Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

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Paul’s Hardships

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,(A) so that our ministry will not be discredited.

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13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

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13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment(A) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.(B)

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12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

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12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.(A) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(B) the gospel of Christ.

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32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

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32 Do not cause anyone to stumble,(A) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God(B) 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way.(C) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,(D) so that they may be saved.(E)

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27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

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27 “But so that we may not cause offense,(A) go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

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22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

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22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(A) I have become all things to all people(B) so that by all possible means I might save some.(C)

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20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

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20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.

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12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

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Paul’s Change of Plans

12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience(A) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[a](B) and godly sincerity.(C) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom(D) but on God’s grace.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

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The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(A) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.(B)

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But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

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Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block(A) to the weak.(B) 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?(C) 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed(D) by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them(E) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.(F) 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.(G)

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But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

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Causing to Stumble

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.(A)

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