Instructions and Greetings

16 Now concerning ^(A)the collection for ^[a](B)the saints, as ^(C)I directed the churches of ^(D)Galatia, so you are to do as well. ² On ^(E)the first day of every week, each of you is to ^[b]put aside and save as he may prosper, so that ^(F)no collections need to be made when I come. ³ When I arrive, ^(G)whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; ⁴ and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵ But I ^(H)will come to you after I go through ^(I)Macedonia; for I ^(J)am going through Macedonia, ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(K)send me on my way wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now ^(L)just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, ^(M)if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will remain in ^(N)Ephesus until ^(O)Pentecost; ⁹ for a ^(P)wide door ^[c]for effective service has opened to me, and ^(Q)there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ Now if ^(R)Timothy comes, see that he ^[d]has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing ^(S)the Lord’s work, as I also am. ^11 (T)So do not look down on him, anyone. But ^(U)send him on his way ^(V)in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.

¹² Now concerning our brother ^(W)Apollos, I strongly encouraged 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 the opportunity.

^13 (X)Be on the alert, ^(Y)stand firm in the faith, ^(Z)act like men, ^(AA)be strong. ¹⁴ All that you do must be done ^(AB)in love.

¹⁵ Now I urge you, brothers and sisters: you know the ^(AC)household of Stephanas, that ^[e]they are the ^(AD)first fruits of ^(AE)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to ^(AF)ministry to ^(AG)the ^[f]saints; ¹⁶ I urge that ^(AH)you also be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. ¹⁷ I rejoice over the ^[g](AI)coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have ^[h]supplied ^(AJ)what was lacking on your part. ¹⁸ For they ^(AK)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^(AL)acknowledge such men.

¹⁹ The churches of ^[i](AM)Asia greet you. ^(AN)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ^(AO)the church that is in their house. ²⁰ All the brothers and sisters greet you. ^(AP)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ The greeting is in ^(AQ)my own hand—that of Paul. ²² If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be ^[j](AR)accursed. ^[k](AS)Maranatha! ^23 (AT)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Introduction

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^(C)by the will of God, and our brother ^(D)Timothy,

To ^(E)the church of God which is at ^(F)Corinth with all the ^[a]saints who are throughout ^(G)Achaia:

^2 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and ^(J)God of all comfort, ⁴ who ^(K)comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in ^[b]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For just ^(L)as the sufferings of Christ are ^[c]ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. ⁶ But if we are afflicted, it is ^(M)for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; ⁷ and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that ^(N)as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.

⁸ For ^(O)we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our ^(P)affliction which occurred in ^[d](Q)Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. ^9 [e]Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰ who ^(R)rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us, He ^[f](S)on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, ¹¹ if you also join in ^(T)helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by ^(U)many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.

Paul’s Integrity

¹² For our ^[g]proud confidence is this: the testimony of ^(V)our conscience, that in holiness and ^(W)godly sincerity, ^(X)not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. ¹³ For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand ^(Y)until the end; ¹⁴ just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, on ^(Z)the day of our Lord Jesus.

¹⁵ In this confidence I intended at first to ^(AA)come to you, so that you might ^[h]twice receive a ^[i](AB)blessing; ^16 [j]that is, to ^(AC)pass ^[k]your way into ^(AD)Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be ^(AE)helped on my journey to Judea. ¹⁷ Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I decide, do I decide ^(AF)according to the flesh, so that with me there will be ^[l]yes, yes and no, no at the same time? ¹⁸ But as ^(AG)God is faithful, ^(AH)our word to you is not yes and no. ¹⁹ For ^(AI)the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and ^(AJ)Silvanus and ^(AK)Timothy—was not yes and no, but has been yes ^(AL)in Him. ²⁰ For ^(AM)as many as the promises of God are, ^(AN)in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is ^(AO)our Amen to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who ^(AP)establishes us with you in Christ and ^(AQ)anointed us is God, ²² who also ^(AR)sealed us and ^(AS)gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a ^[m]pledge.

²³ But ^(AT)I call God as witness to my soul, that it was ^(AU)to spare you that I did not come again to ^(AV)Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we ^(AW)domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are ^(AX)standing firm.

Reaffirm Your Love

2 But I decided this ^[n]for my own sake, that I ^(AY)would not come to you in sorrow again. ² For if I ^(AZ)cause you sorrow, who then will be the one making me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? ³ This is the very thing I ^(BA)wrote you, so that ^(BB)when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having ^(BC)confidence in you all that my joy was the joy of you all. ⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I ^(BD)wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

⁵ But ^(BE)if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not for me, but in some degree—^[o]not to say too much—for all of you. ⁶ Sufficient for such a person is ^(BF)this punishment which was imposed by the majority, ⁷ so that on the other hand, you should rather ^(BG)forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ For to this end ^(BH)I also wrote, so that I might ^[p](BI)put you to the test, whether you are ^(BJ)obedient in all things. ¹⁰ But one whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did so for your sakes ^(BK)in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that no advantage would be taken of us by ^(BL)Satan, for ^(BM)we are not ignorant of his schemes.

¹² Now when I came to ^(BN)Troas for the ^(BO)gospel of Christ and when a ^(BP)door was opened for me in the Lord, ¹³ I ^(BQ)had no rest for my spirit, not finding ^(BR)Titus my brother; but ^(BS)saying goodbye to them, I went on to ^(BT)Macedonia.

^14 (BU)But thanks be to God, who always ^(BV)leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the ^(BW)fragrance of the ^(BX)knowledge of Him in every place. ¹⁵ For we are a ^(BY)fragrance of Christ to God among ^(BZ)those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: ^16 (CA)to the one an ^[q]aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is ^(CB)adequate for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like the many, ^[r](CC)peddling the word of God, but ^(CD)as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ ^(CE)in the sight of God.

Ministers of a New Covenant

3 Are we beginning to ^(CF)commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, ^(CG)letters of commendation to you or from you? ^2 (CH)You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people, ³ revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, ^[s](CI)delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of ^(CJ)the living God, not on ^(CK)tablets of stone but on ^(CL)tablets of ^[t](CM)human hearts.

⁴ Such is the ^(CN)confidence we have toward God through Christ. ⁵ Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but ^(CO)our adequacy is from God, ⁶ who also made us adequate as ^(CP)servants of a ^(CQ)new covenant, not of ^(CR)the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but ^(CS)the Spirit gives life.

⁷ But if the ^(CT)ministry of death, engraved ^(CU)in letters on stones, came ^[u]with glory ^(CV)so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? ⁹ For if ^(CW)the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ^(CX)ministry of righteousness excel in glory. ¹⁰ For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹ For if that which fades away was ^[v]with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

^12 (CY)Therefore, having such a hope, ^(CZ)we use great boldness in our speech, ¹³ and we are not like Moses, ^(DA)who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away. ¹⁴ But their minds were ^(DB)hardened; for until this very day at the ^(DC)reading of ^(DD)the old covenant the same veil ^[w]remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. ¹⁵ But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; ^16 (DE)but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where ^(DF)the Spirit of the Lord is, ^(DG)there is freedom. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled faces, ^(DH)looking as in a mirror at the ^(DI)glory of the Lord, are being ^(DJ)transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from ^(DK)the Lord, the Spirit.

Paul’s Apostolic Ministry

4 Therefore, since we have this ^(DL)ministry, as we ^(DM)received mercy, we ^(DN)do not lose heart, ² but we have renounced the ^(DO)things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor ^(DP)distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth ^(DQ)commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our ^(DR)gospel is ^(DS)veiled, it is veiled ^[x]to ^(DT)those who are perishing, ⁴ in whose case ^(DU)the god of ^(DV)this ^[y]world has ^(DW)blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that ^[z]they will not see the ^(DX)light of the gospel of the ^(DY)glory of Christ, who is the ^(DZ)image of God. ⁵ For we ^(EA)do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants ^[aa]on account of Jesus. ⁶ For God, who said, “^(EB)Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has ^(EC)shone in our hearts to give the ^(ED)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in ^[ab](EE)earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of ^(EF)the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ⁸ we are ^(EG)afflicted in every way, but not ^(EH)crushed; ^(EI)perplexed, but not despairing; ^9 (EJ)persecuted, but not ^(EK)abandoned; ^(EL)struck down, but not destroyed; ^10 (EM)always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^(EN)the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. ¹² So death works in us, but life in you.

¹³ But having the same ^(EO)spirit of faith, according to what is written: “^(EP)I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who ^(EQ)raised the Lord Jesus ^(ER)will also raise us with Jesus, and will ^(ES)present us with you. ¹⁵ For all things are ^(ET)for your sakes, so that grace, having ^[ac](EU)spread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we ^(EV)do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our ^(EW)inner person is ^(EX)being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary, ^(EY)light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we ^(EZ)look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The Temporal and Eternal

5 For we know that if our ^[ad](FA)earthly ^(FB)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house ^(FC)not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For indeed, in this tent we ^(FD)groan, longing to be ^(FE)clothed with our ^[ae]dwelling from heaven, ³ since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For indeed, we who are in this tent ^(FF)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be ^(FG)clothed, so that what is ^(FH)mortal will be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who ^(FI)gave us the Spirit as a ^[af]pledge.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(FJ)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for ^(FK)we walk by faith, not by ^[ag]sight— ⁸ but we are of good courage and ^(FL)prefer rather to be absent from the body and ^(FM)to be at home with the Lord. ⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be ^(FN)pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before ^(FO)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for ^[ah]his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

¹¹ Therefore, knowing the ^(FP)fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also ^(FQ)well known in your consciences. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you ^(FR)again, but are giving you an ^(FS)opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we have ^(FT)lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(FU)controls us, having concluded this, that ^(FV)one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer ^(FW)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

¹⁶ Therefore from now on we recognize no one ^[ai](FX)by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is ^(FY)in Christ, this person is ^(FZ)a new ^[aj]creation; ^(GA)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ¹⁸ Now ^(GB)all these things are from God, ^(GC)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(GD)ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that ^(GE)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(GF)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and ^[ak]He has ^[al]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ^(GG)ambassadors for Christ, ^(GH)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(GI)reconciled to God. ²¹ He made Him who ^(GJ)knew no sin to be ^[am](GK)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the ^(GL)righteousness of God in Him.

Their Ministry Commended

6 And ^(GM)working together with Him, ^(GN)we also urge you not to receive ^(GO)the grace of God in vain— ² for He says,

Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”— ^3 (GQ)giving no reason for taking offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, ⁴ but in everything ^(GR)commending ourselves as ^[an](GS)servants of God, ^(GT)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in difficulties, ⁵ in ^(GU)beatings, in imprisonments, in ^(GV)[ao]mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in ^(GW)hunger, ⁶ in purity, in ^(GX)knowledge, in ^(GY)patience, in kindness, in the ^(GZ)Holy Spirit, in ^(HA)genuine love, ⁷ in ^(HB)the word of truth, and in ^(HC)the power of God; by ^(HD)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, ⁸ by glory and ^(HE)dishonor, by ^(HF)evil report and good report; regarded as ^(HG)deceivers and yet ^(HH)true; ⁹ as unknown and yet well known, as ^(HI)dying and yet behold, ^(HJ)we are alive; as ^[ap]punished and yet not put to death, ¹⁰ as ^(HK)sorrowful yet always ^(HL)rejoicing, as ^(HM)poor yet making many rich, as ^(HN)having nothing and yet possessing ^(HO)all things.

^11 (HP)Our mouth ^[aq]has spoken freely to you, you Corinthians, our ^(HQ)heart is opened wide. ¹² You are not restrained ^[ar]by us, but ^(HR)you are restrained in your own ^[as]affections. ¹³ Now in the same way in ^(HS)exchange—I am speaking as to ^(HT)children—open wide your hearts to us, you as well.

^14 (HU)Do not be ^[at]mismatched with ^(HV)unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness ^(HW)share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? ¹⁵ Or what ^(HX)harmony does Christ have with ^[au]Belial, or ^[av]what does a ^(HY)believer share with an ^(HZ)unbeliever? ¹⁶ Or ^(IA)what agreement does ^[aw]the temple of God have with idols? For we are ^[ax](IB)the temple of ^(IC)the living God; just as God said,

Paul Reveals His Heart

7 Therefore, having these promises, ^(IK)beloved, ^(IL)let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

^2 (IM)Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. ³ I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said ^(IN)before that you are ^(IO)in our hearts, to die together and to live together. ⁴ My ^(IP)confidence ^[ay]in you is great; my ^(IQ)boasting in your behalf is great. I am filled with ^(IR)comfort; I am overflowing with ^(IS)joy in all our affliction.

⁵ For even when we came into ^(IT)Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were ^(IU)afflicted on every side: ^(IV)conflicts on the outside, fears inside. ⁶ But ^(IW)God, who comforts the ^[az]discouraged, ^(IX)comforted us by the arrival of ^(IY)Titus; ⁷ and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted among you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. ⁸ For though I ^(IZ)caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— ⁹ I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything ^[ba]through us. ¹⁰ For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a ^(JA)repentance ^[bb]without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. ¹¹ For behold what earnestness this very thing, this ^[bc]godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what ^(JB)longing, what zeal, what ^(JC)punishment of wrong! In everything you ^(JD)demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. ¹² So although ^(JE)I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of ^(JF)the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness in our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. ¹³ Because of this, we have been ^(JG)comforted.

And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of ^(JH)Titus, because his ^(JI)spirit has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴ For if I have ^(JJ)boasted to him about you regarding anything, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before ^(JK)Titus proved to be the truth. ¹⁵ His ^[bd]affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the ^(JL)obedience of you all, how you received him with ^(JM)fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I rejoice that in everything ^(JN)I have confidence in you.

Great Generosity

8 Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been ^(JO)given in the churches of ^(JP)Macedonia, ² that in a ^[be]great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the ^(JQ)wealth of their liberality. ³ For I testify that ^(JR)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, ⁴ begging us with much urging for the ^(JS)favor ^[bf]of participation in the ^[bg](JT)support of the ^[bh]saints, ⁵ and this, not as we had ^[bi]expected, but they first ^(JU)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by ^(JV)the will of God. ⁶ So we ^(JW)urged ^(JX)Titus that as he had previously ^(JY)made a beginning, so he would also complete in you ^(JZ)this gracious work as well.

⁷ But just as you ^(KA)excel ^(KB)in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the ^[bj]love we inspired in you, see that you also ^(KC)excel in this gracious work. ⁸ I ^(KD)am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well. ⁹ For you know ^(KE)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(KF)though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ I ^(KG)give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin ^(KH)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. ¹¹ But now finish ^[bk]doing it also, so that just as there was the ^(KI)willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. ¹² For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable ^(KJ)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality— ¹⁴ at this present time your abundance will serve as assistance for ^(KK)their need, so that their abundance also may ^[bl]serve as assistance for ^(KL)your need, so that there may be equality; ¹⁵ as it is written: “^(KM)The one who had gathered much did not have too much, and the one who had gathered little did not have too little.”

¹⁶ But ^(KN)thanks be to God who ^(KO)puts the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of ^(KP)Titus. ¹⁷ For he not only accepted our ^(KQ)appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. ¹⁸ We have sent along with him ^(KR)the brother whose fame in the things of the ^(KS)gospel has spread through ^(KT)all the churches; ^19 (KU)and not only that, but he has also been ^(KV)appointed by the churches to travel with us in ^(KW)this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our ^(KX)readiness, ^20 [bm]taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; ²¹ for we ^(KY)have regard for what is honorable, not only in ^(KZ)the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of other people. ²² We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for ^(LA)Titus, he is my ^(LB)partner and fellow worker ^[bn]among you; as for our ^(LC)brothers, they are ^[bo](LD)messengers of the churches, ^(LE)a glory to Christ. ²⁴ Therefore, ^[bp]openly before the churches, ^[bq]show them the proof of your love and of our ^(LF)reason for boasting about you.

God Gives Most

9 For ^(LG)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ^(LH)ministry to the ^[br]saints; ² for I know your willingness, of which I ^(LI)boast about you to the ^(LJ)Macedonians, namely, that ^(LK)Achaia has been prepared since ^(LL)last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. ³ But I have sent the brothers, in order that our ^(LM)boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, ^(LN)as I was saying, you will be prepared; ⁴ otherwise, if any ^(LO)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame by this confidence. ⁵ So I considered it necessary to urge the ^(LP)brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised ^[bs](LQ)generous gift, that the same would be ready as a ^[bt](LR)generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.

⁶ Now I say this: ^(LS)the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows ^[bu]generously will also reap ^[bv]generously. ⁷ Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not ^(LT)reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^(LU)God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And ^(LV)God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; ⁹ as it is written:

¹⁰ Now He who supplies ^(LX)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^(LY)increase the harvest of your righteousness; ¹¹ you will be ^(LZ)enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing ^(MA)thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying ^(MB)the needs of the ^[bx]saints, but is also overflowing ^(MC)through many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ Because of the proof given by this ^(MD)ministry, they will ^(ME)glorify God for your obedience to your ^(MF)confession of the ^(MG)gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your ^[by]contribution to them and to all, ¹⁴ while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. ^15 (MH)Thanks be to God for His indescribable ^(MI)gift!

Paul Confronts the Corinthians

10 Now ^(MJ)I, Paul, myself ^(MK)urge you by the ^(ML)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who ^(MM)am ^[bz]meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! ² I ask that ^(MN)when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I intend to be courageous against ^(MO)some, who regard us as if we walked ^(MP)according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle ^(MQ)according to the flesh, ⁴ for the ^(MR)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but ^[ca]divinely powerful ^(MS)for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying arguments and all ^(MT)arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the ^(MU)obedience of Christ, ⁶ and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever ^(MV)your obedience is complete.

^7 [cb](MW)You are looking at ^[cc]things as they are outwardly. ^(MX)If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, ^(MY)so too are we. ⁸ For if ^(MZ)I boast somewhat ^[cd]more about our ^(NA)authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, ^9 [ce]for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. ¹⁰ For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his ^[cf]personal presence is ^(NB)unimpressive and ^(NC)his speech contemptible.” ¹¹ Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

¹² For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with ^[cg]some of those who ^(ND)commend themselves; but when they ^[ch]measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding. ¹³ But we will not boast ^(NE)beyond our measure, but ^[ci](NF)within the measure of the ^[cj]domain which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for ^(NG)we were the first to come even as far as you in the ^(NH)gospel of Christ; ¹⁵ not boasting ^(NI)beyond our measure, that is, in ^(NJ)other people’s labors, but with the hope that as ^(NK)your faith grows, we will be, ^[ck]within our ^[cl]domain, ^(NL)enlarged even more by you, ¹⁶ so as to ^(NM)preach the gospel even to ^(NN)the regions beyond you, and not to boast ^[cm](NO)in what has been accomplished in the domain of another. ¹⁷ But ^(NP)the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord. ¹⁸ For it is not the one who ^(NQ)commends himself that is approved, but the one ^(NR)whom the Lord commends.

Paul Defends His Apostleship

11 I wish that you would ^(NS)bear with me in a little ^(NT)foolishness; but ^[cn]indeed you are bearing with me. ² For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I ^(NU)betrothed you to one husband, to ^(NV)present you as a pure virgin to Christ. ³ But I am afraid that, as the ^(NW)serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if ^[co]one comes and preaches ^(NX)another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a ^(NY)different spirit which you have not received, or a ^(NZ)different gospel which you have not accepted, this you ^(OA)tolerate ^(OB)very well! ⁵ For I consider myself ^(OC)not in the least inferior to the ^[cp]most eminent apostles. ⁶ But even if I am ^(OD)unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in ^(OE)knowledge; in fact, in every way we have ^(OF)made this evident to you in all things.

⁷ Or ^(OG)did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the ^(OH)gospel of God to you ^(OI)without charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by ^(OJ)taking wages from them to serve you; ⁹ and when I was present with you and was in need, I was ^(OK)not a burden to anyone; for when ^(OL)the brothers came from ^(OM)Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from ^(ON)being a burden to you, ^[cq]and will continue to do so. ^10 (OO)As the truth of Christ is in me, ^(OP)this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of ^(OQ)Achaia. ¹¹ Why? ^(OR)Because I do not love you? ^(OS)God knows that I do!

¹² But what I am doing I will also continue to do, ^(OT)so that I may eliminate the opportunity from those who want an opportunity to be ^[cr]regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. ¹³ For such men are ^(OU)false apostles, ^(OV)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ No wonder, for even ^(OW)Satan disguises himself as an ^(OX)angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, ^(OY)whose end will be according to their deeds.

^16 (OZ)Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I am saying, I am not saying ^[cs](PA)as the Lord would, but as ^(PB)in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸ Since ^(PC)many boast ^(PD)according to the flesh, I will boast also. ¹⁹ For you, ^(PE)being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. ²⁰ For you tolerate it if anyone ^(PF)enslaves you, if anyone ^(PG)devours you, if anyone ^(PH)takes advantage of you, if anyone ^(PI)exalts himself, if anyone ^(PJ)hits you in the face. ²¹ To my ^(PK)shame I must say that we have been ^(PL)weak by comparison.

But in whatever respect anyone else ^(PM)is bold—I am ^(PN)speaking in foolishness—I too am bold. ²² Are they ^(PO)Hebrews? ^(PP)So am I. Are they ^(PQ)Israelites? ^(PR)So am I. Are they ^[ct](PS)descendants of Abraham? ^(PT)So am I. ²³ Are they ^(PU)servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in ^(PV)far more labors, in ^(PW)far more imprisonments, ^[cu](PX)beaten times without number, often in danger of ^(PY)death. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews ^(PZ)thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(QA)beaten with rods, once I was ^(QB)stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my ^(QC)countrymen, dangers from the ^(QD)Gentiles, dangers in the ^(QE)city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among ^(QF)false brothers; ²⁷ I have been in ^(QG)labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in ^(QH)hunger and thirst, often ^(QI)without food, in cold and ^[cv](QJ)exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such ^[cw]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for ^(QK)all the churches. ²⁹ Who is ^(QL)weak without my being weak? Who is ^[cx]led into sin ^[cy]without my intense concern?

³⁰ If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my ^(QM)weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, ^(QN)He who is blessed forever, ^(QO)knows that I am not lying. ³² In ^(QP)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was ^(QQ)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, ³³ and I was let down in a basket ^(QR)through a window ^[cz]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.