2 Corinthians 1:2-13:8

New International Version

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

Praise to the God of All Comfort

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(B) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us^(C) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,^(D) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;^(E) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,^(F) so also you share in our comfort.

⁸We do not want you to be uninformed,^(G) brothers and sisters,^[a] about the troubles we experienced^(H) in the province of Asia.^(I) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. ⁹Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,^(J) who raises the dead.^(K) ¹⁰He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,^(L) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope^(M) that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹as you help us by your prayers.^(N) Then many will give thanks^(O) on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹²Now this is our boast: Our conscience^(P) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity^[b]^(Q) and godly sincerity.^(R) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom^(S) but on God’s grace. ¹³For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, ¹⁴as 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.^(T)

¹⁵Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you^(U) first so that you might benefit twice.^(V) ¹⁶I wanted to visit you on my way^(W) to Macedonia^(X) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way^(Y) to Judea.^(Z) ¹⁷Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner^(AA) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸But as surely as God is faithful,^(AB) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹For the Son of God,^(AC) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[c]^(AD) and Timothy^(AE)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always^(AF) been “Yes.” ²⁰For no matter how many promises^(AG) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(AH) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^(AI) ²¹Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm^(AJ) in Christ. He anointed^(AK) us, ²²set his seal^(AL) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(AM)

²³I call God as my witness^(AN)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you^(AO) that I did not return to Corinth. ²⁴Not that we lord it over^(AP) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.^(AQ) 2 ¹So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.^(AR) ²For if I grieve you,^(AS) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? ³I wrote as I did,^(AT) so that when I came I would not be distressed^(AU) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence^(AV) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. ⁴For I wrote you^(AW) 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.

Forgiveness for the Offender

⁵If anyone has caused grief,^(AX) he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. ⁶The punishment^(AY) inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. ⁷Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,^(AZ) so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹Another reason I wrote you^(BA) was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.^(BB) ¹⁰Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹in order that Satan^(BC) might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.^(BD)

Ministers of the New Covenant

¹²Now when I went to Troas^(BE) to preach the gospel of Christ^(BF) and found that the Lord had opened a door^(BG) for me, ¹³I still had no peace of mind,^(BH) because I did not find my brother Titus^(BI) there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.^(BJ)

¹⁴But thanks be to God,^(BK) who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma^(BL) of the knowledge^(BM) of him everywhere. ¹⁵For we are to God the pleasing aroma^(BN) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.^(BO) ¹⁶To the one we are an aroma that brings death;^(BP) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?^(BQ) ¹⁷Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.^(BR) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,^(BS) as those sent from God.^(BT)

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves^(BU) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation^(BV) to you or from you? ²You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^(BW) ³You 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,^(BX) not on tablets of stone^(BY) but on tablets of human hearts.^(BZ)

⁴Such confidence^(CA) we have through Christ before God. ⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves^(CB) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^(CC) ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(CD)—not of the letter^(CE) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(CF)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

⁷Now if the ministry that brought death,^(CG) 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,^(CH) transitory though it was, ⁸will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹If the ministry that brought condemnation^(CI) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!^(CJ) ¹⁰For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹²Therefore, since we have such a hope,^(CK) we are very bold.^(CL) ¹³We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face^(CM) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴But their minds were made dull,^(CN) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant^(CO) is read.^(CP) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,^(CQ) the veil is taken away.^(CR) ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit,^(CS) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.^(CT) ¹⁸And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[d]^(CU) the Lord’s glory,^(CV) are being transformed into his image^(CW) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy^(CX) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.^(CY) ²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(CZ) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(DA) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience^(DB) in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel^(DC) is veiled,^(DD) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^(DE) ⁴The god^(DF) of this age^(DG) has blinded^(DH) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,^(DI) who is the image of God.^(DJ) ⁵For what we preach is not ourselves,^(DK) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(DL) and ourselves as your servants^(DM) for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[e]^(DN) made his light shine in our hearts^(DO) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(DP)

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(DQ) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(DR) and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side,^(DS) but not crushed; perplexed,^(DT) but not in despair; ⁹persecuted,^(DU) but not abandoned;^(DV) struck down, but not destroyed.^(DW) ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(DX) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^(DY) ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,^(DZ) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(EA)

¹³It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[f]^(EB) Since we have that same spirit of^[g] faith,^(EC) we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(ED) will also raise us with Jesus^(EE) and present us with you to himself.^(EF) ¹⁵All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(EG) to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart.^(EH) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(EI) we are being renewed^(EJ) day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^(EK) ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,^(EL) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly^(EM) tent^(EN) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ²Meanwhile we groan,^(EO) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(EP) ³because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴For while we are in this tent, we groan^(EQ) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(ER) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(ES)

⁶Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷For we live by faith, not by sight.^(ET) ⁸We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^(EU) ⁹So we make it our goal to please him,^(EV) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us^(EW) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,^(EX) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^(EY) ¹²We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,^(EZ) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,^(FA) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. ¹³If we are “out of our mind,”^(FB) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^(FC) ¹⁵And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves^(FD) but for him who died for them^(FE) and was raised again.

¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly^(FF) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,^(FG) the new creation^(FH) has come:^[h] The old has gone, the new is here!^(FI) ¹⁸All this is from God,^(FJ) who reconciled us to himself through Christ^(FK) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(FL) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(FM) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(FN) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^(FO) ²¹God made him who had no sin^(FP) to be sin^[i] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(FQ)

6 As God’s co-workers^(FR) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^(FS) ²For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^[j]^(FT)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

³We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,^(FU) so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments^(FV) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;^(FW) ⁶in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit^(FX) and in sincere love;^(FY) ⁷in truthful speech^(FZ) and in the power of God;^(GA) with weapons of righteousness^(GB) in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor,^(GC) bad report^(GD) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;^(GE) ⁹known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,^(GF) and yet we live on;^(GG) beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;^(GH) poor, yet making many rich;^(GI) having nothing,^(GJ) and yet possessing everything.^(GK)

¹¹We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.^(GL) ¹²We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children^(GM)—open wide your hearts^(GN) also.

Warning Against Idolatry

¹⁴Do not be yoked together^(GO) with unbelievers.^(GP) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?^(GQ) ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial^[k]?^(GR) Or what does a believer^(GS) have in common with an unbeliever?^(GT) ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?^(GU) For we are the temple^(GV) of the living God.^(GW) 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.”^[l]^(GX)

¹⁷Therefore,

“Come out from them^(GY)
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”^[m]^(GZ)

¹⁸And,

“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,^(HA)
says the Lord Almighty.”^[n]^(HB)

7 Therefore, since we have these promises,^(HC) dear friends,^(HD) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness^(HE) out of reverence for God.

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

²Make room for us in your hearts.^(HF) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. ³I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts^(HG) that we would live or die with you. ⁴I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.^(HH) I am greatly encouraged;^(HI) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.^(HJ)

⁵For when we came into Macedonia,^(HK) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn^(HL)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.^(HM) ⁶But God, who comforts the downcast,^(HN) comforted us by the coming of Titus,^(HO) ⁷and 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.

⁸Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter,^(HP) I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— ⁹yet 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. ¹⁰Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation^(HQ) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,^(HR) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. ¹²So even though I wrote to you,^(HS) it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong^(HT) nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus^(HU) was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴I had boasted to him about you,^(HV) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus^(HW) has proved to be true as well. ¹⁵And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,^(HX) receiving him with fear and trembling.^(HY) ¹⁶I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.^(HZ)

The Collection for the Lord’s People

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian^(IA) churches. ²In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.^(IB) ³For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,^(IC) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing^(ID) in this service^(IE) to the Lord’s people.^(IF) ⁵And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. ⁶So we urged^(IG) Titus,^(IH) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion^(II) this act of grace on your part. ⁷But since you excel in everything^(IJ)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,^(IK) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you^[o]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

⁸I am not commanding you,^(IL) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹For you know the grace^(IM) of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(IN) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,^(IO) so that you through his poverty might become rich.^(IP)

¹⁰And here is my judgment^(IQ) 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.^(IR) ¹¹Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness^(IS) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹²For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,^(IT) not according to what one does not have.

¹³Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,^(IU) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”^[p]^(IV)

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

¹⁶Thanks be to God,^(IW) who put into the heart^(IX) of Titus^(IY) the same concern I have for you. ¹⁷For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.^(IZ) ¹⁸And we are sending along with him the brother^(JA) who is praised by all the churches^(JB) for his service to the gospel.^(JC) ¹⁹What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us^(JD) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.^(JE) ²⁰We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. ²¹For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.^(JF)

²²In 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. ²³As for Titus,^(JG) he is my partner^(JH) and co-worker^(JI) among you; as for our brothers,^(JJ) they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. ²⁴Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,^(JK) so that the churches can see it.

9 There is no need^(JL) for me to write to you about this service^(JM) to the Lord’s people.^(JN) ²For I know your eagerness to help,^(JO) and I have been boasting^(JP) about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year^(JQ) you in Achaia^(JR) were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. ³But I am sending the brothers^(JS) 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.^(JT) ⁴For if any Macedonians^(JU) come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. ⁵So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers^(JV) 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,^(JW) not as one grudgingly given.^(JX)

Generosity Encouraged

⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.^(JY) ⁷Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,^(JZ) not reluctantly or under compulsion,^(KA) for God loves a cheerful giver.^(KB) ⁸And God is able^(KC) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,^(KD) you will abound in every good work. ⁹As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts^(KE) to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”^[q]^(KF)

¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food^(KG) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.^(KH) ¹¹You will be enriched^(KI) in every way so that you can be generous^(KJ) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.^(KK)

¹²This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs^(KL) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.^(KM) ¹³Because of the service^(KN) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God^(KO) for the obedience that accompanies your confession^(KP) of the gospel of Christ,^(KQ) and for your generosity^(KR) in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God^(KS) for his indescribable gift!^(KT)

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

10 By the humility and gentleness^(KU) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,^(KV) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! ²I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold^(KW) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.^(KX) ³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.^(KY) ⁴The weapons we fight with^(KZ) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power^(LA) to demolish strongholds.^(LB) ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,^(LC) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient^(LD) to Christ. ⁶And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.^(LE)

⁷You are judging by appearances.^[r]^(LF) If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ,^(LG) they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.^(LH) ⁸So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us^(LI) for building you up rather than tearing you down,^(LJ) I will not be ashamed of it. ⁹I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive^(LK) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”^(LL) ¹¹Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

¹²We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.^(LM) When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ¹³We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,^(LN) a sphere that also includes you. ¹⁴We 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^(LO) with the gospel of Christ.^(LP) ¹⁵Neither do we go beyond our limits^(LQ) by boasting of work done by others.^(LR) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,^(LS) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶so that we can preach the gospel^(LT) in the regions beyond you.^(LU) For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^[s]^(LV) ¹⁸For it is not the one who commends himself^(LW) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.^(LX)

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I hope you will put up with^(LY) me in a little foolishness.^(LZ) Yes, please put up with me! ²I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,^(MA) to Christ, so that I might present you^(MB) as a pure virgin to him. ³But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,^(MC) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,^(MD) or if you receive a different spirit^(ME) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel^(MF) from the one you accepted, you put up with it^(MG) easily enough.

⁵I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”^[t]^(MH) ⁶I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,^(MI) but I do have knowledge.^(MJ) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. ⁷Was it a sin^(MK) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God^(ML) to you free of charge?^(MM) ⁸I robbed other churches by receiving support from them^(MN) so as to serve you. ⁹And 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.^(MO) I have kept myself from being a burden to you^(MP) in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,^(MQ) nobody in the regions of Achaia^(MR) will stop this boasting^(MS) of mine. ¹¹Why? Because I do not love you? God knows^(MT) I do!^(MU)

¹²And 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. ¹³For such people are false apostles,^(MV) deceitful^(MW) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.^(MX) ¹⁴And no wonder, for Satan^(MY) himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.^(MZ)

Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

¹⁶I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.^(NA) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. ¹⁷In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,^(NB) but as a fool.^(NC) ¹⁸Since many are boasting in the way the world does,^(ND) I too will boast.^(NE) ¹⁹You gladly put up with^(NF) fools since you are so wise!^(NG) ²⁰In fact, you even put up with^(NH) anyone who enslaves you^(NI) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. ²¹To my shame I admit that we were too weak^(NJ) for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.^(NK) ²²Are they Hebrews? So am I.^(NL) Are they Israelites? So am I.^(NM) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.^(NN) ²³Are they servants of Christ?^(NO) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(NP) been in prison more frequently,^(NQ) been flogged more severely,^(NR) and been exposed to death again and again.^(NS) ²⁴Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes^(NT) minus one. ²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods,^(NU) once I was pelted with stones,^(NV) three times I was shipwrecked,^(NW) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,^(NX) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,^(NY) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.^(NZ) ²⁷I have labored and toiled^(OA) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;^(OB) I have been cold and naked. ²⁸Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.^(OC) ²⁹Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?^(OD) Who is led into sin,^(OE) and I do not inwardly burn?

³⁰If I must boast, I will boast^(OF) of the things that show my weakness.^(OG) ³¹The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,^(OH) knows^(OI) that I am not lying. ³²In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.^(OJ) ³³But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.^(OK)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(OL) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(OM) from the Lord. ²I know a man in Christ^(ON) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(OO) to the third heaven.^(OP) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^(OQ) ³And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴was caught up^(OR) to paradise^(OS) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^(OT) ⁶Even if I should choose to boast,^(OU) I would not be a fool,^(OV) 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, ⁷or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(OW) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(OX) a messenger of Satan,^(OY) to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^(OZ) ⁹But he said to me, “My grace^(PA) is sufficient for you, for my power^(PB) is made perfect in weakness.^(PC)”^(PD) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(PE) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(PF) in persecutions,^(PG) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(PH)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹I have made a fool of myself,^(PI) 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,”^[u]^(PJ) even though I am nothing.^(PK) ¹²I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.^(PL) ¹³How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(PM) Forgive me this wrong!^(PN)

¹⁴Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(PO) 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,^(PP) but parents for their children.^(PQ) ¹⁵So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(PR) If I love you more,^(PS) will you love me less? ¹⁶Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(PT) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? ¹⁸I urged^(PU) Titus^(PV) to go to you and I sent our brother^(PW) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

¹⁹Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God^(PX) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,^(PY) is for your strengthening.^(PZ) ²⁰For I am afraid that when I come^(QA) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.^(QB) I fear that there may be discord,^(QC) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,^(QD) slander,^(QE) gossip,^(QF) arrogance^(QG) and disorder.^(QH) ²¹I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved^(QI) over many who have sinned earlier^(QJ) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery^(QK) in which they have indulged.

Final Warnings

13 This will be my third visit to you.^(QL) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”^[v]^(QM) ²I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:^(QN) On my return I will not spare^(QO) those who sinned earlier^(QP) or any of the others, ³since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.^(QQ) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,^(QR) yet he lives by God’s power.^(QS) Likewise, we are weak^(QT) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him^(QU) in our dealing with you.

⁵Examine yourselves^(QV) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.^(QW) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you^(QX)—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 1:8 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 8:1; 13:11.
2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness
2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflect
2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3
2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given
2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18
2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
2 Corinthians 10:7 Or Look at the obvious facts
2 Corinthians 10:17 Jer. 9:24
2 Corinthians 11:5 Or to the most eminent apostles
2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles
2 Corinthians 13:1 Deut. 19:15

2 Corinthians 1:2-13:14

King James Version

²Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

³Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

⁴Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

⁵For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

⁶And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

⁷And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

⁸For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

⁹But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

¹⁰Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

¹¹Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

¹²For 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.

¹³For we write none other things unto you, that what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

¹⁴As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁵And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

¹⁶And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

¹⁷When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

¹⁸But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

¹⁹For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

²⁰For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

²¹Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

²²Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

²³Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

²⁴Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

2 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

²For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

³And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

⁴For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

⁵But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

⁶Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

⁷So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

⁸Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

⁹For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

¹⁰To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

¹¹Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

¹²Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

¹³I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

¹⁴Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

¹⁵For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

¹⁶To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

¹⁷For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

²Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

³Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

⁴And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

⁵Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

⁶Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

⁷But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

⁸How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

⁹For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

¹⁰For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

¹¹For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

¹²Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

¹³And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

¹⁴But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

¹⁵But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

¹⁶Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

¹⁷Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

¹⁸But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

4 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

²But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

⁵For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

⁶For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

¹¹For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

¹²So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

¹³We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

¹⁴Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

¹⁵For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

¹⁶For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

¹⁷For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

¹⁸While we 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.

5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

²For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

³If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

⁴For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

⁵Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

⁶Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

⁷(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

⁸We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

⁹Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

¹¹Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

¹²For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

¹³For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

¹⁴For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

¹⁵And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

¹⁶Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

¹⁸And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

²¹For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

²(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

³Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

⁴But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

⁵In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

⁶By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

⁷By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

⁸By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

⁹As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

¹⁰As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

¹¹O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

¹²Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

¹³Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

¹⁴Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

¹⁵And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

¹⁶And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

¹⁸And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

7 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

²Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

³I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

⁴Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

⁵For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

⁶Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

⁷And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

⁸For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

⁹Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

¹⁰For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

¹¹For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

¹²Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

¹³Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

¹⁴For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

¹⁵And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

¹⁶I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

8 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

²How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

³For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

⁴Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

⁵And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

⁶Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

⁷Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

⁸I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

⁹For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

¹⁰And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

¹¹Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

¹²For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

¹³For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

¹⁴But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

¹⁵As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

¹⁶But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

¹⁷For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

¹⁸And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

¹⁹And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

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

²¹Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

²²And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

²³Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

²⁴Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

9 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

²For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

³Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

⁴Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

⁵Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

⁶But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

⁷Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

⁸And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

⁹(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

¹⁰Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

¹¹Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

¹²For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

¹³Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

¹⁴And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

¹⁵Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

10 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

²But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

⁴(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

⁵Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

⁶And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

⁷Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

⁸For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

⁹That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

¹⁰For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

¹¹Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

¹²For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

¹³But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

¹⁴For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

¹⁵Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

¹⁶To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

¹⁷But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

¹⁸For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

11 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

²For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

³But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

⁴For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

⁵For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

⁶But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

⁷Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

⁸I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

⁹And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

¹⁰As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

¹¹Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

¹²But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

¹³For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

¹⁴And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

¹⁵Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

¹⁶I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

¹⁷That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

¹⁸Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

¹⁹For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

²⁰For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

²¹I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

²²Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

²³Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

²⁴Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

²⁵Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

²⁶In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

²⁷In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

²⁹Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

³⁰If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

³¹The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

³²In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

³³And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

²I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

³And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

⁴How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

⁵Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

⁶For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

⁷And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

⁸For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

⁹And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

¹¹I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

¹²Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

¹³For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

¹⁴Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

¹⁶But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

¹⁷Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

¹⁸I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

¹⁹Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

²⁰For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

²¹And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

13 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

²I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

³Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

⁴For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

⁵Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

⁶But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

⁷Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

⁸For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

⁹For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

¹⁰Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

¹¹Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

¹²Greet one another with an holy kiss.

¹³All the saints salute you.

¹⁴The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:2-13:14

New King James Version

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

Comfort in Suffering

³^(B)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴who ^(C)comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any ^[a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵For as ^(D)the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our ^[b]consolation also abounds through Christ. ⁶Now if we are afflicted, ^(E)it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. ⁷And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that ^(F)as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Delivered from Suffering

⁸For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of ^(G)our ^[c]trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should ^(H)not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰^(I)who delivered us from so great a death, and ^[d]does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, ¹¹you also ^(J)helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on ^[e]our behalf ^(K)for the gift granted to us through many.

Paul’s Sincerity

¹²For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in ^[f]simplicity and ^(L)godly sincerity, ^(M)not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. ¹³For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end ¹⁴(as also you have understood us in part), ^(N)that we are your boast as ^(O)you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Sparing the Church

¹⁵And in this confidence ^(P)I intended to come to you before, that you might have ^(Q)a second benefit— ¹⁶to pass by way of you to Macedonia, ^(R)to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. ¹⁷Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan ^(S)according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? ¹⁸But as God is ^(T)faithful, our ^[g]word to you was not Yes and No. ¹⁹For ^(U)the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, ^(V)Silvanus, and ^(W)Timothy—was not Yes and No, ^(X)but in Him was Yes. ²⁰^(Y)For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. ²¹Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and ^(Z)has anointed us is God, ²²who ^(AA)also has sealed us and ^(AB)given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

²³Moreover ^(AC)I call God as witness against my soul, ^(AD)that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. ²⁴Not ^(AE)that we ^[h]have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for ^(AF)by faith you stand.

Paul Urges Forgiveness

2 But I determined this within myself, ^(AG)that I would not come again to you in sorrow. ²For if I make you ^(AH)sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

³And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, ^(AI)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, ^(AJ)having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. ⁴For out of much ^[i]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, ^(AK)not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

⁵But ^(AL)if anyone has caused grief, he has not ^(AM)grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. ⁶This punishment which was inflicted ^(AN)by the majority is sufficient for such a man, ⁷^(AO)so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. ⁸Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. ⁹For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are ^(AP)obedient in all things. ¹⁰Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For ^[j]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Triumph in Christ

¹²Furthermore, ^(AQ)when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and ^(AR)a ^[k]door was opened to me by the Lord, ¹³^(AS)I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

¹⁴Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us ^[l]diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵For we are to God the fragrance of Christ ^(AT)among those who are being saved and ^(AU)among those who are perishing. ¹⁶^(AV)To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And ^(AW)who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷For we are not, as ^[m]so many, ^(AX)peddling^[n] the word of God; but as ^(AY)of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

Christ’s Epistle^(AZ)

3 Do ^(BA)we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, ^(BB)epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? ²^(BC)You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; ³clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ^(BD)ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not ^(BE)on tablets of stone but ^(BF)on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

The Spirit, Not the Letter

⁴And we have such trust through Christ toward God. ⁵^(BG)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but ^(BH)our sufficiency is from God, ⁶who also made us sufficient as ^(BI)ministers of ^(BJ)the new covenant, not ^(BK)of the letter but of the ^[o]Spirit; for ^(BL)the letter kills, ^(BM)but the Spirit gives life.

Glory of the New Covenant

⁷But if ^(BN)the ministry of death, ^(BO)written and engraved on stones, was glorious, ^(BP)so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, ⁸how will ^(BQ)the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? ⁹For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry ^(BR)of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. ¹⁰For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. ¹¹For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

¹²Therefore, since we have such hope, ^(BS)we use great boldness of speech— ¹³unlike Moses, ^(BT)who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at ^(BU)the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴But ^(BV)their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶Nevertheless ^(BW)when one turns to the Lord, ^(BX)the veil is taken away. ¹⁷Now ^(BY)the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is ^(BZ)liberty. ¹⁸But we all, with unveiled face, beholding ^(CA)as in a mirror ^(CB)the glory of the Lord, ^(CC)are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as ^[p]by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Light of Christ’s Gospel

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, ^(CD)as we have received mercy, we ^(CE)do not lose heart. ²But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor ^[q]handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth ^(CF)commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³But even if our gospel is veiled, ^(CG)it is veiled to those who are perishing, ⁴whose minds ^(CH)the god of this age ^(CI)has blinded, who do not believe, lest ^(CJ)the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, ^(CK)who is the image of God, should shine on them. ⁵^(CL)For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ^(CM)ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For it is the God ^(CN)who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has ^(CO)shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cast Down but Unconquered

⁷But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, ^(CP)that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸We are ^(CQ)hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not ^(CR)forsaken; ^(CS)struck down, but not destroyed— ¹⁰^(CT)always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, ^(CU)that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹For we who live ^(CV)are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²So then death is working in us, but life in you.

¹³And since we have ^(CW)the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ^(CX)“I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴knowing that ^(CY)He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. ¹⁵For ^(CZ)all things are for your sakes, that ^(DA)grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible

¹⁶Therefore we ^(DB)do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is ^(DC)being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For ^(DD)our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸^(DE)while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Assurance of the Resurrection

5 For we know that if ^(DF)our earthly ^[r]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house ^(DG)not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ²For in this ^(DH)we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our ^[s]habitation which is from heaven, ³if indeed, ^(DI)having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, ^(DJ)but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also ^(DK)has given us the Spirit as ^[t]a guarantee.

⁶So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ⁷For ^(DL)we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸We are confident, yes, ^(DM)well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

⁹Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰^(DN)For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^(DO)that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹Knowing, therefore, ^(DP)the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Be Reconciled to God

¹²For ^(DQ)we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity ^(DR)to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. ¹³For ^(DS)if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that ^(DT)if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵and He died for all, ^(DU)that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

¹⁶^(DV)Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, ^(DW)yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone ^(DX)is in Christ, he is ^(DY)a new creation; ^(DZ)old things have passed away; behold, all things have become ^(EA)new. ¹⁸Now all things are of God, ^(EB)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹that is, that ^(EC)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[u]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰Now then, we are ^(ED)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹For ^(EE)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become ^(EF)the righteousness of God in Him.

Marks of the Ministry

6 We then, as ^(EG)workers together with Him also ^(EH)plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For He says:

^(EI)“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

³^(EJ)We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. ⁴But in all things we commend ourselves ^(EK)as ministers of God: in much ^[v]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ⁵^(EL)in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by ^[w]sincere love, ⁷^(EM)by the word of truth, by ^(EN)the power of God, by ^(EO)the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹as unknown, and ^(EP)yet well known; ^(EQ)as dying, and behold we live; ^(ER)as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many ^(ES)rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Be Holy

¹¹O Corinthians! ^[x]We have spoken openly to you, ^(ET)our heart is wide open. ¹²You are not restricted by us, but ^(EU)you are restricted by your own affections. ¹³Now in return for the same ^(EV)(I speak as to children), you also be open.

¹⁴^(EW)Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For ^(EX)what ^[y]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what ^[z]communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ^(EY)you^[aa] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

^(EZ)“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

¹⁷Therefore

^(FA)“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
¹⁸“I ^(FB)will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My ^(FC)sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”

The Corinthians’ Repentance

7 Therefore,^(FD) having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Corinthians’ Repentance

²Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, ^(FE)we have cheated no one. ³I do not say this to condemn; for ^(FF)I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. ⁴^(FG)Great is my boldness of speech toward you, ^(FH)great is my boasting on your behalf. ^(FI)I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

⁵For indeed, ^(FJ)when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but ^(FK)we were troubled on every side. ^(FL)Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. ⁶Nevertheless ^(FM)God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by ^(FN)the coming of Titus, ⁷and not only by his coming, but also by the ^[ab]consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

⁸For even if I made you ^(FO)sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; ^(FP)though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. ⁹Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰For ^(FQ)godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; ^(FR)but the sorrow of the world produces death. ¹¹For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what ^(FS)clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be ^(FT)clear in this matter. ¹²Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, ^(FU)but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

The Joy of Titus

¹³Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit ^(FV)has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. ¹⁵And his affections are greater for you as he remembers ^(FW)the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. ¹⁶Therefore I rejoice that ^(FX)I have confidence in you in everything.

Excel in Giving

8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: ²that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and ^(FY)their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. ³For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, ⁴imploring us with much urgency ^[ac]that we would receive the gift and ^(FZ)the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ⁵And not only as we had hoped, but they first ^(GA)gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the ^(GB)will of God. ⁶So ^(GC)we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. ⁷But as ^(GD)you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see ^(GE)that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern

⁸^(GF)I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(GG)that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ^(GH)rich.

¹⁰And in this ^(GI)I give advice: ^(GJ)It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and ^(GK)were desiring to do a year ago; ¹¹but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. ¹²For ^(GL)if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

¹³For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; ¹⁴but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. ¹⁵As it is written, ^(GM)“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Collection for the Judean Saints

¹⁶But thanks be to God who ^[ad]puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. ¹⁷For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. ¹⁸And we have sent with him ^(GN)the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, ¹⁹and not only that, but who was also ^(GO)chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us ^(GP)to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, ²⁰avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— ²¹^(GQ)providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

²²And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. ²³If anyone inquires about ^(GR)Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are ^(GS)messengers^[ae] of the churches, the glory of Christ. ²⁴Therefore show to them, ^[af]and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our ^(GT)boasting on your behalf.

Administering the Gift

9 Now concerning ^(GU)the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; ²for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a ^(GV)year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. ³^(GW)Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; ⁴lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this ^[ag]confident boasting. ⁵Therefore I thought it necessary to ^[ah]exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a ^[ai]grudging obligation.

The Cheerful Giver

⁶^(GX)But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows ^[aj]bountifully will also reap ^[ak]bountifully. ⁷So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, ^(GY)not grudgingly or of ^[al]necessity; for ^(GZ)God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸^(HA)And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. ⁹As it is written:

^(HB)“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰Now ^[am]may He who ^(HC)supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, ^[an]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your ^(HD)righteousness, ¹¹while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, ^(HE)which causes thanksgiving through us to God. ¹²For the administration of this service not only ^(HF)supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³while, through the proof of this ministry, they ^(HG)glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal ^(HH)sharing with them and all men, ¹⁴and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding ^(HI)grace of God in you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God ^(HJ)for His indescribable gift!

The Spiritual War

10 Now ^(HK)I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—^(HL)who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. ²But I beg you ^(HM)that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. ³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴^(HN)For the weapons ^(HO)of our warfare are not ^[ao]carnal but ^(HP)mighty in God ^(HQ)for pulling down strongholds, ⁵^(HR)casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶^(HS)and being ready to punish all disobedience when ^(HT)your obedience is fulfilled.

Reality of Paul’s Authority

⁷^(HU)Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? ^(HV)If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even ^[ap]so ^(HW)we are Christ’s. ⁸For even if I should boast somewhat more ^(HX)about our authority, which the Lord gave ^[aq]us for ^[ar]edification and not for your destruction, ^(HY)I shall not be ashamed— ⁹lest I seem to terrify you by letters. ¹⁰“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but ^(HZ)his bodily presence is weak, and his ^(IA)speech contemptible.” ¹¹Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

Limits of Paul’s Authority

¹²^(IB)For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. ¹³^(IC)We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. ¹⁴For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), ^(ID)for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; ¹⁵not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, ^(IE)in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, ¹⁶to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

¹⁷But ^(IF)“he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” ¹⁸For ^(IG)not he who commends himself is approved, but ^(IH)whom the Lord commends.

Concern for Their Faithfulness

11 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little ^(II)folly—and indeed you do bear with me. ²For I am ^(IJ)jealous for you with godly jealousy. For ^(IK)I have betrothed you to one husband, ^(IL)that I may present you ^(IM)as a chaste virgin to Christ. ³But I fear, lest somehow, as ^(IN)the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds ^(IO)may be corrupted from the ^[as]simplicity that is in Christ. ⁴For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a ^(IP)different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Paul and False Apostles

⁵For I consider that ^(IQ)I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. ⁶Even though ^(IR)I am untrained in speech, yet I am not ^(IS)in knowledge. But ^(IT)we have ^[at]been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

⁷Did I commit sin in ^[au]humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you ^(IU)free of charge? ⁸I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. ⁹And when I was present with you, and in need, ^(IV)I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked ^(IW)the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. ¹⁰^(IX)As the truth of Christ is in me, ^(IY)no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹Why? ^(IZ)Because I do not love you? God knows!

¹²But what I do, I will also continue to do, ^(JA)that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. ¹³For such ^(JB)are false apostles, ^(JC)deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into ^(JD)an angel of light. ¹⁵Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, ^(JE)whose end will be according to their works.

Reluctant Boasting

¹⁶I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷What I speak, ^(JF)I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. ¹⁹For you put up with fools gladly, ^(JG)since you yourselves are wise! ²⁰For you put up with it ^(JH)if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. ²¹To our shame ^(JI)I say that we were too weak for that! But ^(JJ)in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.

Suffering for Christ

²²Are they ^(JK)Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. ²³Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: ^(JL)in labors more abundant, ^(JM)in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, ^(JN)in deaths often. ²⁴From the Jews five times I received ^(JO)forty ^(JP)stripes minus one. ²⁵Three times I was ^(JQ)beaten with rods; ^(JR)once I was stoned; three times I ^(JS)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, ^(JT)in perils of my own countrymen, ^(JU)in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷in weariness and toil, ^(JV)in sleeplessness often, ^(JW)in hunger and thirst, in ^(JX)fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: ^(JY)my deep concern for all the churches. ²⁹^(JZ)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

³⁰If I must boast, ^(KA)I will boast in the things which concern my ^[av]infirmity. ³¹^(KB)The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(KC)who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ³²^(KD)In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; ³³but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

The Vision of Paradise

12 It is ^[aw]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to ^(KE)visions and ^(KF)revelations of the Lord: ²I know a man ^(KG)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one ^(KH)was caught up to the third heaven. ³And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴how he was caught up into ^(KI)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not ^(KJ)boast, except in my infirmities. ⁶For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

⁷And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^(KK)thorn in the flesh was given to me, ^(KL)a messenger of Satan to ^[ax]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸^(KM)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(KN)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(KO)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰Therefore ^(KP)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(KQ)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Signs of an Apostle

¹¹I have become ^(KR)a fool ^[ay]in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for ^(KS)in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though ^(KT)I am nothing. ¹²^(KU)Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and ^(KV)wonders and mighty ^(KW)deeds. ¹³For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

¹⁴^(KX)Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for ^(KY)I do not seek yours, but you. ^(KZ)For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵And I will very gladly spend and be spent ^(LA)for your souls; though ^(LB)the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

¹⁶But be that as it may, ^(LC)I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! ¹⁷Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸I urged Titus, and sent our ^(LD)brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

¹⁹^(LE)Again, ^[az]do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? ^(LF)We speak before God in Christ. ^(LG)But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. ²⁰For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that ^(LH)I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; ²¹lest, when I come again, my God ^(LI)will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many ^(LJ)who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, ^(LK)fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

Coming with Authority

13 This will be ^(LL)the third time I am coming to you. ^(LM)“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” ²^(LN)I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent ^[ba]I write to those ^(LO)who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again ^(LP)I will not spare— ³since you seek a proof of Christ ^(LQ)speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty ^(LR)in you. ⁴^(LS)For though He was crucified in weakness, yet ^(LT)He lives by the power of God. For ^(LU)we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

⁵Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, ^(LV)that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you ^[bb]are ^(LW)disqualified. ⁶But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Paul Prefers Gentleness

⁷Now ^[bc]I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though ^(LX)we may seem disqualified. ⁸For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. ⁹For we are glad ^(LY)when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, ^(LZ)that you may be made complete. ¹⁰^(MA)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the ^(MB)authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

Greetings and Benediction

¹¹Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. ^(MC)Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love ^(MD)and peace will be with you.

¹²^(ME)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

¹³All the saints greet you.

¹⁴^(MF)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and ^(MG)the ^[bd]communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 1:4 tribulation
2 Corinthians 1:5 comfort
2 Corinthians 1:8 tribulation
2 Corinthians 1:10 NU shall
2 Corinthians 1:11 M your behalf
2 Corinthians 1:12 The opposite of duplicity
2 Corinthians 1:18 message
2 Corinthians 1:24 rule
2 Corinthians 2:4 tribulation
2 Corinthians 2:10 NU indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes
2 Corinthians 2:12 Opportunity
2 Corinthians 2:14 manifests
2 Corinthians 2:17 M the rest
2 Corinthians 2:17 adulterating for gain
2 Corinthians 3:6 Or spirit
2 Corinthians 3:18 Or from the Lord, the Spirit
2 Corinthians 4:2 adulterating the word of God
2 Corinthians 5:1 Physical body
2 Corinthians 5:2 dwelling
2 Corinthians 5:5 down payment, earnest
2 Corinthians 5:19 reckoning
2 Corinthians 6:4 endurance
2 Corinthians 6:6 Lit. unhypocritical
2 Corinthians 6:11 Lit. Our mouth is open
2 Corinthians 6:14 in common
2 Corinthians 6:14 fellowship
2 Corinthians 6:16 NU we
2 Corinthians 7:7 comfort
2 Corinthians 8:4 NU, M omit that we would receive, thus changing text to urgency for the favor and fellowship
2 Corinthians 8:16 NU has put
2 Corinthians 8:23 Lit. apostles, “sent ones”
2 Corinthians 8:24 NU, M omit and
2 Corinthians 9:4 NU confidence.
2 Corinthians 9:5 encourage
2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit. covetousness
2 Corinthians 9:6 with blessings
2 Corinthians 9:6 with blessings
2 Corinthians 9:7 compulsion
2 Corinthians 9:10 NU omits may
2 Corinthians 9:10 NU will supply
2 Corinthians 10:4 of the flesh
2 Corinthians 10:7 NU as we are.
2 Corinthians 10:8 NU omits us
2 Corinthians 10:8 building up
2 Corinthians 11:3 NU adds and purity
2 Corinthians 11:6 NU omits been
2 Corinthians 11:7 putting myself down
2 Corinthians 11:30 weakness
2 Corinthians 12:1 NU necessary, though not profitable, to boast
2 Corinthians 12:7 beat
2 Corinthians 12:11 NU omits in boasting
2 Corinthians 12:19 NU You have been thinking for a long time that we
2 Corinthians 13:2 NU omits I write
2 Corinthians 13:5 do not stand the test
2 Corinthians 13:7 NU we
2 Corinthians 13:14 fellowship

New International Version (NIV)

2 Corinthians 1:2-13:8 New International Version

Praise to the God of All Comfort

Paul’s Change of Plans

Forgiveness for the Offender

Ministers of the New Covenant

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

Awaiting the New Body

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Paul’s Hardships

Warning Against Idolatry

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

The Collection for the Lord’s People

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

Generosity Encouraged

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

Paul and the False Apostles

Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

Final Warnings

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 1:2-13:14 King James Version

2 Corinthians 1:2-13:14 New King James Version

Comfort in Suffering

Delivered from Suffering

Paul’s Sincerity

Sparing the Church

Paul Urges Forgiveness

Forgive the Offender

Triumph in Christ

Christ’s Epistle(AZ)

The Spirit, Not the Letter

Glory of the New Covenant

The Light of Christ’s Gospel

Cast Down but Unconquered

Seeing the Invisible

Assurance of the Resurrection

The Judgment Seat of Christ

Be Reconciled to God

Marks of the Ministry

Be Holy

The Corinthians’ Repentance

The Corinthians’ Repentance

The Joy of Titus

Excel in Giving

Christ Our Pattern

Collection for the Judean Saints

Administering the Gift

The Cheerful Giver

The Spiritual War

Reality of Paul’s Authority

Limits of Paul’s Authority

Concern for Their Faithfulness

Paul and False Apostles

Reluctant Boasting

Suffering for Christ

The Vision of Paradise

The Thorn in the Flesh

Signs of an Apostle

Love for the Church

Coming with Authority

Paul Prefers Gentleness

Greetings and Benediction

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

2 Corinthians 1:2-13:8

New International Version

2 Corinthians 1:2-13:14

King James Version

2 Corinthians 1:2-13:14

New King James Version

Christ’s Epistle^(AZ)