Chapter 1
1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our
brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints
throughout Achaia: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ.
3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our
troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort
we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of
Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort
overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;
if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you
patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for
you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,
so also you share in our comfort. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed,
brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We
were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we
despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of
death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,
who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,
and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will
continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many
will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in
answer to the prayers of many.
12
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted
ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the
holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according
to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace. 13 For we do not write
you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you
have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you
can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord
Jesus. 15 Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first
so that you might benefit twice. 16 I planned to visit you on my way to
Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you
send me on my way to Judea. 17 When I planned this, did I do it lightly?
Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I
say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"? 18 But as surely as God is faithful, our
message to you is not "Yes" and "No." 19 For the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not
"Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." 20 For no matter
how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through
him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God
who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set
his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a
deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 23 I call God as my witness that
it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not
that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy,
because it is by faith you stand firm.
Chapter 2
1
So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to
you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I
have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be
distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in
all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of
great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve
you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
5
If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has
grieved all of you, to some extent--not to put it too severely. 6 The
punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now
instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be
overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm
your love for him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would
stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I
also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to
forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in
order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his
schemes.
12
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that
the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind,
because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them
and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us
in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the
fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of
Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16
To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of
life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not
peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak
before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
Chapter 3
1
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some
people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves
are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry,
written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on
tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such confidence as
this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in
ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from
God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of
the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives
life.
7
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters
on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look
steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it
was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If
the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is
the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no
glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was
fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which
lasts! 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We
are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the
Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But
their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when
the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in
Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil
covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil
is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all
reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Chapter 4
1
Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not
lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do
not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary,
by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's
conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it
is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded
the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the
gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not
preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your
servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of
darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have
this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is
from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body
the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in
our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death
for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 It is
written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of
faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the
one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with
Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your
benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may
cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do
not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we
are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So
we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is
seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Chapter 5
1
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a
building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human
hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly
dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do
not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who
has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a
deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always
confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are
away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are
confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home
with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at
home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for
the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
11
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade
men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your
conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but
are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can
answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in
the heart. 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if
we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels
us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all
died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live
for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So
from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we
once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through
Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was
reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins
against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his
appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to
God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we
might become the righteousness of God.
Chapter 6
1
As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of
salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now
is the day of salvation.
3
We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will
not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in
every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5
in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights
and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the
Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power
of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet
regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet
we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet
possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and
opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection
from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair
exchange--I speak as to my children--open wide your hearts also.
14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness
and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with
darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does
a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is
there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the
living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 17 "Therefore
come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean
thing, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you
will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Chapter 7
1
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves
from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness
out of reverence for God.
2
Make room for us in your hearts. 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
that we would live or die with you. 4 I have great confidence in you; I
take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles
my joy knows no bounds. 5 For when we came into Macedonia, this body of
ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn--conflicts on the
outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted
us by the coming of Titus, 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, 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 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, 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, it was not on
account of the one who did the wrong or 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 was,
because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to
him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything
we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus 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, receiving him with fear and
trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.
Chapter 8
1
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has
given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their
overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond
their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us
for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they
did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord
and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he
had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of
grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in
speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for
us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not
commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by
comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10 And
here is my advice 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. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness 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, not according to what he 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, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then
there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did
not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."
16
I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus 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. 18 And we are
sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches
for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the
churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer
in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 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 men. 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, he is my partner and fellow worker among you;
as for our brothers, 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, so that the churches can see it.
Chapter 9
1
There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the
saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting
about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in
Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them
to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers 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. 4 For if any Macedonians 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 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, not as one grudgingly given.
6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and
whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should
give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make
all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all
that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness
endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for
food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge
the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way
so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you
perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also
overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the
service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the
obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and
for your generosity 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 for his
indescribable gift!
Chapter 10
1
By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who
am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! 2 I beg
you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be
toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this
world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the
world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the
world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against
the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it
obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of
disobedience, once your obedience is complete. 7 You are looking only on
the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to
Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much
as he. 8 For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the
Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, 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 and his speaking amounts to
nothing." 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. 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 field
God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to 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 with the gospel of Christ. 15
Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.
Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity
among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in
the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already
done in another man's territory. 17 But, "Let him who boasts boast in
the Lord." 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is
approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Chapter 11
1
I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are
already doing that. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I
promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a
pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by
the serpent's cunning, 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, or if you receive a
different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from
the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 5 But I do not
think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." 6 I may not
be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this
perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower
myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you
free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them
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. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in
any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of
Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting
of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 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 men are false apostles, deceitful
workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan
himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising,
then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end
will be what their actions deserve.
16
I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive 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, but as a
fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will
boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In
fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or
takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the
face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone
else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to
boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I.
Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of
Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have
worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more
severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I
received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was
beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, 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 own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the
city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from
false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without
sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;
I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily
the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I
do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If
I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The
God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows
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. 33 But I was
lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his
hands.
Chapter 12
1
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will
go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ
who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it
was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. 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 to paradise. He heard
inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5 I will
boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except
about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a
fool, 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 To keep
me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great
revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of
Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it
away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in weakness." 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 in weaknesses, in insults,
in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then
I am strong.
11
I have made a fool of myself, 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," even though I am nothing. 12 The things that mark an
apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great
perseverance. 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except
that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! 14 Now I am
ready to visit you for the third time, 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, but parents for
their children. 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have
and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty
fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through
any of the men I sent you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our
brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in
the same spirit and follow the same course? 19 Have you been thinking
all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been
speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do,
dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I
come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as
you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you,
and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not
repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have
indulged.
Chapter 13
1
This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established
by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 I already gave you a
warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while
absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of
the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking
through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among
you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by
God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will
live with him to serve you. 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are
in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is
in you--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 that people will see that we
have stood the test but 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 but you are
strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 10 This is why I write
these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be
harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for
building you up, not for tearing you down.
11
Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be
of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with
you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints send their
greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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