
Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians

   {1:1} Paul, 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: {1:2} Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

   {1:3} Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies and God of all comfort; {1:4} who 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. {1:5} For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our
comfort also abounds through Christ. {1:6} But 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. {1:7} Our hope for you is steadfast,
knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are
you of the comfort. {1:8} For we don't desire to have you uninformed,
[1>]brothers,[<1] 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. {1:9} Yes, we ourselves have had the
sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in
ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, {1:10} who 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; {1:11} you also helping together on
our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed on us by
means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.
{1:12} For 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. {1:13} For we write no other things to you, than what you
read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end;
{1:14} as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting,
even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. {1:15} In this
confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have
a second benefit; {1:16} and 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. {1:17} When 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?" {1:18} But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not "Yes
and no." {1:19} For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached
among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "Yes and no,"
but in him is "Yes." {1:20} For 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.

   {1:21} Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed
us, is God; {1:22} who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of
the Spirit in our hearts. {1:23} But I call God for a witness to my
soul, that I didn't come to Corinth to spare you. {1:24} Not that we
have lordship over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your
joy. For you stand firm in faith.

   {2:1} But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you
again in sorrow. {2:2} For if I make you sorry, then who will make me
glad but he who is made sorry by me? {2:3} And 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. {2:4} For 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. {2:5} But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to
me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all. {2:6}
Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the
many; {2:7} so 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. {2:8} Therefore I beg you to confirm your love
toward him. {2:9} For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the
proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. {2:10} Now 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, {2:11} that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we
are not ignorant of his schemes.

   {2:12} Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and
when a door was opened to me in the Lord, {2:13} I 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. {2:14} Now 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. {2:15} For we are a sweet aroma
of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;
{2:16} to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet
aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? {2:17} For
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.

   {3:1} Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as
do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? {3:2} You are our
letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; {3:3} being
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. {3:4} Such confidence
we have through Christ toward God; {3:5} not that we are sufficient of
ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency
is from God; {3:6} who 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. {3:7} But 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: {3:8} won't service of the Spirit be with
much more glory? {3:9} For if the service of condemnation has glory,
the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. {3:10} For
most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made
glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. {3:11}
For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which
remains is in glory.

   {3:12} Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of
speech, {3:13} and 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. {3:14} But 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. {3:15} But to this day, when Moses is
read, a veil lies on their heart. {3:16} But whenever one turns to the
Lord, the veil is taken away. {3:17} Now the Lord is the Spirit and
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. {3:18} But we all,
with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are
transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the
Lord, the Spirit.

   {4:1} Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained
mercy, we don't faint. {4:2} But 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. {4:3} Even if our Good
News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish; {4:4} in 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. {4:5} For we don't preach ourselves, but
Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake;
{4:6} seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness,"[2]
who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

   {4:7} But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding
greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. {4:8} We
are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to
despair; {4:9} pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not
destroyed; {4:10} always carrying in the body the putting to death of
the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our
body. {4:11} For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus'
sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.
{4:12} So then death works in us, but life in you. {4:13} But having
the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, "I
believed, and therefore I spoke."[3] We also believe, and therefore
also we speak; {4:14} knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will
raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you. {4:15} For 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. {4:16}
Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet
our inward man is renewed day by day. {4:17} For our light affliction,
which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an
eternal weight of glory; {4:18} while 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.

   {5:1} For 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. {5:2} For most certainly in this we groan,
longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven; {5:3}
if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked. {5:4} For
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. {5:5} Now he who made us for this
very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.

   {5:6} Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are
at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; {5:7} for we walk by
faith, not by sight. {5:8} We are courageous, I say, and are willing
rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
{5:9} Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to
be well pleasing to him. {5:10} For 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. {5:11}
Knowing 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. {5:12} For 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. {5:13} For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we
are of sober mind, it is for you. {5:14} For the love of Christ
constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore
all died. {5:15} He died for all, that those who live should no longer
live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
{5:16} Therefore 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. {5:17} Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
{5:18} But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through
Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; {5:19}
namely, 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. {5:20} We 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. {5:21} For him who knew no sin he made to
be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness
of God.

   {6:1} Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the
grace of God in vain, {6:2} for he says,
"At an acceptable time I listened to you,
in a day of salvation I helped you."[4]

   Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of
salvation. {6:3} We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our
service may not be blamed, {6:4} but in everything commending
ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in
hardships, in distresses, {6:5} in beatings, in imprisonments, in
riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; {6:6} in pureness, in
knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere
love, {6:7} in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of
righteousness on the right hand and on the left, {6:8} by glory and
dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
{6:9} as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as
punished, and not killed; {6:10} as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as
poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all
things.

   {6:11} Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.
{6:12} You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own
affections. {6:13} Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also
be open wide. {6:14} Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for
what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has
light with darkness? {6:15} What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or
what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? {6:16} What 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."[5] {6:17} Therefore
"'Come out from among them,
   and be separate,' says the Lord.
'Touch no unclean thing.
   I will receive you.[6]
{6:18} I will be to you a Father.
   You will be to me sons and daughters,'

   says the Lord Almighty."[7]

   {7:1} Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God. {7:2} Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We
corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one. {7:3} I say this not to
condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die
together and live together. {7:4} Great 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. {7:5} For 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. {7:6}
Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the
coming of Titus; {7:7} and 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.

   {7:8} For 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. {7:9} I 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.
{7:10} For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no
regret. But the sorrow of the world works death. {7:11} For 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. {7:12} So 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. {7:13} Therefore 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. {7:14} For 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. {7:15} His affection is more
abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how
with fear and trembling you received him. {7:16} I rejoice that in
everything I am confident concerning you.

   {8:1} Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God
which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia; {8:2} how that in
much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep
poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. {8:3} For according
to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of
their own accord, {8:4} begging us with much entreaty to receive this
grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. {8:5} This was
not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord,
and to us through the will of God. {8:6} So we urged Titus, that as he
made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
{8:7} But 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. {8:8} I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving
through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
{8:9} For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his
poverty might become rich. {8:10} I 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. {8:11} But 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. {8:12} For if the readiness is
there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to
what you don't have. {8:13} For this is not that others may be eased
and you distressed, {8:14} but 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. {8:15} As it is
written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who
gathered little had no lack."[8]

   {8:16} But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you
into the heart of Titus. {8:17} For he indeed accepted our exhortation,
but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
{8:18} We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the
Good News is known through all the assemblies. {8:19} Not only so, but
who 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. {8:20} We are avoiding this, that any man should
blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us. {8:21}
Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord,
but also in the sight of men. {8:22} We 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. {8:23} As 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. {8:24} Therefore show the proof of your love to them in
front of the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.

   {9:1} It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the
service to the saints, {9:2} for 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.
{9:3} But 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, {9:4} so that I won't by any means, if there come with me any
of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should
be disappointed in this confident boasting. {9:5} I 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. {9:6} Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also
reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
{9:7} Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart;
not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
{9:8} And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always
having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
{9:9} As it is written,
"He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor.
   His righteousness remains forever."[9]

   {9:10} Now 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; {9:11} you being enriched in everything to all
liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God. {9:12} For this
service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the
saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God; {9:13}
seeing 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 liberality of your contribution to them and to all; {9:14}
while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for
you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. {9:15} Now thanks
be to God for his unspeakable gift!

   {10:1} Now 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. {10:2} Yes, 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. {10:3} For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war
according to the flesh; {10:4} for the weapons of our warfare are not
of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of
strongholds, {10:5} throwing 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; {10:6} and being in
readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made
full. {10:7} Do 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. {10:8} For 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, {10:9} that I may
not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters. {10:10} For, "His
letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is
weak, and his speech is despised." {10:11} Let 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. {10:12} For 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. {10:13} But we
will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with
which God appointed to us, which reach even to you. {10:14} For 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, {10:15} not
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, {10:16} so as to preach the Good News even to the
parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.
{10:17} But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."[10] {10:18} For
it isn't he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord
commends.

   {11:1} I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness,
but indeed you do bear with me. {11:2} For 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. {11:3} But 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. {11:4} For 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.
{11:5} For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.
{11:6} But 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.
{11:7} Or 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?
{11:8} I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might
serve you. {11:9} When 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. {11:10} As the truth
of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the
regions of Achaia. {11:11} Why? Because I don't love you? God knows.
{11:12} But 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. {11:13} For such men are false apostles, deceitful
workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles. {11:14} And no wonder, for
even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. {11:15} It is no great
thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of
righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

   {11:16} I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet
receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little. {11:17} That
which I speak, I don't speak according to the Lord, but as in
foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. {11:18} Seeing that many
boast after the flesh, I will also boast. {11:19} For you bear with the
foolish gladly, being wise. {11:20} For 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. {11:21} I speak by
way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is
bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. {11:22} Are they
Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of
Abraham? So am I. {11:23} Are they 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. {11:24}
Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one. {11:25}
Three 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. {11:26}
I 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; {11:27} in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger
and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

   {11:28} Besides those things that are outside, there is that which
presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies. {11:29} Who is
weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don't burn
with indignation? {11:30} If I must boast, I will boast of the things
that concern my weakness. {11:31} The God and Father of the Lord Jesus
Christ, he who is blessed forevermore, knows that I don't lie. {11:32}
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of the
Damascenes desiring to arrest me. {11:33} Through a window I was let
down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

   {12:1} It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will
come to visions and revelations of the Lord. {12:2} I 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. {12:3} I know such a man (whether in the body,
or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows), {12:4} how he was
caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not
lawful for a man to utter. {12:5} On behalf of such a one I will boast,
but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. {12:6}
For 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. {12:7} By 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. {12:8}
Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might
depart from me. {12:9} He 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.

   {12:10} Therefore 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. {12:11} I 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. {12:12} Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in
all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works. {12:13} For 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.

   {12:14} Behold, 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. {12:15} I will most gladly spend and be spent
for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
{12:16} But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I
caught you with deception. {12:17} Did I take advantage of you by
anyone of them whom I have sent to you? {12:18} I 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? {12:19}
Again, 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. {12:20} For 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; {12:21} that 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.

   {13:1} This is the third time I am coming to you. "At the mouth of
two or three witnesses shall every word be established."[11] {13:2} I
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; {13:3} seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me;
who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. {13:4} For 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. {13:5} Test 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.
{13:6} But I hope that you will know that we aren't disqualified.

   {13:7} Now 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. {13:8} For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the
truth. {13:9} For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And
this we also pray for, even your perfecting. {13:10} For 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.

   {13:11} Finally, 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. {13:12} Greet one another with a holy kiss. {13:13} All the
saints greet you. {13:14} The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love
of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.





________________________________________________________________________

Footnotes:
[1] {1:8} The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may
also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."

[2] {4:6} Genesis 1:3

[3] {4:13} Psalm 116:10

[4] {6:2} Isaiah 49:8

[5] {6:16} Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27

[6] {6:17} Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41

[7] {6:18} 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

[8] {8:15} Exodus 16:8

[9] {9:9} Psalm 112:9

[10] {10:17} Jeremiah 9:24

[11] {13:1} Deuteronomy 19:15

