Book of Common Prayer

²³ And I call-upon God as witness for my soul that sparing^[a] you I no longer came to Corinth— ²⁴ not that we are lording-over your faith, but we are fellow-workers of ^[b] your joy. For you stand in^[c] your faith^[d].

For I Did Not Want My Coming To Cause You Grief, So I Wrote To You Instead

2 For I determined this for myself: not to come to you again^[e] in grief. ² For if I grieve you, who indeed is the one cheering me except the one being grieved by me? ³ And I wrote this very^[f] thing in order that having come, I should not have grief from the ones of whom I ought-to-have rejoicing— having confidence in you all that my joy^[g] is the joy of you all.

I Wrote To You In Anguish Not To Grieve You, But Out of Love For You

⁴ For I wrote to you through many tears, out of much affliction and anguish of heart— not that you might be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. ⁵ But^[h] if anyone has caused-grief, he has grieved not me, but in part^[i] (that I not be a burden^[j]), you all. ⁶ This^[k] punishment by the majority is sufficient^[l] for such a one, ⁷ so that on-the-contrary^[m], instead you should forgive and comfort him, that such a one should not somehow be swallowed-up by more grief. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to confirm^[n] your love for him.

I Also Wrote To Test Your Obedience To God

⁹ For I also wrote for this purpose: that I might know your approvedness, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰ And to whom you are forgiving anything, I also. For indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, is for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ in order that we may not be exploited by Satan. For we are not unaware as to his schemes.

So Instead I Went To Macedonia First To Find Titus

¹² Now^[o] having come to Troas for the good-news of Christ, and a door having been opened for me by the Lord, ¹³ I had no rest in my spirit at my not finding Titus my brother. But having said-goodbye to them, I went forth to Macedonia.

I Praise God That He Is Always Spreading The Aroma of Christ Through Us Everywhere

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, the One always leading us in triumph^[p] in Christ, and making the aroma of ^[q] the knowledge of Him known through us in every place. ¹⁵ Because we are the fragrance of Christ for^[r] God among the ones being saved, and among the ones perishing— ¹⁶ to the ones an aroma from death to^[s] death, but to the others an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like the many peddling^[t] the word of God. But as from purity, but as from God, we are speaking in Christ before God.

Parables For Sinners And Pharisees

15 Now all the tax-collectors and the sinners were drawing-near to Him to hear Him. ² And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying that “This One is welcoming sinners and eating with them”.

The Prodigal Son: The Father Rejoices When His Lost Son Returns

¹¹ And He said, “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the part of your substance^[a] falling to me’. And the one distributed^[b] his property to them. ¹³ And after not many days, having gathered together everything, the younger son went-on-a-journey to a distant country. And there he squandered his substance living wildly. ¹⁴ And he having spent everything, a severe famine came about in relation to that country, and he began to be-in-need. ¹⁵ And having gone, he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ And he was desiring to be filled-to-satisfaction with the carob-pods which the pigs were eating. And no one was giving anything to him. ¹⁷ But having come to himself, he said, ‘How many hired-workers of my father are abounding^[c] with bread, but I am perishing^[d] here in a famine! ¹⁸ Having arisen, I will proceed to my father and say to him, “Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired-workers”’. ²⁰ And having arisen, he went to his father. But he still being far distant, his father saw him and felt-deep-feelings [of love]. And having run, he fell upon his neck and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son’. ²² But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring-out the best robe and put it on him. And give him a ring for his hand and sandals for the feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf. Slaughter it. And having eaten, let us celebrate! ²⁴ Because this son of mine was dead, and he became-alive-again. He had become-lost, and he was found’. And they began to celebrate.

The Older Brother Is Angered By His Father’s Joy

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field. And when while coming he drew-near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ And having summoned one of the servants, he was inquiring as to what these things might be. ²⁷ And the one said to him that ‘Your brother has come. And your father slaughtered the fatted calf because he received him back being healthy’. ²⁸ And he became-angry, and was not willing to go in. And his father, having come out, was appealing-to him. ²⁹ But the one, having responded, said to his father, ‘Behold— I am slaving for you for so many years, and I never disregarded your command. And you never gave me a goat in order that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came— the one having devoured your property with prostitutes— you slaughtered the fatted calf for him!’ ³¹ And the one said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all my things are yours. ³² But it-was-necessary to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and he became-alive. And he had become-lost, and he was found’”.