while we don’t look 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.
5:1For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 5:2For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven; 5:3if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked. 5:4For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5:5Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit. 5:6Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 5:7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 5:8We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 5:9Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him. 5:10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 5:11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences. 5:12For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart. 5:13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you. 5:14For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. 5:15He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. 5:16Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 5:17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 5:18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 5:19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. 5:20We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 5:21For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6:1Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain, 6:2for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 6:3We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, 6:4but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 6:5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6:6in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 6:7in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 6:8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 6:9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed; 6:10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 6:11Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. 6:12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 6:13Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also open your hearts. 6:14Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 6:15What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? 6:16What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 6:17Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. 6:18I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
7:1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 7:2Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one. 7:3I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together. 7:4Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction. 7:5For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. 7:6Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7:7and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced still more. 7:8For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you sorry, though just for a while. 7:9I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. 7:10For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death. 7:11For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter. 7:12So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God. 7:13Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 7:14For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth. 7:15His affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received him. 7:16I rejoice that in everything I am confident concerning you.
8:1Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia; 8:2how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity. 8:3For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, 8:4begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. 8:5This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. 8:6So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace. 8:7But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace. 8:8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 8:9For 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 become rich. 8:10I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing. 8:11But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. 8:12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have. 8:13For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed, 8:14but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality. 8:15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” 8:16But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 8:17For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord. 8:18We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies. 8:19Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness. 8:20We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us. 8:21Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 8:22We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you. 8:23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ. 8:24Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
9:1It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints, 9:2for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them. 9:3But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared, 9:4lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting. 9:5I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness. 9:6Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 9:7Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 9:8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. 9:9As it is written, “He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.” 9:10Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; 9:11you being enriched in everything to all generosity, which produces through us thanksgiving to God. 9:12For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God; 9:13seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all; 9:14while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. 9:15Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
10:1Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 10:2Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh. 10:3For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; 10:4for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, 10:5throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; 10:6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full. 10:7Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also we are Christ’s. 10:8For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed, 10:9that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters. 10:10For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.” 10:11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present. 10:12For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. 10:13But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you. 10:14For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ, 10:15not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence, 10:16so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done. 10:17But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.” 10:18For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
11:1I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me. 11:2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 11:3But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 11:4For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different “good news”, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough. 11:5For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles. 11:6But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things. 11:7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge? 11:8I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you. 11:9When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so. 11:10As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11:11Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows. 11:12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we. 11:13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. 11:14And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. 11:15It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 11:16I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little. 11:17That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 11:18Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast. 11:19For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise. 11:20For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face. 11:21I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I. 11:23Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. 11:24Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one. 11:25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. 11:26I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers; 11:27in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness. 11:28Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies. 11:29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don’t burn with indignation? 11:30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness. 11:31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie. 11:32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas guarded the Damascenes’ city, desiring to arrest me. 11:33Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.
12:1It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 12:2I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven. 12:3I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows), 12:4how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 12:5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 12:6For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me. 12:7By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. 12:8Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 12:9He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 12:10Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. 12:11I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing. 12:12Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works. 12:13For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong. 12:14Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 12:15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less? 12:16But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception. 12:17Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you? 12:18I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps? 12:19Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying. 12:20For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots; 12:21that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.
13:1This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 13:2I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare; 13:3seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. 13:4For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you. 13:5Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 13:6But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified. 13:7Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate. 13:8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 13:9For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting. 13:10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down. 13:11Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 13:12Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13:13All the saints greet you. 13:14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
Galatians
1:1Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), 1:2and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: 1:3Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 1:4who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father— 1:5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 1:6I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”; 1:7and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. 1:8But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. 1:9As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed. 1:10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. 1:11But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. 1:12For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 1:13For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it. 1:14I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 1:15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, 1:16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood, 1:17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus. 1:18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 1:19But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother. 1:20Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying. 1:21Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 1:22I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, 1:23but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.” 1:24And they glorified God in me.
2:1Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2:2I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 2:3But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 2:4This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage; 2:5to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you. 2:6But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man)—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, 2:7but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised 2:8(for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles); 2:9and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. 2:10They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do. 2:11But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned. 2:12For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 2:13And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 2:14But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do? 2:15“We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners, 2:16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. 2:17But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not! 2:18For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker. 2:19For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God. 2:20I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 2:21I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”
3:1Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified? 3:2I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3:3Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 3:4Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 3:5He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3:6Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 3:7Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. 3:8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” 3:9So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 3:11Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” 3:12The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.” 3:13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” 3:14that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 3:15Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it. 3:16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ. 3:17Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 3:18For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. 3:19Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 3:20Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one. 3:21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 3:22But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 3:23But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 3:24So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 3:25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 3:26For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 3:27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 3:29If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.
4:1But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all; 4:2but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 4:3So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4:4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 4:5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. 4:6And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 4:7So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 4:8However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 4:9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? 4:10You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 4:11I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you. 4:12I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, 4:13but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. 4:14That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 4:15What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 4:16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 4:17They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. 4:18But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you. 4:19My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you— 4:20but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. 4:21Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? 4:22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. 4:23However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. 4:24These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 4:25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 4:26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 4:27For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.” 4:28Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 4:29But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 4:30However what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 4:31So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.