1

1 Scroll 37 Second Epistle to the Corinthians.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the Church of God which being in Corinth,
with all the Saints who being in all Achaia.

2 Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation!

4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any tribulation by the consolation,
with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.

6 And whether we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and Salvation,
which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:
or whether we are comforted, it is for your consolation and Salvation.

7 And our hope is steadfast for you,
knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the consolation.

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which having come to us in Asia,
that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life:

9 but we have had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trusting in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead:

10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we have trusted that He will yet deliver us.

11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and sincerity of God, not with fleshly wisdom,
but by the grace of God, we have had our manner of life in the World, and more abundantly towards you.

13 For we write no other things to you, than what ye read or even acknowledge; and I trust ye will acknowledge until the end;

14 as also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the Day of the Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I purposed to come to you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

16 and to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again from Macedonia to you, and by you to be brought on my way towards Judea.

17 When I therefore was thus minded, then did I use the lightness? Or the things that I purpose,
do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, yes, and No, no?

18 But as God is faithful, our word towards you was not; Yes and No.

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us,
even by me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, was not; Yes and No, but in Him has become Yes.

20 For whatsoever promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

21 Now He who confirming us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God;

22 who has also sealed us, and having given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to sparing you I have not as yet come to Corinth.

24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow-workers of your joy: for by faith ye have stood.

2

1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not to come again to you in grief.

2 For if I make you sorry, so who is he then that makes me glad, except the same who being made sorry by me?

3 And I wrote this same to you, lest having come I may have sorrow from them by whom I ought to rejoice;
having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved,
but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.

5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted by many.

7 So that, on the contrary, it is rather for you to forgive and to comfort,
lest such one should be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.

8 Therefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love towards him.

9 For to this end also I wrote, that I might know the proof of you, if ye are obedient in all things.

10 To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it,
for your sakes I forgave it, in the person of Christ;

11 lest Satan should take an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Now I having come to Troas to preach the Gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,

13 I have had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

14
Now thanks be to God, who always causing us to triumph in Christ,
and makes manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are to God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are being saved, and in them that are perishing:

16 to the one we are the savour of death to death;
and to the other the savour of life to life.
And who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as many, who corrupting the Word of GOD: but as from sincerity,
but as from GOD, before GOD we speak in Christ.

3

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Except we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, being known and being read by all men:

3 being manifested that ye are the epistle of Christ served by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God; not on tables of stone, but on fleshly tables of the heart.

4
And such confidence we have through Christ towards GOD.

5 Not that we are sufficient by ourselves to think anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

6 who also made us sufficient ministers of the New Covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit vivifies.

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraved on stones, was in glory,
so that the children of Israel could not stare at the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which is being done away;

8 how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be in glory?

9 For if the ministration of condemnation was glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 For even that which has been glorious, has not been glorious in this respect, by reason of the excelling glory.

11 For if that which is being done away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

12 Having then that we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech:

13 and not as Moses, who put a veil over his face, Exo 34:33
that the children of Israel could not stare at the end of that which is being done away.

14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day the same veil remains untaken away,
in the reading of the old Covenant; which veil is done away in Christ.

15 But until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless when it may turn to the LORD, the veil is taken away. Exo 34:34

17 And the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.

4

1 Therefore, we having this ministry, as we obtained mercy, we not to weary;

2 but have renounced the hidden things of shame;
not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of GOD deceitfully;
but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of GOD.

3 But if our Gospel is covered, it is covered to them that are perishing:

4 in whom the god of this Age[World] has blinded the minds of those unbelieving,
lest the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus.

6 For God, having said, Out of darkness is the light to shine, (that has shined into our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ). Gen 1:2-4 Isa 9:2

7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not from us.

8 We being troubled on every side, but not distressed.
We being perplexed, but not in despair.

9 We being persecuted, but not forsaken.
We being cast down, but not destroyed.

10
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our body.

11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death works in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it has been written,
I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Psa 116:10

14 knowing, that He who having raised the Lord Jesus, will raise us also by Jesus, and will present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace may, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God.

16
Therefore we not to weary; but though our outward man is wasted, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is momentary, works out for us a far more exceeding and everlasting weight of glory;

18 while we not looking at the things which being seen, but at the things which being not seen:
for the things which being seen are temporal; but the things which being not seen are eternal.

5

1 For we have known that if our earthly house of the Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our house which is from Heaven:

3 if indeed also having clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 For we that being in the Tabernacle do groan, being burdened:
not since we would be unclothed, but clothed, that mortality might be swallowed up in life.

5 Now He who having worked in us for this same thing is God, who also having given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

6
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight).

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

9 Therefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, to be accepted by Him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things through the body, according to what he has done, whether good or evil.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we have been manifested to God;
and I trust also have been manifested in your consciences.

12 For we commend not ourselves again to you, but giving you occasion to glory on our behalf,
that ye may have somewhat to answer them who glorifying in appearance, and not in heart.

13 For whether we were beside ourselves, it was to God: or whether we are sober, it is for your cause.

14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then all died:

15 and that He died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to Him who died for them, and was raised again.

16 Therefore henceforth we have known no one according to the flesh:
but if indeed we have known Christ according to the flesh, but now we know Him no more.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, is a new creation: ancient things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

18 And all things are from God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 like, that God was in Christ, reconciling the World to Himself, not reconciling their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you for Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For Him who having known no sin, He has made sin bearer for us; that we may become the righteousness of God in Him.

6

1
We then, as co-workers with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain;

2 (for He says, I have heard Thee in an acceptable time, and in a Day of Salvation have I helped Thee:
behold, now is an accepted time; behold, now is a Day of Salvation). Isa 49:8

3 Giving no stumbling in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 but in all things commending ourselves as the ministers of God,
in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,

5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 by pureness, by knowledge, by endurance, by kindness,
by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned,

7 by the word of truth, by the power of God,
by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 by glory and shame, by evil report and good report:
as deceivers, and yet true;

9 as being unknown, and yet being well known;
as dying, and behold, we live;
as being chastened, and not being killed;

10 as being sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet having all things.

11
Ye Corinthians, our mouth has been opened to you, our heart has been enlarged.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

13 Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as to my children), be ye also enlarged.

14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness[unrighteousness]?
And what communion has light with darkness?

15 And what concord has Christ with Belial[the Worthless]?
Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

16 And what agreement has the Temple of God with idols?
For ye are the Temple of the Living God; as God has said,
I will dwell in them,
and walk in them;
and I will be their God,
and they shall be My people. Eze 37:27 Lev 26:12

17 Therefore come out from among them, and separate ye, Isa 52:11
says the LORD,
and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you. Isa 52:11

18 And I will be a Father to you,
and ye shall be My sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty. 2Sa 7:14 Isa 43:6

7

1 Having therefore these promises, beloved,
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting Holiness in the fear of God.

2 Receive us; we have wronged no one,
we have corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.

3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before,
that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

4 Great is my boldness of speech towards you,
great is my glorying concerning you:
I have been filled with comfort,
I overflow with joy in all our tribulation.

5
For, when we having come into Macedonia, our flesh has had no rest, but we being troubled on every side; outside were fightings, inside were fears.

6 But God, that comforts the humbles, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7 and not by his coming only, but by the consolation with which he was comforted in you,
reporting us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind towards me; so that I the more rejoice.

8
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not regret, though if I did regret:
for I perceive that the same epistle has made you sorry, though it was but for an hour.

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance:
for ye were made sorry according to God, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10 For sorrow according to God works repentance into Salvation without regret, but the sorrow of the World works death.

11 For behold this very thing, that ye sorrowed according to God, what diligence it wrought in you,
but defence, but indignation, but fear, but anxious desire, but zeal, but punishing!
In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12 Therefore, though I wrote to you, I did it not for his cause that having done wrong, nor for his cause that having been wronged,
but that our diligence for you in the sight of GOD might appear to you.

13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: and exceedingly the more we rejoiced for the joy of Titus,
because His Spirit was refreshed by you all.

14 For if I have boasted anything to him concerning you, I was not ashamed; but as we spoke all things to you in truth,
even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15 And his bowels[affection] is more abundant towards you,
while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

8

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God having been given on the Churches of Macedonia;

2 that in a great trial of tribulation, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality.

3 For to their power, I bear testimony, and even beyond their power, they were willing of themselves;

4 praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the Saints.

5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God:

6 so that we desired Titus, that as he began before, so he may also finish in you the same grace also.

7 But as ye abound in every thing, in faith and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence,
and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by a command, but by occasion of the diligence of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He being rich,
yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.

10 And in this I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11 But now also finish doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye to have.

12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man may have, and not according to what he has not.

13 For I mean not that other men may be eased, and you burdened:

14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance for your need,
that their abundance also may be for your need: that there may be equality:

15 as it has been written,
he who gathered much had nothing over;
and he who gathered little had no lack. Exo 16:18

16 But thanks be to God, who giving the same diligence in the heart of Titus for you.

17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more diligent, of his own accord he went to you.

18 And we sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches;

19 and not that only, but who was also voted by the Churches to travel with us with this grace,
who being served by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

20 avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance who being served by us:

21 providing for honest things, not only in the eyes of the LORD, but also in the sight of men. Pro 3:4

22 And we sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved being diligent in many things,
but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

23 Whether concerning Titus, my partner and fellow-worker concerning you:
or our brethren, they are delegates of the Churches, and the glory of Christ.

24 Therefore show ye to them, and before the Churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

9

1 For as concerning the ministering to the Saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

2 for I have known the readiness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia,
that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has incited very many.

3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

4 lest if they of Macedonia should come with me, and find you unprepared,
we (that we may say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before to you, and make up beforehand your bounty,
of which ye having been announced before, that the same be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not of covetousness.

6 But this I say, he who sowing sparingly, shall reap also sparingly;
and he who sowing in blessings, shall reap also in blessings.

7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or by constraint: for God loves a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

9 As it has been written, He has dispersed; he gave to the poor: His righteousness remains forever. Psa 112:9

10 Now He who supplying seed to he who sowing,
and may supply bread for your food, and may multiply your seed sown, and may increase the fruits of your righteousness).

11 Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God.

12 For the ministry of this service not only supplies the want of the Saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings to God;

13 while by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ,
and for the liberal distribution to them, and to all;

14 and by their prayer for you, who long after you, for the exceeding grace of God in you.

15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

10

1 Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,
who in presence am humble among you, but being absent am bold towards you:

2 but I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence,
with which I think to be bold against some, reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;

3 for though we walking in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh:

4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).

5 Casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

6 and they having in a readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience might be fulfilled.

7
Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If anyone has persuaded himself that he be of Christ's,
let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification,
and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

9 that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

10 For his letters (say he) are weighty and strong; but the bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

11 Let such one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves:
but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, do not understand.

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure,
but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not to you;
for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the Gospel of Christ:

15 not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours;
but having hope, when your faith being increased, to be enlarged by you, according to our rule abundantly,

16 to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you, and not in another man's line of things made ready, to boast.

17 But he who glories, let him glory in the LORD. Jer 9:24

18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

11

1 I would ye could bear with me a little of the folly: but ye also bear with me.

2 For I am jealous over you with godly[exceeding] jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear lest, as the serpent beguiled Eve by his craftiness, Gen 3:1-7
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4 For if he who coming preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached,
or if ye receive another spirit, which ye not received,
or another Gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very greatest apostles.

6 But if though I am unskilled in speech, but not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

7 Or have I committed a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the Gospel of God freely?

8 I stripped other Churches, having taken wages of them, to do you service.

9 And being present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no one: for that which was lacking to me was supplied by the brethren who having come from Macedonia:
and in all things I have kept myself in everything not burdensome to you, and so will I keep myself.

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting shall not be stopped in me in the regions of Achaia.

11 Why? Because I love you not? God has known.

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them who desire occasion; that in what they glory, they may be found even as we.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also are transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

16 I say again, Let no man think me to be foolish; otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I also may boast myself a little.

17 That which I speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

19 For ye bear fools gladly, being wise.

20 For ye bear, if anyone brings you into bondage, if anyone devours you,
if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalt himself, if anyone beat you on the face.

21 I speak as concerning reproach, as that we were weak.
But in whatever respect any may be bold, (I speak foolishly) I am bold also.

22 Are they Hebrews? I also.
Are they Israelites? I also.
Are they the offspring of Abraham? I also.

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more;
in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often.

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 in journeys often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen,
in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in famine and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28
Besides those things that are outside, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the Churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?

30 If I must necessarily glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities.

31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who being blessed forever, has known that I lie not.

32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes, desirous to take me:

33 and through a window in a basket I was let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

12

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I have known before a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I have not known;
or whether out of the body, I have not known: God has known). Such one caught up to the third Heaven.

3 And I have known such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I have not known: God has known).

4 That he was caught up into Garden[Paradise], and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear,
lest anyone should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or what he hears from me.

7 And lest I might be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,
the Angel of Satan might buffet me, lest I might be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And He has said to me,
My grace is sufficient for Thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may residence upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I may be weak, then am I strong.

11 I have become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you:
for in nothing I was behind the very greatest apostles, though I am nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13
For what is that in which ye were inferior to other Churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you.
For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 But I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But let it be so, I did not burden you: but being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Did I take advantage of you by any of them whom I have sent to you?

18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Has Titus taken advantage of you?
Walked we not in the same spirit? Walked we not in the same steps?

19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves to you?
We speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

20 For I fear, lest, when I having come, I may not find you such as I would, and that I may be found by you such as ye would not:
lest there be debates, envies, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.

21 And lest, when I having come again, my God may humble me among you, and I shall mourn over many who have sinned before,
and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousnesses, which they have committed.

13

1 This is the third time I come to you: By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. Deu 19:15

2 I have said you before, and foretell you, as if I being present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them who have sinned before,
and to all others, that, if I should come again, I will not spare;

3 since ye seek the proof of Christ speaking in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty in you.

4 For even if He was crucified through weakness, yet He lives by the power of God.
For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God towards you.

5 Examine yourselves, if ye are in the faith; prove yourselves.
Or know ye not yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye are reprobates?

6 But I trust that ye will know that we are not reprobates.

7
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved,
but that ye may do that which is honest, though we should be as reprobates.

8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

9 For we are glad, when we may be weak, and ye may be strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I may use sharply,
according to the power which the Lord gave me to edification, and not to destruction.

11 Finally, brethren, rejoice. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of the same mind,
live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 Greet one another with a Holy kiss.

13 All the Saints salute you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen!