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II Corinthios 5-13
Biblia Sacra Vulgata
II Corinthios 5-13
Biblia Sacra Vulgata
5 Scimus enim quoniam si terrestris domus nostra hujus habitationis dissolvatur, quod aedificationem ex Deo habemus, domum non manufactam, aeternam in caelis.
2 Nam et in hoc ingemiscimus, habitationem nostram, quae de caelo est, superindui cupientes:
3 si tamen vestiti, non nudi inveniamur.
4 Nam et qui sumus in hoc tabernaculo, ingemiscimus gravati: eo quod nolumus expoliari, sed supervestiri, ut absorbeatur quod mortale est, a vita.
5 Qui autem efficit nos in hoc ipsum, Deus, qui dedit nobis pignus Spiritus.
6 Audentes igitur semper, scientes quoniam dum sumus in corpore, peregrinamur a Domino
7 (per fidem enim ambulamus, et non per speciem):
8 audemus autem, et bonam voluntatem habemus magis peregrinari a corpore, et praesentes esse ad Dominum.
9 Et ideo contendimus, sive absentes, sive praesentes, placere illi.
10 Omnes enim nos manifestari oportet ante tribunal Christi, ut referat unusquisque propria corporis, prout gessit, sive bonum, sive malum.
11 Scientes ergo timorem Domini, hominibus suademus, Deo autem manifesti sumus. Spero autem et in conscientiis vestris manifestos nos esse.
12 Non iterum commendamus nos vobis, sed occasionem damus vobis gloriandi pro nobis: ut habeatis ad eos qui in facie gloriantur, et non in corde.
13 Sive enim mente excedimus Deo: sive sobrii sumus, vobis.
14 Caritas enim Christi urget nos: aestimantes hoc, quoniam si unus pro omnibus mortuus est, ergo omnes mortui sunt:
15 et pro omnibus mortuus est Christus: ut, et qui vivunt, jam non sibi vivant, sed ei qui pro ipsis mortuus est et resurrexit.
16 Itaque nos ex hoc neminem novimus secundum carnem. Et si cognovimus secundum carnem Christum, sed nunc jam non novimus.
17 Si qua ergo in Christo nova creatura, vetera transierunt: ecce facta sunt omnia nova.
18 Omnia autem ex Deo, qui nos reconciliavit sibi per Christum: et dedit nobis ministerium reconciliationis,
19 quoniam quidem Deus erat in Christo mundum reconcilians sibi, non reputans illis delicta ipsorum, et posuit in nobis verbum reconciliationis.
20 Pro Christo ergo legatione fungimur, tamquam Deo exhortante per nos. Obsecramus pro Christo, reconciliamini Deo.
21 Eum, qui non noverat peccatum, pro nobis peccatum fecit, ut nos efficeremur justitia Dei in ipso.
6 Adjuvantes autem exhortamur ne in vacuum gratiam Dei recipiatis.
2 Ait enim: Tempore accepto exaudivi te, et in die salutis adjuvi te. Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile, ecce nunc dies salutis.
3 Nemini dantes ullam offensionem, ut non vituperetur ministerium nostrum:
4 sed in omnibus exhibeamus nosmetipsos sicut Dei ministros in multa patientia, in tribulationibus, in necessitatibus, in angustiis,
5 in plagis, in carceribus, in seditionibus, in laboribus, in vigiliis, in jejuniis,
6 in castitate, in scientia, in longanimitate, in suavitate, in Spiritu Sancto, in caritate non ficta,
7 in verbo veritatis, in virtute Dei, per arma justitiae a dextris et a sinistris,
8 per gloriam, et ignobilitatem, per infamiam, et bonam famam: ut seductores, et veraces, sicut qui ignoti, et cogniti:
9 quasi morientes, et ecce vivimus: ut castigati, et non mortificati:
10 quasi tristes, semper autem gaudentes: sicut egentes, multos autem locupletantes: tamquam nihil habentes, et omnia possidentes.
11 Os nostrum patet ad vos, o Corinthii; cor nostrum dilatatum est.
12 Non angustiamini in nobis: angustiamini autem in visceribus vestris:
13 eamdem autem habentes remunerationem, tamquam filiis dico, dilatamini et vos.
14 Nolite jugum ducere cum infidelibus. Quae enim participatio justitiae cum iniquitate? aut quae societas luci ad tenebras?
15 quae autem conventio Christi ad Belial? aut quae pars fideli cum infideli?
16 qui autem consensus templo Dei cum idolis? vos enim estis templum Dei vivi, sicut dicit Deus: Quoniam inhabitabo in illis, et inambulabo inter eos, et ero illorum Deus, et ipsi erunt mihi populus.
17 Propter quod exite de medio eorum, et separamini, dicit Dominus, et immundum ne tetigeritis:
18 et ego recipiam vos: et ero vobis in patrem, et vos eritis mihi in filios et filias, dicit Dominus omnipotens.
7 Has ergo habentes promissiones, carissimi, mundemus nos ab omni inquinamento carnis et spiritus, perficientes sanctificationem in timore Dei.
2 Capite nos. Neminem laesimus, neminem corrupimus, neminem circumvenimus.
3 Non ad condemnationem vestram dico: praediximus enim quod in cordibus nostris estis ad commoriendum et ad convivendum.
4 Multa mihi fiducia est apud vos, multa mihi gloriatio pro vobis: repletus sum consolatione; superabundo gaudio in omni tribulatione nostra.
5 Nam et cum venissemus in Macedoniam, nullam requiem habuit caro nostra, sed omnem tribulationem passi sumus: foris pugnae, intus timores.
6 Sed qui consolatur humiles, consolatus est nos Deus in adventu Titi.
7 Non solum autem in adventu ejus, sed etiam in consolatione, qua consolatus est in vobis, referens nobis vestrum desiderium, vestrum fletum, vestram aemulationem pro me, ita ut magis gauderem.
8 Quoniam etsi contristavi vos in epistola, non me poenitet: etsi poeniteret, videns quod epistola illa (etsi ad horam) vos contristavit,
9 nunc gaudeo: non quia contristati estis, sed quia contristati estis ad poenitentiam. Contristati enim estis ad Deum, ut in nullo detrimentum patiamini ex nobis.
10 Quae enim secundum Deum tristitia est, poenitentiam in salutem stabilem operatur: saeculi autem tristitia mortem operatur.
11 Ecce enim hoc ipsum, secundum Deum contristari vos, quantam in vobis operatur sollicitudinem: sed defensionem, sed indignationem, sed timorem, sed desiderium, sed aemulationem, sed vindictam: in omnibus exhibuistis vos incontaminatos esse negotio.
12 Igitur, etsi scripsi vobis, non propter eum qui fecit injuriam, nec propter eum qui passus est: sed ad manifestandam sollicitudinem nostram, quam habemus pro vobis
13 coram Deo: ideo consolati sumus. In consolatione autem nostra, abundantius magis gavisi sumus super gaudio Titi, quia refectus est spiritus ejus ab omnibus vobis:
14 et si quid apud illum de vobis gloriatus sum, non sum confusus: sed sicut omnia vobis in veritate locuti sumus, ita et gloriatio nostra, quae fuit ad Titum, veritas facta est,
15 et viscera ejus abundantius in vobis sunt, reminiscentis omnium vestrum obedientiam: quomodo cum timore et tremore excepistis illum.
16 Gaudeo quod in omnibus confido in vobis.
8 Notam autem facimus vobis, fratres, gratiam Dei, quae data est in ecclesiis Macedoniae:
2 quod in multo experimento tribulationis abundantia gaudii ipsorum fuit, et altissima paupertas eorum, abundavit in divitias simplicitatis eorum:
3 quia secundum virtutem testimonium illis reddo, et supra virtutem voluntarii fuerunt,
4 cum multa exhortatione obsecrantes nos gratiam, et communicationem ministerii, quod fit in sanctos.
5 Et non sicut speravimus, sed semetipsos dederunt primum Domino, deinde nobis per voluntatem Dei,
6 ita ut rogaremus Titum, ut quemadmodum coepit, ita et perficiat in vobis etiam gratiam istam.
7 Sed sicut in omnibus abundatis fide, et sermone, et scientia, et omni sollicitudine, insuper et caritate vestra in nos, ut et in hac gratia abundetis.
8 Non quasi imperans dico: sed per aliorum sollicitudinem, etiam vestrae caritatis ingenium bonum comprobans.
9 Scitis enim gratiam Domini nostri Jesu Christi, quoniam propter vos egenus factus est, cum esset dives, ut illius inopia vos divites essetis.
10 Et consilium in hoc do: hoc enim vobis utile est, qui non solum facere, sed et velle coepistis ab anno priore:
11 nunc vero et facto perficite: ut quemadmodum promptus est animus voluntatis, ita sit et perficiendi ex eo quod habetis.
12 Si enim voluntas prompta est, secundum id quod habet, accepta est, non secundum id quod non habet.
13 Non enim ut aliis sit remissio, vobis autem tribulatio, sed ex aequalitate.
14 In praesenti tempore vestra abundantia illorum inopiam suppleat: ut et illorum abundantia vestrae inopiae sit supplementum, ut fiat aequalitas, sicut scriptum est:
15 Qui multum, non abundavit: et qui modicum, non minoravit.
16 Gratias autem Deo, qui dedit eamdem sollicitudinem pro vobis in corde Titi,
17 quoniam exhortationem quidem suscepit: sed cum sollicitior esset, sua voluntate profectus est ad vos.
18 Misimus etiam cum illo fratrem, cujus laus est in Evangelio per omnes ecclesias:
19 non solum autem, sed et ordinatus est ab ecclesiis comes peregrinationis nostrae in hanc gratiam, quae ministratur a nobis ad Domini gloriam, et destinatam voluntatem nostram:
20 devitantes hoc, ne quis nos vituperet in hac plenitudine, quae ministratur a nobis.
21 Providemus enim bona non solum coram Deo, sed etiam coram hominibus.
22 Misimus autem cum illis et fratrem nostrum, quem probavimus in multis saepe sollicitum esse: nunc autem multo sollicitiorem, confidentia multa in vos,
23 sive pro Tito, qui est socius meus, et in vos adjutor, sive fratres nostri, Apostoli ecclesiarum, gloria Christi.
24 Ostensionem ergo, quae est caritatis vestrae, et nostrae gloriae pro vobis, in illos ostendite in faciem ecclesiarum.
9 Nam de ministerio, quod fit in sanctos ex abundanti est mihi scribere vobis.
2 Scio enim promptum animum vestrum: pro quo de vobis glorior apud Macedones. Quoniam et Achaia parata est ab anno praeterito, et vestra aemulatio provocavit plurimos.
3 Misi autem fratres: ut ne quod gloriamur de vobis, evacuetur in hac parte, ut (quemadmodum dixi) parati sitis:
4 ne cum venerint Macedones mecum, et invenerint vos imparatos, erubescamus nos (ut non dicamus vos) in hac substantia.
5 Necessarium ergo existimavi rogare fratres, ut praeveniant ad vos, et praeparent repromissam benedictionem hanc paratam esse sic, quasi benedictionem, non tamquam avaritiam.
6 Hoc autem dico: qui parce seminat, parce et metet: et qui seminat in benedictionibus, de benedictionibus et metet.
7 Unusquisque, prout destinavit in corde suo, non ex tristitia, aut ex necessitate: hilarem enim datorem diligit Deus.
8 Potens est autem Deus omnem gratiam abundare facere in vobis: ut in omnibus semper omnem sufficientiam habentes, abundetis in omne opus bonum,
9 sicut scriptum est: Dispersit, dedit pauperibus: justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.
10 Qui autem administrat semen seminanti: et panem ad manducandum praestabit, et multiplicabit semen vestrum, et augebit incrementa frugum justitiae vestrae:
11 ut in omnibus locupletati abundetis in omnem simplicitatem, quae operatur per nos gratiarum actionem Deo.
12 Quoniam ministerium hujus officii non solum supplet ea quae desunt sanctis, sed etiam abundat per multas gratiarum actiones in Domino,
13 per probationem ministerii hujus, glorificantes Deum in obedientia confessionis vestrae, in Evangelium Christi, et simplicitate communicationis in illos, et in omnes,
14 et in ipsorum obsecratione pro vobis, desiderantium vos propter eminentem gratiam Dei in vobis.
15 Gratias Deo super inenarrabili dono ejus.
10 Ipse autem ego Paulus obsecro vos per mansuetudinem et modestiam Christi, qui in facie quidem humilis sum inter vos, absens autem confido in vos.
2 Rogo autem vos ne praesens audeam per eam confidentiam, qua existimor audere in quosdam, qui arbitrantur nos tamquam secundum carnem ambulemus.
3 In carne enim ambulantes, non secundum carnem militamus.
4 Nam arma militiae nostrae non carnalia sunt, sed potentia Deo ad destructionem munitionum, consilia destruentes,
5 et omnem altitudinem extollentem se adversus scientiam Dei, et in captivitatem redigentes omnem intellectum in obsequium Christi,
6 et in promptu habentes ulcisci omnem inobedientiam, cum impleta fuerit vestra obedientia.
7 Quae secundum faciem sunt, videte. Si quis confidit sibi Christi se esse, hoc cogitet iterum apud se: quia sicut ipse Christi est, ita et nos.
8 Nam etsi amplius aliquid gloriatus fuero de potestate nostra, quam dedit nobis Dominus in aedificationem, et non in destructionem vestram, non erubescam.
9 Ut autem non existimer tamquam terrere vos per epistolas:
10 quoniam quidem epistolae, inquiunt, graves sunt et fortes: praesentia autem corporis infirma, et sermo contemptibilis:
11 hoc cogitet qui ejusmodi est, quia quales sumus verbo per epistolas absentes, tales et praesentes in facto.
12 Non enim audemus inserere, aut comparare nos quibusdam, qui seipsos commendant: sed ipsi in nobis nosmetipsos metientes, et comparantes nosmetipsos nobis.
13 Nos autem non in immensum gloriabimur, sed secundum mensuram regulae, qua mensus est nobis Deus, mensuram pertingendi usque ad vos.
14 Non enim quasi non pertingentes ad vos, superextendimus nos: usque ad vos enim pervenimus in Evangelio Christi.
15 Non in immensum gloriantes in alienis laboribus: spem autem habentes crescentis fidei vestrae, in vobis magnificari secundum regulam nostram in abundantiam,
16 etiam in illa, quae ultra vos sunt, evangelizare, non in aliena regula in iis quae praeparata sunt gloriari.
17 Qui autem gloriatur, in Domino glorietur.
18 Non enim qui seipsum commendat, ille probatus est: sed quem Deus commendat.
11 Utinam sustineretis modicum quid insipientiae meae, sed et supportare me:
2 aemulor enim vos Dei aemulatione. Despondi enim vos uni viro, virginem castam exhibere Christo.
3 Timeo autem ne sicut serpens Hevam seduxit astutia sua, ita corrumpantur sensus vestri, et excidant a simplicitate, quae est in Christo.
4 Nam si is qui venit, alium Christum praedicat, quem non praedicavimus, aut alium spiritum accipitis, quem non accepistis: aut aliud Evangelium, quod non recepistis: recte pateremini.
5 Existimo enim nihil me minus fecisse a magnis Apostolis.
6 Nam etsi imperitus sermone, sed non scientia, in omnibus autem manifestati sumus vobis.
7 Aut numquid peccatum feci, meipsum humilians, ut vos exaltemini? quoniam gratis Evangelium Dei evangelizavi vobis?
8 Alias ecclesias expoliavi, accipiens stipendium ad ministerium vestrum.
9 Et cum essem apud vos, et egerem, nulli onerosus fui: nam quod mihi deerat, suppleverunt fratres, qui venerunt a Macedonia: et in omnibus sine onere me vobis servavi, et servabo.
10 Est veritas Christi in me, quoniam haec gloriatio non infringetur in me in regionibus Achaiae.
11 Quare? quia non diligo vos? Deus scit.
12 Quod autem facio, et faciam: ut amputem occasionem eorum qui volunt occasionem, ut in quo gloriantur, inveniantur sicut et nos.
13 Nam ejusmodi pseudoapostoli sunt operarii subdoli, transfigurantes se in apostolos Christi.
14 Et non mirum: ipse enim Satanas transfigurat se in angelum lucis.
15 Non est ergo magnum, si ministri ejus transfigurentur velut ministri justitiae: quorum finis erit secundum opera ipsorum.
16 Iterum dico (ne quis me putet insipientem esse, alioquin velut insipientem accipite me, ut et ego modicum quid glorier),
17 quod loquor, non loquor secundum Deum, sed quasi in insipientia, in hac substantia gloriae.
18 Quoniam multi gloriantur secundum carnem: et ego gloriabor.
19 Libenter enim suffertis insipientes, cum sitis ipsi sapientes.
20 Sustinetis enim si quis vos in servitutem redigit, si quis devorat, si quis accipit, si quis extollitur, si quis in faciem vos caedit.
21 Secundum ignobilitatem dico, quasi nos infirmi fuerimus in hac parte. In quo quis audet (in insipientia dico) audeo et ego:
22 Hebraei sunt, et ego: Israelitae sunt, et ego: semen Abrahae sunt, et ego.
23 Ministri Christi sunt (ut minus sapiens dico), plus ego: in laboribus plurimis, in carceribus abundantius, in plagis supra modum, in mortibus frequenter.
24 A Judaeis quinquies, quadragenas, una minus, accepi.
25 Ter virgis caesus sum, semel lapidatus sum: ter naufragium feci, nocte et die in profundo maris fui,
26 in itineribus saepe, periculis fluminum, periculis latronum, periculis ex genere, periculis ex gentibus, periculis in civitate, periculis in solitudine, periculis in mari, periculis in falsis fratribus:
27 in labore et aerumna, in vigiliis multis, in fame et siti, in jejuniis multis, in frigore et nuditate,
28 praeter illa quae extrinsecus sunt, instantia mea quotidiana, sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum.
29 Quis infirmatur, et ego non infirmor? quis scandalizatur, et ego non uror?
30 Si gloriari oportet, quae infirmitatis meae sunt, gloriabor.
31 Deus et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, qui est benedictus in saecula, scit quod non mentior.
32 Damasci praepositus gentis Aretae regis custodiebat civitatem Damascenorum ut me comprehenderet:
33 et per fenestram in sporta dimissus sum per murum, et sic effugi manus ejus.
12 Si gloriari oportet (non expedit quidem), veniam autem ad visiones et revelationes Domini.
2 Scio hominem in Christo ante annos quatuordecim, sive in corpore nescio, sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit, raptum hujusmodi usque ad tertium caelum.
3 Et scio hujusmodi hominem sive in corpore, sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit:
4 quoniam raptus est in paradisum: et audivit arcana verba, quae non licet homini loqui.
5 Pro hujusmodi gloriabor: pro me autem nihil gloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis.
6 Nam etsi voluero gloriari, non ero insipiens: veritatem enim dicam: parco autem, ne quis me existimet supra id quod videt in me, aut aliquid audit ex me.
7 Et ne magnitudo revelationum extollat me, datus est mihi stimulus carnis meae angelus Satanae, qui me colaphizet.
8 Propter quod ter Dominum rogavi ut discederet a me:
9 et dixit mihi: Sufficit tibi gratia mea: nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Libenter igitur gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis, ut inhabitet in me virtus Christi.
10 Propter quod placeo mihi in infirmitatibus meis, in contumeliis, in necessitatibus, in persecutionibus, in angustiis pro Christo: cum enim infirmor, tunc potens sum.
11 Factus sum insipiens, vos me coegistis. Ego enim a vobis debui commendari: nihil enim minus fui ab iis, qui sunt supra modum Apostoli: tametsi nihil sum:
12 signa tamen apostolatus mei facta sunt super vos in omni patientia, in signis, et prodigiis, et virtutibus.
13 Quid est enim, quod minus habuistis prae ceteris ecclesiis, nisi quod ego ipse non gravavi vos? donate mihi hanc injuriam.
14 Ecce tertio hoc paratus sum venire ad vos: et non ero gravis vobis. Non enim quaero quae vestra sunt, sed vos. Nec enim debent filii parentibus thesaurizare, sed parentes filiis.
15 Ego autem libentissime impendam, et super impendar ipse pro animabus vestris: licet plus vos diligens, minus diligar.
16 Sed esto: ego vos non gravavi: sed cum essem astutus, dolo vos cepi.
17 Numquid per aliquem eorum, quod misi ad vos, circumveni vos?
18 Rogavi Titum, et misi cum illo fratrem. Numquid Titus vos circumvenit? nonne eodem spiritu ambulavimus? nonne iisdem vestigiis?
19 Olim putatis quod excusemus nos apud vos? coram Deo in Christo loquimur: omnia autem, carissimi, propter aedificationem vestram.
20 Timeo enim ne forte cum venero, non quales volo, inveniam vos: et ego inveniar a vobis, qualem non vultis: ne forte contentiones, aemulationes, animositates, dissensiones, detractiones, susurrationes, inflationes, seditiones sint inter vos:
21 ne iterum cum venero, humiliet me Deus apud vos, et lugeam multos ex iis qui ante peccaverunt, et non egerunt poenitentiam super immunditia, et fornicatione, et impudicitia, quam gesserunt.
13 Ecce tertio hoc venio ad vos: in ore duorum vel trium testium stabit omne verbum.
2 Praedixi, et praedico, ut praesens, et nunc absens iis qui ante peccaverunt, et ceteris omnibus, quoniam si venero iterum, non parcam.
3 An experimentum quaeritis ejus, qui in me loquitur Christus, qui in vobis non infirmatur, sed potens est in vobis?
4 Nam etsi crucifixus est ex infirmitate: sed vivit ex virtute Dei. Nam et nos infirmi sumus in illo: sed vivemus cum eo ex virtute Dei in vobis.
5 Vosmetipsos tentate si estis in fide: ipsi vos probate. An non cognoscitis vosmetipsos quia Christus Jesus in vobis est? nisi forte reprobi estis.
6 Spero autem quod cognoscetis, quia nos non sumus reprobi.
7 Oramus autem Deum ut nihil mali faciatis, non ut nos probati appareamus, sed ut vos quod bonum est faciatis: nos autem ut reprobi simus.
8 Non enim possumus aliquid adversus veritatem, sed pro veritate.
9 Gaudemus enim, quoniam nos infirmi sumus, vos autem potentes estis. Hoc et oramus, vestram consummationem.
10 Ideo haec absens scribo, ut non praesens durius agam secundum potestatem, quam Dominus dedit mihi in aedificationem, et non in destructionem.
11 De cetero, fratres, gaudete, perfecti estote, exhortamini, idem sapite, pacem habete, et Deus pacis et dilectionis erit vobiscum.
12 Salutate invicem in osculo sancto. Salutant vos omnes sancti.
13 Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi, et caritas Dei, et communicatio Sancti Spiritus sit cum omnibus vobis. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5-13
New International Version
2 Corinthians 5-13
New International Version
Awaiting the New Body
5 For we know that if the earthly(A) tent(B) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan,(C) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(D) 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan(E) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(F) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now 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.(G)
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight.(H) 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(I) 9 So we make it our goal to please him,(J) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us(K) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(L) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(M) 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,(N) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,(O) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”(P) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(Q) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(R) but for him who died for them(S) and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(T) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(U) the new creation(V) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(W) 18 All this is from God,(X) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(Y) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(Z) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(AA) as though God were making his appeal through us.(AB) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(AC) 21 God made him who had no sin(AD) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(AE)
6 As God’s co-workers(AF) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(AG) 2 For he says,
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,(AI) so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments(AJ) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;(AK) 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit(AL) and in sincere love;(AM) 7 in truthful speech(AN) and in the power of God;(AO) with weapons of righteousness(AP) in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor,(AQ) bad report(AR) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;(AS) 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(AT) and yet we live on;(AU) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(AV) poor, yet making many rich;(AW) having nothing,(AX) and yet possessing everything.(AY)
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(AZ) 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children(BA)—open wide your hearts(BB) also.
Warning Against Idolatry
14 Do not be yoked together(BC) with unbelievers.(BD) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(BE) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[d]?(BF) Or what does a believer(BG) have in common with an unbeliever?(BH) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(BI) For we are the temple(BJ) of the living God.(BK) 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.”[e](BL)
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them(BM)
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[f](BN)
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,(BO)
says the Lord Almighty.”[g](BP)
7 Therefore, since we have these promises,(BQ) dear friends,(BR) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(BS) out of reverence for God.
Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance
2 Make room for us in your hearts.(BT) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts(BU) that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.(BV) I am greatly encouraged;(BW) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.(BX)
5 For when we came into Macedonia,(BY) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(BZ)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(CA) 6 But God, who comforts the downcast,(CB) comforted us by the coming of Titus,(CC) 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter,(CD) I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation(CE) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,(CF) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you,(CG) it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong(CH) nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus(CI) was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you,(CJ) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus(CK) has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,(CL) receiving him with fear and trembling.(CM) 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.(CN)
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(CO) churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(CP) 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(CQ) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(CR) in this service(CS) to the Lord’s people.(CT) 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged(CU) Titus,(CV) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion(CW) this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything(CX)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,(CY) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[h]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you,(CZ) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace(DA) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(DB) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(DC) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(DD)
10 And here is my judgment(DE) 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.(DF) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(DG) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(DH) not according to what one does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(DI) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[i](DJ)
Titus Sent to Receive the Collection
16 Thanks be to God,(DK) who put into the heart(DL) of Titus(DM) the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.(DN) 18 And we are sending along with him the brother(DO) who is praised by all the churches(DP) for his service to the gospel.(DQ) 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us(DR) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.(DS) 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.(DT)
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus,(DU) he is my partner(DV) and co-worker(DW) among you; as for our brothers,(DX) they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,(DY) so that the churches can see it.
9 There is no need(DZ) for me to write to you about this service(EA) to the Lord’s people.(EB) 2 For I know your eagerness to help,(EC) and I have been boasting(ED) about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year(EE) you in Achaia(EF) were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers(EG) 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.(EH) 4 For if any Macedonians(EI) come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers(EJ) 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,(EK) not as one grudgingly given.(EL)
Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(EM) 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(EN) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(EO) for God loves a cheerful giver.(EP) 8 And God is able(EQ) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(ER) you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts(ES) to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”[j](ET)
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food(EU) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.(EV) 11 You will be enriched(EW) in every way so that you can be generous(EX) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(EY)
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs(EZ) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(FA) 13 Because of the service(FB) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God(FC) for the obedience that accompanies your confession(FD) of the gospel of Christ,(FE) and for your generosity(FF) in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God(FG) for his indescribable gift!(FH)
Paul’s Defense of His Ministry
10 By the humility and gentleness(FI) of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,(FJ) who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold(FK) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.(FL) 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.(FM) 4 The weapons we fight with(FN) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power(FO) to demolish strongholds.(FP) 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,(FQ) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient(FR) to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.(FS)
7 You are judging by appearances.[k](FT) If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ,(FU) they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.(FV) 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us(FW) for building you up rather than tearing you down,(FX) I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive(FY) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”(FZ) 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.(GA) When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us,(GB) a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you(GC) with the gospel of Christ.(GD) 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits(GE) by boasting of work done by others.(GF) Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow,(GG) our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel(GH) in the regions beyond you.(GI) For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[l](GJ) 18 For it is not the one who commends himself(GK) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.(GL)
Paul and the False Apostles
11 I hope you will put up with(GM) me in a little foolishness.(GN) Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,(GO) to Christ, so that I might present you(GP) as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,(GQ) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,(GR) or if you receive a different spirit(GS) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel(GT) from the one you accepted, you put up with it(GU) easily enough.
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”[m](GV) 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,(GW) but I do have knowledge.(GX) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin(GY) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God(GZ) to you free of charge?(HA) 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them(HB) so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.(HC) I have kept myself from being a burden to you(HD) in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,(HE) nobody in the regions of Achaia(HF) will stop this boasting(HG) of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows(HH) I do!(HI)
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles,(HJ) deceitful(HK) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.(HL) 14 And no wonder, for Satan(HM) himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.(HN)
Paul Boasts About His Sufferings
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.(HO) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,(HP) but as a fool.(HQ) 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does,(HR) I too will boast.(HS) 19 You gladly put up with(HT) fools since you are so wise!(HU) 20 In fact, you even put up with(HV) anyone who enslaves you(HW) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak(HX) for that!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.(HY) 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I.(HZ) Are they Israelites? So am I.(IA) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.(IB) 23 Are they servants of Christ?(IC) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,(ID) been in prison more frequently,(IE) been flogged more severely,(IF) and been exposed to death again and again.(IG) 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes(IH) minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods,(II) once I was pelted with stones,(IJ) three times I was shipwrecked,(IK) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,(IL) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,(IM) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.(IN) 27 I have labored and toiled(IO) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;(IP) I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.(IQ) 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?(IR) Who is led into sin,(IS) and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast(IT) of the things that show my weakness.(IU) 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,(IV) knows(IW) that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.(IX) 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.(IY)
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
12 I must go on boasting.(IZ) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations(JA) from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ(JB) who fourteen years ago was caught up(JC) to the third heaven.(JD) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.(JE) 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up(JF) to paradise(JG) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.(JH) 6 Even if I should choose to boast,(JI) I would not be a fool,(JJ) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(JK) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(JL) a messenger of Satan,(JM) to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(JN) 9 But he said to me, “My grace(JO) is sufficient for you, for my power(JP) is made perfect in weakness.(JQ)”(JR) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(JS) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(JT) in persecutions,(JU) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(JV)
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11 I have made a fool of myself,(JW) 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,”[n](JX) even though I am nothing.(JY) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.(JZ) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(KA) Forgive me this wrong!(KB)
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,(KC) 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,(KD) but parents for their children.(KE) 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.(KF) If I love you more,(KG) will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.(KH) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged(KI) Titus(KJ) to go to you and I sent our brother(KK) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God(KL) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,(KM) is for your strengthening.(KN) 20 For I am afraid that when I come(KO) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.(KP) I fear that there may be discord,(KQ) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,(KR) slander,(KS) gossip,(KT) arrogance(KU) and disorder.(KV) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved(KW) over many who have sinned earlier(KX) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery(KY) in which they have indulged.
Final Warnings
13 This will be my third visit to you.(KZ) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[o](LA) 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:(LB) On my return I will not spare(LC) those who sinned earlier(LD) or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.(LE) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,(LF) yet he lives by God’s power.(LG) Likewise, we are weak(LH) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him(LI) in our dealing with you.
5 Examine yourselves(LJ) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.(LK) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you(LL)—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not 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. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak(LM) but you are strong;(LN) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.(LO) 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh(LP) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.(LQ)
Final Greetings
11 Finally, brothers and sisters,(LR) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.(LS) And the God of love(LT) and peace(LU) will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(LV) 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.(LW)
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,(LX) and the love of God,(LY) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit(LZ) be with you all.
Footnotes
- 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
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