Chapter One
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Timothy, to the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:
1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
1:4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
1:6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
1:7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are partners in the sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.
1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.
1:9 Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,
1:10 who rescued us from so great a risk of death, and will rescue us, he on whom we have set our hope. And he will yet rescue us,
1:11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor given to us through the prayers of many.
1:12 For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives andgodly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God— we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.
1:13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand—
1:14 just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, on the day of our Lord Jesus.
1:15 And with this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive grace;
1:16 that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea.
1:17 Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I decide, do I decide according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time?
1:18 But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.
1:19 For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but has been yes in him.
1:20 For all the promises of God are “Yes” in him; therefore through him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
1:21 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God
1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
1:23 Now I call God as witness against me that it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.
1:24 Not that we rule over your faith but we are workers with you for your joy; for by faith you stand firm.
Chapter Two
2:1 But I decided this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
2:2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then will be left to make me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?
2:3 This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy was the joy of you all.
2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart Iwrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
2:5 But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not for me, but in some degree—not to say too much—for all of you.
2:6 This punishment on such an individual by the majority was enough for him,
2:7 so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
2:8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
2:9 For this reason I wrote you that I might test you whether you are obedient in all things.
2:10 Anyone you forgive for anything, I also forgive; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did so for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
2:11 so that we might not be taken advantage by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
2:12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,
2:13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but saying goodbye to them, I went on to Macedonia.
2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of him in every place.
2:15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:
2:16 to the latter one an aroma from death to death, to the former one an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
2:17 For we are not like so many who peddle the word of God for profit, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
Chapter Three
3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?
3:2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people,
3:3 revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
3:4 Such is the confidence we have toward God through Christ.
3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
3:6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
3:7 But if the ministry of death, engravedin letters on stones, came with glory so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, which glory was losing its effectiveness,
3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
3:9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory.
3:10 For indeed what had glory in this case by comparison has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it.
3:11 For if what which was made ineffective waswith glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
3:12 Therefore, having such a hope, we are very bold,
3:13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the result of what was becoming ineffective [the glory].
3:14 But their minds were hardened; for until the very day at the reading of the old covenant, this same veil remains. It has not been removed because it is removed in Christ.
3:15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts;
3:16 but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
3:18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Chapter Four
4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart.
4:2 But we have renounced the hidden shameful ways;
not practicing trickery nor distorting the word of God but by open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God.
4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4 in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light
of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves on account of Jesus.
4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the one who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary power is from God and not from us.
4:8 we are oppressed in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
4:9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed;
4:10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
4:11 For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
4:12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
4:13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written: “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,
4:14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will present us with you.
4:15 For all these things are for your sakes, so that grace, having spread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is being destroyed, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
4:17 For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
4:18 while we look not 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.
Chapter Five
5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly house is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.
5:2 For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,
5:3 since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked.
5:4 For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.
5:5 Now he who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge.
5:6 Therefore, always being of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—
5:7 for we walk by faith and not by sight—
5:8 so we are couragous and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing him.
5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive according to what he has accomplished while in the body, whether good or worthless.
5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also well known in your consciences.
5:12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.
5:13 For if we have lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
5:15 and he died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.
5:16 Therefore from now on we acknowledge no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh but now we do not know him in that way any longer.
5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we plead with you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
5:21 He made him who knew no sin to be sin in behalf of us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Chapter 6
6:1 Now as fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
6:2 For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!
6:3 We do not give a reason for offense in anything so that the ministry will not be discredited,
6:4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
6:6 with purity, with knowledge, with patience, with benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, with genuine love,
6:7 by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,
6:8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true;
6:9 as unknown and yet well known, as dying and yet behold, we continue to live; as punished and yet not put to death,
6:10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
6:11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.
6:12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
6:13 Now in the same way in return—I am speaking as to children—open wide your hearts to us, you as well.
6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness.
6:15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
6:16 Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
“I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
6:17 Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and do not touch what is unclean, and I will welcome you,
6:18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Chapter 7
7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of body and spirit completing holiness in fear of God.
7:2 Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.
7:3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts, so that we die together and live together with you.
7:4 My confidence in you is great; myboasting in your behalf is great. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.
7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia our body had no rest, afflicted in every way— outward afflictions, fears within.
7:6 But God who comforts the discouraged, comforted us by the arrival of Titus;
7:7 and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted among you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.
7:8 For even if I grieved you by my letter, I do not now regret it — though I did regret it— for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a short time.
7:9 Now I rejoice, not because I grieved you but because you were grieved to the point of repentance. For you were grieved according to God, in order that you may not grieve loss through us.
7:10 For the grief that is according to God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
7:11 For behold, what eagerness this same grief according to God has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
7:12 So although I wrote to you, not for the sake of the one who did wrong, nor for the sake of the one wronged, but that your eagerness in our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God.
7:13 Because of this, we have been encouraged. And in addition to our encouragement we rejoiced even more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
7:14 For if I have boasted to him about you regarding anything, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be true.
7:15 His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.
7:16 I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.
Chapter 8
8:1 Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
8:2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
8:3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily,
8:4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the service of the saints,
8:5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
8:6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning of the collection, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you— see that you also excel in this gracious work.
8:8 I am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well.
8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
8:10 So here is my opinion on this matter: for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
8:11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it from what you have.
8:12 For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
8:13 For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality—
8:14 at this present time your abundance will meet their need so that their abundance also may meet your need,
so that there may be equality;
8:15 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.”
8:16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.
8:17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
8:18 And we have sent along with him the brother who
is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel,
8:19 and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches as our traveling companion in this gracious work which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our eagerness to help.
8:20 taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;
8:21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only before the Lord, but also beforeman.
8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters but now even more eager because of the great confidence he has in you.
8:23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.
8:24 Therefore, show them openly before the churches, the proof of your love and our boasting about you to these men.
Chapter 9
9:1 For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints;
9:2 for I know your willingness of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
9:3 But I have sent the brothers, in order that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you will be prepared;
9:4 otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame by this confidence.
9:5 So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised blessing, that the same would be ready as a blessing, not as greediness.
9:6 Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously.
9:7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
9:8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
9:9 Just as it is written, “He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”
9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
9:11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
9:12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
9:13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone,
9:14 And in their prayer on your behalf, they long for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Chapter 10
10:1 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
10:2 I ask that when I am present I need not have to be bold with the confidence I dare to show against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.
10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh.
10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but are powerful by God for the destruction of fortresses.
10:5 We are destroying arguments and every arrogant obstacle raised against the knowledge of God and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
10:6 being ready to punish every disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
10:7 You are looking at things outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so too are we.
10:8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame.
10:9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,
10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account.”
10:11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in action when present.
10:12 For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.
10:13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the domain [of influence] which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.
10:14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel about Christ;
10:15 not boasting beyond our measure in the labor of others but we have hope that as your faith grows, our domain [of influence] among you will be greatly enlarged
10:16 so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the domain of another.
10:17 But “the one who boast must boast in the Lord.”
10:18 For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Chapter 11
11:1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.
11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
11:4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, this you tolerate very well!
11:5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to those super-apostles.
11:6 But even if I am unskilled in speech,yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.
11:7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
11:8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you;
11:9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brothers came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.
11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.
11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
11:14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
11:15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
11:16 Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, accept me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.
11:17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this self-confidence of boasting.
11:18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
11:19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.
11:20 For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takesadvantage of you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone hits you in the face.
11:21 To my shame I must say that we have been too weak for that. But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking in foolishness), I also dare to boast about the same thing.
11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death often.
11:24 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one.
11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea.
11:26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers,
11:27 in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
11:28 Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to stumble into sin and I do not burn with indignation?
11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things of my weakness.
11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.
11:32 In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me,
11:33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
Chapter 12
12:1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
12:2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago— whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
12:3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
12:4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
12:5 In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses.
12:6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be a fool, for I will be telling the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
12:7 because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not be exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!
12:8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.
12:9 And he has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
12:10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
12:11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12:12 The signs of an apostle were demonstrated among you with all perseverance, by signs, wonders, and divine powers.
12:13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
12:14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
12:15 I will most gladly spend and be expended for yourselves.If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
12:16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I took you in by deceit!
12:17 I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
12:18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?
12:19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all, beloved, for building you up.
12:20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and that I may be found by you not to be what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disorder;
12:21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, licentiousnessand which they have practiced.
Chapter 13
2 Cor. 13:1 This is the third time that I am coming to you. On the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter shall be confirmed.
2 Cor. 13:2 I have previously said when I was present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,
2 Cor. 13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me, who is not weak toward you, but powerful among you.
2 Cor. 13:4 For indeed he was crucified because of weakness, yet he lives because of the power of God. For we too are weak in him, yet we will live with him because of the power of God directed toward you.
2 Cor. 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
2Cor. 13:6 But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.
2 Cor. 13:7 Now we pray to God that you may do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may appear unapproved.
2 Cor. 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
2 Cor. 13:9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you become mature.
2 Cor. 13:10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
2 Cor. 13:11 Finally brothers, rejoice, set your ways in order, be encouraged, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Cor. 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
2 Cor. 13:13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.