Beginning
5 1 He continueth in the same argument, 5 touching the certain hope of salvation 7 through faith, 12 not to praise himself, 14 seeing he hath God and his Church before his eyes, 17 and esteemeth nothing, but newness of life in Christ.
1 For [a]we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed, we have a building given of God, that is, an house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens.
2 For therefore we sigh, desiring to be [b]clothed with our house, which is from [c]heaven.
3 [d]Because that if we be clothed, we shall not be found (A)naked.
4 For indeed we that are in this tabernacle, sigh and are burdened because we would not be unclothed, but would be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 And he that hath [e]created us for this thing, is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 [f]Therefore we are always [g]bold, though we know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
7 (For we walk by [h]faith, and not by sight.)
8 Nevertheless, we are [i]bold, and love rather to remove out of the body, and to dwell with the Lord.
9 Wherefore also we [j]covet, that both dwelling at home, and removing from home, we may be acceptable to him.
10 (B)[k]For we must all [l]appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every man may receive the things which are done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil.
11 [m]Knowing therefore that [n]terror of the Lord, we persuade men, and we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also that we are made manifest in your consciences.
12 [o]For we praise not ourselves again unto you, but give you an occasion to rejoice of us that ye may have to answer against them, which rejoice in the [p]face, and not in the heart.
13 [q]For whether we be out of our wit, we are it to God: or whether we be in our right mind, we are it unto you.
14 [r]For that love of Christ [s]constraineth us,
15 Because we thus judge, that if [t]one be dead for all, then were all dead, and he died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth [u]live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 [v]Wherefore, henceforth know we no man after the flesh, [w]yea though we had known Christ after the flesh, yet not henceforth know we him no more.
17 [x]Therefore if any man be in Christ, let him be a [y]new creature. (C)Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new.
18 [z]And all things are of God, which hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given unto us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 For God was in Christ, and reconciled the world to himself, not imputing their sins unto them, and hath [aa]committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then are we ambassadors for Christ: as though God did beseech you through us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, that ye be reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be [ab]sin for us, which [ac]knew no sin, that we should be made the [ad]righteousness of God in him.
6 1 He exhorteth them to lead their lives as it becometh Christians, 5 neither to be dismayed in tribulations, 9 nor puffed up with glory: 14 to avoid all uncleanness, 16 considering that they are the temples of the living God.
1 So [ae]we therefore as workers together beseech you, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 [af]For he saith, (D)I have heard thee in a time [ag]accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold now the accepted time, behold now the day of salvation.
3 [ah]We give no occasion of offence in anything, that our ministry should not be reprehended.
4 But in all things we [ai]approve ourselves as (E)the ministers of God, [aj]in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.
5 In stripes, in prisons, in [ak]tumults, in labors,
6 [al]By watchings, by fastings, by purity, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the [am]word of truth, by the [an]power of God, by the [ao]armor of righteousness on the right hand, and on the left,
8 By honor, and dishonor, by evil report, and good report, as deceivers, and yet true:
9 As unknown, and yet known: as dying, and behold, we live, as chastened, and yet not killed:
10 As sorrowing, and yet always rejoicing: as poor, and yet making many rich: as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 [ap]O Corinthians, our mouth is [aq]open unto you, our heart is made large.
12 Ye are not [ar]kept strait in us, but ye are kept strait in your own [as]bowels.
13 Now for the same recompense, I speak as to my children, Be you also enlarged.
14 [at]Be not unequally yoked with the infidels: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what [au]part hath the believer with the infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? (F)for ye are the Temple of the [av]living God: as God hath said, (G)I will [aw]dwell among them, and walk there: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 (H)Wherefore come out from among them, and separate yourselves, saith the Lord, and touch none unclean thing, and I will receive you.
18 (I)And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
7 1 Lest by overmuch urging them he should dismay their tender minds, 2 he proveth that all that he said, 4 proceeded of the great good will he bare unto them: 8 and therefore they should not be offended, that he made them sorry, 10 and brought them to repentance not to be repented of.
1 Seeing then we have these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the [ax]flesh and spirit, and finish our sanctification in the fear of God.
2 [ay][az]Receive us: we have done wrong to no man: we have corrupted no man: we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak it not to your [ba]condemnation: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts, to die and live together.
4 I use great boldness of speech toward you: I rejoice greatly in you: I am filled with comfort, and am exceeding joyous in all our tribulation.
5 For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side, fightings without, and terrors within.
6 But God, that comforteth the [bb]abject, comforted us at the [bc]coming of Titus:
7 And not by his coming only, but also by the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you, when he told us your great desire, your mourning, your fervent mind to me-ward, so that I rejoiced much more.
8 [bd]For though I made you sorry with a letter, I repent not, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same Epistle made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 I now rejoice, not that ye were sorry, but that ye sorrowed to [be]repentance: for ye sorrowed godly, so that in nothing ye were hurt by us.
10 For [bf]godly sorrow causeth repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of: but the worldly sorrow causeth death.
11 For behold, this thing that ye have been godly sorry, what great care hath it wrought in you: yea, what clearing of yourselves: yea, what indignation: yea, what fear: yea, how great desire: yea, what a zeal: yea, what revenge: in all things ye have showed yourselves, that ye are pure in this matter.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did not it for his cause that had done the wrong, neither for his cause that had the injury, but that our care toward you in the [bg]sight of God might appear unto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted, because ye were comforted: but rather we rejoiced much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14 For if that I have boasted anything to him of you, I have not been ashamed: but as I have spoken unto you all things in truth, even so our boasting unto Titus was true.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, when he remembereth the obedience of you all, and how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice therefore that I may put my confidence in you in all things.
8 1 He exhorteth them by the example of the Macedonians, 9 and also even of Christ himself, 14 to be liberal towards the saints: 16 for which purpose, he showeth that Titus, 18 and another brother came unto them.
1 We [bh]do you also to wit, brethren, of the [bi]grace of God bestowed upon the Churches of Macedonia.
2 Because in [bj]great trial of affliction their joy abounded, and their most extreme poverty abounded unto their rich liberality.
3 For to their power (I bear record) yea, and beyond their power they were [bk]willing.
4 And prayed us with great instance that we would receive the [bl]grace, and fellowship of the ministering which is toward the Saints.
5 [bm]And this they did, not as we looked for: but gave their own selves, first to the Lord, and after unto us by the will of God,
6 That we should exhort Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also accomplish the same grace among you also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith and word, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love towards us, even so see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 [bn]This say I not by commandment, but because of the [bo]diligence of others: therefore prove I the [bp]naturalness of your love.
9 [bq]For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he being rich, for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich.
10 [br]And I show my mind herein: for this is expedient for you, which have begun not to do only, but also to [bs]will, a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform to do it also, that as there was a readiness to will, even so ye may perform it of that which ye have.
12 [bt]For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 [bu]Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieved: But upon [bv]like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lack:
14 That also their abundance may be for your lack, that there may be equality.
15 As it is written, (J)He that gathered much, had nothing over, and he that gathered little, had not the less.
16 [bw]And thanks be unto God, which had put in the heart of Titus the same care for you.
17 Because he accepted the exhortation, yea, he was so careful that of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent also with him the brother, whose praise is [bx]in the Gospel throughout all the Churches.
19 (And not so only, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellow in our journey, concerning this [by]grace that is ministered by us unto the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your prompt mind.)
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this [bz]abundance that is ministered by us,
21 (K)Providing for honest things, not only before the Lord, but also before men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have ofttimes proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, for the great confidence, which I have in you.
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my fellow and helper to you-ward: or of our [ca]brethren, they are messengers of the Churches, and the [cb]glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore show toward them, and before the [cc]Churches the proof of your love, and of the rejoicing that we have of you.
9 1 Why, albeit he think well of their ready wills, 3 yet earnestly exhorteth them, 4 he yieldeth a reason: 6 He compareth alms to seed sowing, 10 which God doth repay with great gain.
1 For [cd]as touching the ministering to the Saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.
2 For I know your readiness of mind, whereof I boast myself of you unto them of Macedonia, and say, that Achaia was prepared a year ago, and your zeal hath provoked many.
3 Now have I sent the brethren, lest our rejoicing over you should be in vain in this behalf, that ye (as I have said) be ready.
4 Lest if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we may not say, you) should be ashamed in this my [ce]constant boasting.
5 Wherefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to come before unto you, and to finish your benevolence appointed afore, that it might be ready, and come as of benevolence, and not as of [cf]niggardliness.
6 [cg]This yet remember, that he which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly, and he that soweth liberally, shall reap also liberally.
7 As every man [ch]wisheth in his heart, so let him give, not (L)[ci]grudgingly, or of [cj]necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all [ck]grace to abound toward you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in [cl]every good work,
9 ((M)As it is written, He hath sparsed abroad and hath given to the poor: his benevolence remaineth for [cm]ever.
10 Also he that findeth seed to the sower, will minister likewise bread for food, and multiply your seed, and increase the [cn]fruits of your benevolence.)
11 That on all parts ye may be made rich unto all liberality, which causeth through us thanksgiving unto God.
12 [co]For the ministration of this service not only supplieth the necessities of the Saints, but also abundantly causeth many to give thanks to God,
13 (Which by the [cp]experiment of this ministration praise God for your [cq]voluntary submission to the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them, and to all men.)
14 And in their prayer for you, to long after you greatly, for the abundant grace of God in you.
15 [cr]Thanks therefore be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
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