1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those that are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, even so our comfort is also in abundance through Christ.
6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which works in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.
7 And our hope for you is steadfast. Knowing that, as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort.
8 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant in regards to the hardships which we encountered in Asia. We were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much so that we feared even for our lives.
9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in the God who raises the dead-
10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver. On whom we have set our hope, that He will also still deliver us.
11 You also helping together on our behalf by your prayers, so that it works out that for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf. Paul's Change of Travel Plans
12 For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and Godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world- and more abundantly toward you.
13 For we write no other things to you, than what you read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end;
14 as also you did once partially acknowledge us, that we are your boasting, even as you are also ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15 And in this confidence I had decided to come first of all to you, that you might have a second benefit;
16 and by you to pass into Macedonia and again from Macedonia to come to you, and from you proceed on my journey to Judea.
17 When I planned this, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, so that in the same breath I say, Yes, yes and then No, no?
18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yes and no.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no; but in him is yes.
20 For no matter how many and whatever be the promises of God, in him is the ultimate Yes! Therefore also through him is the Amen, to the glory of God through us.
21 Now he that establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
22 who also sealed us and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
23 But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
24 Not that we have lordship over your faith but are helpers of your joy. For in faith you must stand fast.
1 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow.
2 For if I make you sorry, who then is he that makes me glad, but he that is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this very thing, lest when I came, I should receive sorrow from those in whom I ought to rejoice- having confidence in you all, that my joy is in you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears. Not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have more abundantly for you.
5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not so much to me but in a sense (not to put it too severely) to you all.
6 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority.
7 So that to the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.
8 Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know, by putting you to the test, if you are obedient in all things.
10 But to whom you forgive anything, I also. When I also forgive- if I need to forgive- then I do it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, so
11 that no advantage may be gained over us by the Satan. For we are not ignorant of his devices.
12 Now when I came to Troas for the sake of the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,
13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went into Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and makes manifest through us the savour of His knowledge in every place.
15 For we are a sweet savour of Christ to God in those that are saved and in those that perish.
16 To the one a savour from death to death; to the other a savour from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as most, corrupting the word of God; but as of sincerity and as of God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?
2 You are our letter of recommendation, written in our hearts, known and read by all;
3 being revealed before all that you are as it were a letter from Christ, delivered by us; written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. Not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.
4 And such confidence have we toward God, through Christ.
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God,
6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit. For the letter kills but the spirit gives life.
7 But if that which ministered death, written, engraved on stones, came with glory (so that the children of Israel could not look continually upon the presence of Moses' face because of its brightness, fading as this glory was);
8 how shall the ministry of the spirit be without glory?
9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For truly, that which has been made glorious has not been made ultimately glorious in that the other glory is simply so surpassing.
11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains permanently is yet more glorious.
12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,
13 and are not like Moses, who put a veil upon his face so the children of Israel could not gaze to see the outcome of that which was fading away.
14 But their minds were hardened. For until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, it not being revealed to them that it is made redundant through Christ.
15 But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart.
16 But whenever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we, with an unveiled face and reflecting the glory of the Lord, are all transformed into his likeness from glory to glory by the Lord the Spirit.
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we do not give up.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those that perish,
4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 Seeing it is God that said: Light shall shine out of darkness, He shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthly vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.
8 We are afflicted in every way, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not in despair;
9 pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed.
10 Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always being delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death works in us, but life in you.
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe and on this basis we also speak.
14 Knowing that He that raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace may be multiplied through many, causing thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not give up, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our slight momentary affliction accomplishes for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison;
18 whilst meantime we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
1 Paul's Longing for the Judgment Seat of Christ For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
2 For indeed in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven
3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.
4 For indeed we that are in this tent do groan, being burdened. Not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 Being therefore always of good courage and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord
7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight),
8 yes, we are of good courage; and we would rather be absent from the body and at home with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to him.
10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the result of the things done in a bodily form, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are revealed to God, and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.
13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have judged that in that one has died for all, therefore all have died.
15 And he died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sakes died and rose again.
16 Therefore we, from this time forward, know no one after the flesh. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things are passed away, behold, all things have become new.
18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating the world by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 He who knew no sin, he became a sin offering on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
1 And working together with him we entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For He said: In a time of acceptance I hearkened to you, and in a day of salvation did I succour you. Behold, now is the time of acceptance; behold, now is the day of salvation. Paul's Ministry Commended by God
3 We aim to give no reason for stumbling in anything, that our ministry is not blamed.
4 But in everything, commending ourselves as servants of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings.
6 In pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 by glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report. As deceivers and yet true,
9 as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold we live, as chastened and not killed,
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.
12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has a temple of God with idols? For we are a temple of the living God, even as God said: I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shall be My people.
17 Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; and I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.
1 Therefore beloved, having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Paul's Sufferings
2 Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.
3 I say it not to condemn you. For as I have said before, you are in our hearts, to die together and live together.
4 Great is my confidence in you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort, in all our affliction I am overflowing with joy!
5 For even when we went into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Without were conflicts, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God that comforts the lowly comforted us by the coming of Titus.
7 And not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, while he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me. So that I rejoiced yet more.
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it, for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though only for a time.
9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a Godly way, that you might suffer harm from us in nothing.
10 For Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, it brings no regret; but the sorrow of the world works death.
11 For observe this very thing: you sorrowed in a Godly manner, and what diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.
12 So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong; but that your earnest care for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.
13 Therefore we have been comforted, and in our comfort we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true.
15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
16 I rejoice that in everything I can have perfect confidence in you.
1 Moreover brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia.
2 For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us earnestly to accept this grace as a token of their fellowship in this service to the saints.
5 And their giving was beyond our hope; for through the will of God, first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us.
6 So much so that we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you also this act of grace.
7 So as you abound in everything, in faith and speech and knowledge and in all earnestness and in your love to us, see that you excel in this grace also.
8 I speak not as direct commandment; but rather through showing you the earnestness of others I am probing the sincerity of your love.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor as a pauper, that you through his poverty might become rich.
10 And herein I give my judgment. For this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to desire to give but to actually give.
11 But now complete the doing also. That as there was the willingness to want to give, so there may be the completion of the desire also, according to your ability.
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13 For I do not say this so that others may be eased and you distressed.
14 But that as a matter of fairness, your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be an equality.
15 As it is written: He that gathered much did not have too much, and he that gathered little had no lack.
16 But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
17 For he indeed accepted our appeal; but being very earnest, he went to you of his own accord.
18 And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches.
19 And not only this but he is the one who was appointed by the churches to travel with us in this act of grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord and to show our own willingness to help.
20 This was to avoid being blamed by anyone in this matter of charity which is ministered by us.
21 For we take care to do things honourably, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things; but now, much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.
23 Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker toward you; or our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ.
24 Therefore show them in the presence of the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
1 An Appeal for Generous Giving For concerning the service to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you.
2 For I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those in Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year; and your zeal has stirred up very many of them.
3 But I have sent the brothers, that our boasting on your behalf may not be made void in this respect. That, even as I said: You may be prepared.
4 Lest by any means, if there come with me some Macedonians and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you) would be embarrassed for my being so confident of your generosity.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not, as it were, as an extortion.
6 But this I say: He that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Let each man do according to what he intends in his heart. Not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that you, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
9 As it is written: He has scattered abroad, He has given to the poor. His righteousness abides for ever.
10 And He that supplies seed to the sower and bread for food shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.
11 You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this charity not only provides for the wants of the saints, but abounds also through many thanksgivings to God.
13 By their approval of this service they glorify God for your loyalty which you confess to the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all.
14 While they also, with prayers on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.
1 Now I Paul, I myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you but being absent am bold toward you:
2 I beg you now, so that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not fight in a fleshly way
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
6 And being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
7 Look at the things that are before your face, staring at you. If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we!
8 I could boast, unashamedly and somewhat abundantly, concerning our authority- authority which the Lord gave for building you up and not for casting you down.
9 But I will not, lest I appear to terrify you by my letters.
10 For they say: His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech of no account.
11 Well, let such a person reckon this, that what we are in word by letters, when we are absent, such will we be also in deed, when we are present.
12 For we are not bold enough to class or compare ourselves with those that commend themselves. These are without understanding, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, which is unwise.
13 But we will not boast beyond our measure but rather according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us- a measure to reach even to you.
14 For we are not overextending ourselves in our boasting, as though we did not reach unto you. For we were the first to come as far as you in preaching the gospel of Christ.
15 So we are not boasting beyond our measure in other men's labours; but rather we hope that as your faith grows, our influence among you may be greatly increased,
16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence.
17 But he that boasts, let him boast in the Lord.
18 For it is not he that commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.
1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with a Godly jealousy. For I betrothed you to one husband, that is, that I might present you a pure virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve with his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept- it seems you think you do well to go along with him.
5 But I reckon that I am not in the least inferior to these so called super apostles.
6 Although rude in speech, I am not in knowledge. No, in every way have we made this manifest to you in all things.
7 Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself so you might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nothing?
8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.
9 And when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on anyone. For the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied all my needs; indeed in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will I remain.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me boasting about this throughout the regions of Achaia.
11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows, I do!
12 But what I do, that I will continue to do, so I may not provide an opportunity to those that desire such an opportunity, and so that their boasting will be shown to be not the same as ours.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel. For even Satan fashions himself into an angel of light.
15 It is no great thing therefore if his servants also fashion themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.
16 I say again, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, accept me as a fool so that I may also boast a little.
17 What I will now speak in this confidence of boasting, I speak not after the Lord but as in foolishness.
18 Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will boast also.
19 For being wise, you bear with the foolish gladly.
20 For it seems you follow a man if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he hits you on the face.
21 To my shame, I can say, we were too weak to do that. Yet wherein any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as like a madman) I more, with far greater labours, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
24 Of the Jews five times I received thirty nines lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once was I stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been adrift at sea.
26 On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own people, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger at sea, in danger from false brothers;
27 in toil and hardship, in many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, in frequent fastings, in cold and nakedness.
28 Besides those things that are without, there is the daily pressure of my anxiety for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, without me being weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
30 If it is necessary for me to boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed for always, knows that I do not lie to you.
32 In Damascus, the governor, under Aretas the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to capture me.
33 And only through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall and escaped his hands.
1 I must go on boasting (though there is nothing to be gained by it). I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or whether out of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a person was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows),
4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 On behalf of such a one will I boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, save in my weaknesses.
6 For if I wanted to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be speaking the truth. But I will not boast, lest anyone should account me above that which he saw me to be, or hears from me.
7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, that I should not be exalted too much.
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. The Motives for Paul's Planned Visit to Corinth
11 I have become foolish. You compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you. For in nothing was I behind the super apostles, though I am nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were done among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.
13 For in what way were you made inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, this is the third time I have been ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you. For I do not seek your things, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less by you because of this?
16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, you say I was crafty, and got the better of you by deceit.
17 But did I really take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent to you?
18 I urged Titus to go and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
19 You think all this time that we are excusing ourselves to you. But in the sight of God we speak in Christ. All things, beloved, are for your upbuilding.
20 For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not as I would wish, and should myself be found by you such as you would not wish. Lest by any means there should be quarrelling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and sensuality that they have practiced.
1 Paul's Final Appeal This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them-
3 seeing you seek proof that Christ speaks in me (who toward you is not weak but is powerful in you).
4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him; but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
6 But I hope you shall know that we have not failed the test.
7 Now we pray to God that you do no evil. Not so we may appear to have met the test, but so you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth but only for the truth.
9 For we rejoice, when we are weak and you are strong. This we also pray for, even your perfecting.
10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present with you deal sharply with you, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down.
11 Finally, brothers, farewell. Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12
13 (13:12) Greet one another with a holy kiss.
14 (13:13) All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.