Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Verse 1
1. Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timothy,[1] to the church[2] of God that is in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
Chapter 1 Verse 2
2. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Sovereign[3] Jesus Christ.
Chapter 1 Verse 3
3. All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion[4] and God of all encouragement,
Chapter 1 Verse 4
4. who encourages us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in whatever affliction, by means of the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.[5]
Chapter 1 Verse 5
5. Because just as the sufferings of the Christ flow over into us,[6] so also our encouraging overflows, through Christ.
Chapter 1 Verse 6
6. Now then, if we are afflicted, it is for the sake of your encouragement and deliverance, that are effective for enduring the same sufferings that we also are suffering
Chapter 1 Verse 7
7. (yes, our hope concerning you is steadfast);[7] if we are encouraged, it also is for the sake of your encouragement and deliverance, since we know that you will share in the encouragement just as you do in the sufferings.[8]
Chapter 1 Verse 8
8. And so, brothers, we do not want you to be in ignorance concerning the affliction that came upon us in Asia: we were under extreme pressure, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.
Chapter 1 Verse 9
9. Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, so that we not place confidence in ourselves, but in the God who raises the dead;[9]
Chapter 1 Verse 10
10. He did deliver us from that deadly peril, and still delivers; in whom we trust that He will keep on delivering,
Chapter 1 Verse 11
11. you also adding your cooperation in prayer,[10] on our behalf; that thanks may be given by many persons for the gift bestowed on us by means of many, on your behalf.[11]
Chapter 1 Verse 12
12. Now this is our boast: the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world with openness and godly sincerity, not by fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and especially toward you.
Chapter 1 Verse 13
13. For we do not write you any other things than what you can read and understand;[12] and I do hope that you will keep on understanding to the end
Chapter 1 Verse 14
14. (as indeed some of you have acknowledged) that we are your boast, just as you are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.[13]
Chapter 1 Verse 15
15. It was in this confidence that I was planning to come by you first,
Chapter 1 Verse 16
16. and by you to proceed into Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia (that you might benefit twice),[14] and then to be sent by you on my way to Judea.[15]
Chapter 1 Verse 17
17. Now then, when I was deciding this, I was not acting frivolously, was I? Or the things I decide, do I decide according to the flesh, so that with me there would be both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
Chapter 1 Verse 18
18. As God is faithful, our word to you was not “Yes” and “No”,[16]
Chapter 1 Verse 19
19. because the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy[17]—was not “Yes” and “No”. In fact, with Him it has always been “Yes”,
Chapter 1 Verse 20
20. because all the promises of God in Him are “Yes”; indeed, in Him they are “Amen”, that there be glory to God through us.[18]
Chapter 1 Verse 21
21. Now He who establishes us together with you into Christ, and who anointed[19] us, is God,
Chapter 1 Verse 22
22. who also sealed us and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.[20]
Chapter 1 Verse 23
23. For my part, I call on God as witness, upon my soul, that it was to spare you that I have not yet returned to Corinth.
Chapter 1 Verse 24
24. (Not that we have control over your faith,[21] but we work with you for your joy, for it is by faith that you stand firm.)
Chapter 2
Chapter 2 Verse 1
1. Actually, I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.
Chapter 2 Verse 2
2. For if I make you sorrowful, then who will make me glad, besides the one whom I made sorrowful?
Chapter 2 Verse 3
3. And I wrote this very thing to you so as not to have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice, when I come, having confidence in you all that my joy is also yours.
Chapter 2 Verse 4
4. Now I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart, with many tears, not that you should be made sorrowful, but that you might know the greatness of my love for you.
Chapter 2 Verse 5
5. So, if anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has all of you, to some extent—not to be too ‘heavy’.
Chapter 2 Verse 6
6. This punishment that was inflicted by the majority[1] is sufficient to such a one,
Chapter 2 Verse 7
7. so that now, on the other side, you should forgive and comfort him, so that he not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
Chapter 2 Verse 8
8. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.[2]
Chapter 2 Verse 9
9. Now I also wrote to this end: to put you to the test, to see whether you are obedient in all things.
Chapter 2 Verse 10
10. If you forgive anyone, I do too; further, if indeed I have forgiven anything to someone, I have done so for your sakes in the presence of Christ,[3]
Chapter 2 Verse 11
11. so that we not be exploited by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his intentions.[4]
Chapter 2 Verse 12
12. Also, upon arriving in Troas for the Gospel of Christ, a door having been opened to me by Sovereign,[5]
Chapter 2 Verse 13
13. I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; so taking leave of them I went on into Macedonia.
Chapter 2 Verse 14
14. Now thanks be to the God who always leads us in triumph in the Christ,[6] and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him[7] in every place.
Chapter 2 Verse 15
15. Because we are the aroma of Christ for God, among those who are being saved and among those who are being wasted[8]—
Chapter 2 Verse 16
16. to these a smell of death into death, while to those a fragrance of life into life[9]—and who is adequate for such things?
Chapter 2 Verse 17
17. However, we are not like the rest[10] who retail[11] the word of God; rather, we speak in Christ, out of sincerity, as of God in His very presence.[12]
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Verse 1
1. (Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you,[1] or commendation from you?
Chapter 3 Verse 2
2. You are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by all men;
Chapter 3 Verse 3
3. you are manifestly a letter of Christ, mediated by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God,[2] not on stone tablets but on ‘tablets’ that are hearts of flesh.)
Chapter 3 Verse 4
4. Now we have such confidence before God because of the Christ;
Chapter 3 Verse 5
5. not that we are competent of ourselves to reckon anything as being from ourselves, but our competence is from God[3]—
Chapter 3 Verse 6
6. indeed, He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant;[4] not of letter but of Spirit, because the letter kills, while the Spirit gives life.[5]
Chapter 3 Verse 7
7. Now if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory—so that the children of Israel could not gaze at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance (that was fading)—
Chapter 3 Verse 8
8. how can the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
Chapter 3 Verse 9
9. For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
Chapter 3 Verse 10
10. Because what had glory could actually be said to be without glory, compared to the surpassing glory—
Chapter 3 Verse 11
11. if what is being set aside had glory, that which is continuing is much more glorious.[6]
Chapter 3 Verse 12
12. Therefore, since we have such a hope, we use great boldness of speech—
Chapter 3 Verse 13
13. not like Moses, who put a veil over his own face, so that the children of Israel would not observe the end of what was fading.[7]
Chapter 3 Verse 14
14. But, it was their minds that were closed, because to this day that very veil remains in place when the Old Testament is read, since only in Christ is it taken away.
Chapter 3 Verse 15
15. Yes, even to this day, when Moses is read a veil lies on their heart.
Chapter 3 Verse 16
16. However, whenever anyone turns to the Lord the veil is removed.[8]
Chapter 3 Verse 17
17. Now the Spirit is the Lord,[9] and where the Lord’s Spirit is there is freedom.[10]
Chapter 3 Verse 18
18. So we all, contemplating as in a mirror the glory of the Lord with unveiled face,[11] are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, precisely from Lord Spirit.[12]
Chapter 4
Chapter 4 Verse 1
1. Therefore, since we have received mercy along with this ministry, we do not lose heart.
Chapter 4 Verse 2
2. Rather, we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in deception nor falsifying the Word of God,[1] but by the open proclamation of the Truth[2] commending ourselves to every man’s conscience, in the sight of God.
Chapter 4 Verse 3
3. So where our Gospel has actually been concealed, it has been hidden from those who are being wasted,
Chapter 4 Verse 4
4. among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving,[3] so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
Chapter 4 Verse 5
5. Now we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Sovereign,[4] and ourselves as your servants[5] for Jesus’ sake;
Chapter 4 Verse 6
6. because the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness[6] is He who shined in our hearts to give the light that comes from the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.[7]
Chapter 4 Verse 7
7. Further, we have this treasure in jars of clay,[8] so that this all-surpassing power may be of God and not from ourselves[9]
Chapter 4 Verse 8
8. —we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
Chapter 4 Verse 9
9. persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, but not out;[10]
Chapter 4 Verse 10
10. always carrying about in the body the putting to death of the Lord[11] Jesus, so that also the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body.[12]
Chapter 4 Verse 11
11. For we, the living, are always being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that also the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.[13]
Chapter 4 Verse 12
12. So then, death is at work in us, but life in you.[14]
Chapter 4 Verse 13
13. Now since we have the same spirit of faith, just like it is written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,”[15] we also believe and therefore speak,
Chapter 4 Verse 14
14. knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us through Jesus[16] and present us together with you.
Chapter 4 Verse 15
15. So all this is for your benefit, so that the grace that has spread through the many may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.[17]
Chapter 4 Verse 16
16. Therefore we do not lose heart—even though our outer man is wasting away, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day—
Chapter 4 Verse 17
17. because our light, momentary affliction is working out for us an eternal and limitless measure of glory,[18]
Chapter 4 Verse 18
18. as we do not focus on the seen, but on the not seen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.[19]
Chapter 5
Chapter 5 Verse 1
1. Now then, we know that though our earthly, tent-like ‘house’ may be destroyed, we have a building from God (not a handmade house), eternal in the heavens.
Chapter 5 Verse 2
2. Further, in this one we do groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly habitation;
Chapter 5 Verse 3
3. since, obviously, once clothed we will not be found naked.
Chapter 5 Verse 4
4. Yes, being in this ‘tent’ is a burden, so we groan—not enough to want to strip, but to be really clothed; that what is mortal may be swallowed up by the Life.[1]
Chapter 5 Verse 5
5. Now it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose, who also has given us the down payment of the Spirit.[2]
Chapter 5 Verse 6
6. So we are always confident, even knowing that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord’s home
Chapter 5 Verse 7
7. —we walk by faith, not by sight—
Chapter 5 Verse 8
8. indeed, we are confident in preferring to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.[3]
Chapter 5 Verse 9
9. Yes, that is why we make it our aim (whether at home or away from it) to be well pleasing to Him.
Chapter 5 Verse 10
10. Because we must all be exposed before Christ’s Judgment Seat, that each one may receive his due for the things he did while in the body, whether good or bad.[4]
Chapter 5 Verse 11
11. Therefore, since we know the Lord’s intimidation,[5] we try to convince people. Why Christ died We are well known to God, and I hope in your consciences as well.
Chapter 5 Verse 12
12. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity of boasting on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.[6]
Chapter 5 Verse 13
13. If we are ‘out of our senses’, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
Chapter 5 Verse 14
14. For Christ’s love impels us, having concluded this: if One died for all it follows that all died;[7]
Chapter 5 Verse 15
15. and He died for all so that those who now live should no longer live for themselves but for the One who died for all[8] and was raised again.[9]
Chapter 5 Verse 16
16. So then, from now on we regard no one from a fleshly perspective—even if we have ‘known’ Christ in this way, we do so no longer[10]—
Chapter 5 Verse 17
17. so then, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old things have passed on; look, all has become new![11]
Chapter 5 Verse 18
18. And that ‘all’ is from the God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus[12] Christ and given us the ministry of the reconciliation,[13]
Chapter 5 Verse 19
19. namely that in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself,[14] not imputing their trespasses to them, including committing to us the message of this reconciliation.
Chapter 5 Verse 20
20. So then, we are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God!
Chapter 5 Verse 21
21. Because He made the One who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become God’s righteousness.[15]
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 Verse 1
1. So working together[1] we really urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain,
Chapter 6 Verse 2
2. for He says: “At a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I aided you.” Well, right now is a really favorable time; indeed, the day of salvation is now![2]
Chapter 6 Verse 3
3. (We give no occasion for offense in anything, that the ministry not be faulted;
Chapter 6 Verse 4
4. rather we commend ourselves as God’s servants in every way with great endurance—in afflictions, in hardships, in distress,
Chapter 6 Verse 5
5. in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in fastings;
Chapter 6 Verse 6
6. by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
Chapter 6 Verse 7
7. by truthful speech, by God’s power, with the weapons of the righteousness in the right hand and in the left;[3]
Chapter 6 Verse 8
8. through glory and dishonor, through defamation and good repute; as ‘deceivers’ and true,
Chapter 6 Verse 9
9. as unknown and well known, as dying and we live on, as chastened and not killed;
Chapter 6 Verse 10
10. as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything!)[4]
Chapter 6 Verse 11
11. O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is open wide.
Chapter 6 Verse 12
12. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections.
Chapter 6 Verse 13
13. Now in return for the same (I speak as to my children), you also be wide open.
Chapter 6 Verse 14
14. Do not enter a mismatch with unbelievers;[5] for what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? And what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Chapter 6 Verse 15
15. And what agreement is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion can a believer share with an unbeliever?
Chapter 6 Verse 16
16. Further, what agreement can a temple of God have with idols? Because you[6] are a temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God and they will by my people.”[7]
Chapter 6 Verse 17
17. Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord, “Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”[8]
Chapter 6 Verse 18
18. And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the LORD Almighty.”[9]
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Verse 1
1. Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.[1]
Chapter 7 Verse 2
2. Make room for us; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
Chapter 7 Verse 3
3. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you are in our hearts, whether to die together or to live together.
Chapter 7 Verse 4
4. I have great confidence in you; I do a lot of boasting about you. I am filled with encouragement, overflowing with joy in spite of all our affliction.
Chapter 7 Verse 5
5. Now indeed, when we came into Macedonia we had no physical rest, but were surrounded by affliction—conflicts on the outside, fears on the inside.
Chapter 7 Verse 6
6. But the God who encourages the lowly encouraged us by the coming of Titus;
Chapter 7 Verse 7
7. and not only by his coming, but also by how much he was encouraged over you as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal in my stead, so that I rejoiced even more.
Chapter 7 Verse 8
8. Even though that letter caused you sorrow, I do not regret it (though I almost did), because I perceive that the letter made you sorry, though only for a while.
Chapter 7 Verse 9
9. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry as God intended, so as not to be harmed by us in any way.[2]
Chapter 7 Verse 10
10. Now godly sorrow produces repentance into salvation without regret, but the world’s sorrow produces death.[3]
Chapter 7 Verse 11
11. Just consider your own being caused to sorrow in a godly manner, how much diligence it produced in you—what self-defense, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have demonstrated yourselves to be clear in the matter.
Chapter 7 Verse 12
12. So even though I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the wrongdoer, nor for that of the victim, but, before God, so that your real commitment to us might be made clear to you.[4]
Chapter 7 Verse 13
13. We have been encouraged by all this. Titus again Because of your[5] encouragement, we rejoiced all the more over the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
Chapter 7 Verse 14
14. Because wherein I boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame, but just as everything we spoke to you was true, so also our boasting to Titus proved to be true.
Chapter 7 Verse 15
15. Also, his affection for you is all the greater, as he remembers your collective obedience as you received him with fear and trembling.
Chapter 7 Verse 16
16. I am so glad that I have complete confidence in you.[6]
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 Verse 1
1. And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God that has been bestowed upon the congregations of Macedonia,
Chapter 8 Verse 2
2. that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty produced their extravagant, sincere generosity.
Chapter 8 Verse 3
3. Because according to their ability, I bear witness, even beyond that ability, of their own accord,
Chapter 8 Verse 4
4. they begged us with much entreaty to receive the gift, the sharing in the ministry to the saints
Chapter 8 Verse 5
5. —and more than we had hoped, they first gave themselves to the Lord[1] (and due to God’s will, to us).
Chapter 8 Verse 6
6. So we urged Titus that as he had made a beginning so he should also bring to completion in you this grace as well;
Chapter 8 Verse 7
7. that as you excel in everything—in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—that you excel in this grace too.
Chapter 8 Verse 8
8. I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
Chapter 8 Verse 9
9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our[2] sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Chapter 8 Verse 10
10. So here is my advice in this (since already a year ago you began to give and to plan, this is to your advantage):
Chapter 8 Verse 11
11. now you must really finish the doing—not only of the enthusiastic planning but also of the completing—out of what you have
Chapter 8 Verse 12
12. (because when the intention is presented, it is acceptable according to what one may have, not what he does not have).
Chapter 8 Verse 13
13. Now this is not to distress you so as to relieve others,
Chapter 8 Verse 14
14. but by way of balance—at this juncture your surplus alleviates their lack, so that later their surplus may alleviate your lack—yes, that there be balance;[3]
Chapter 8 Verse 15
15. as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”[4]
Chapter 8 Verse 16
16. Now thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus;
Chapter 8 Verse 17
17. because he not only welcomed my appeal but being very diligent he went to you of his own accord.[5]
Chapter 8 Verse 18
18. But we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is throughout all the congregations;
Chapter 8 Verse 19
19. and not only that—he was actually chosen by the congregations as our traveling companion with this gift, that is being administered by us with a view to the glory of the Lord Himself, and to our own goodwill,
Chapter 8 Verse 20
20. avoiding any criticism about how we are handling this abundance;
Chapter 8 Verse 21
21. giving thought to blamelessness, not only before the Lord but also before men.[6]
Chapter 8 Verse 22
22. Further, we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more so, because of our[7] great confidence in you.
Chapter 8 Verse 23
23. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker toward you; as for our brothers, they are envoys of the congregations, a glory of Christ.[8]
Chapter 8 Verse 24
24. Therefore show the proof of your love (and of our boasting about you) to them as representatives of the congregations.
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 Verse 1
1. Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you;
Chapter 9 Verse 2
2. for I know your readiness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been ready since last year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority.[1]
Chapter 9 Verse 3
3. Still, I have sent the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter not prove to be empty, so that you may be ready, like I said
Chapter 9 Verse 4
4. —if any Macedonians were to go with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention, you!) would be put to shame by this confident boasting.[2]
Chapter 9 Verse 5
5. So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go to you in advance and finish preparing the ‘blessing’ you had promised, that it be ready, representing generosity and not stinginess.
Chapter 9 Verse 6
6. Now then, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.[3]
Chapter 9 Verse 7
7. Each one should give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a glad giver.
Chapter 9 Verse 8
8. Further, God is able to make all ‘grace’ abound toward you, that always having all sufficiency in everything you may abound to every good work[4]—
Chapter 9 Verse 9
9. as it is written: “He has distributed around, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever”[5]—
Chapter 9 Verse 10
10. yes, the One who supplies[6] seed to the sower and bread for food, so as to supply and multiply your seed for sowing and to increase the yield of your righteousness;
Chapter 9 Verse 11
11. you being enriched in everything so as to always be generous, which passing through us produces thanksgiving to God.
Chapter 9 Verse 12
12. Because the administration of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God
Chapter 9 Verse 13
13. —on the basis of the proof that this service gives, they are glorifying God for the obedience of your confession into the Gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your sharing with them and everybody—
Chapter 9 Verse 14
14. and in their prayer for you, longing for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.
Chapter 9 Verse 15
15. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift![7]
Chapter 10
Chapter 10 Verse 1
1. Now I, Paul, am myself appealing to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am ‘humble when present’ among you, but ‘bold when absent’ toward you).
Chapter 10 Verse 2
2. Yes, I beg you, that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that I will ‘dare’ to visit upon some who think that we are walking in a fleshly manner.
Chapter 10 Verse 3
3. Well, we do walk about in flesh, but we do not wage war that way,[1]
Chapter 10 Verse 4
4. because the weapons of our warfare are not physical, but are powerful in God for demolishing strongholds:[2]
Chapter 10 Verse 5
5. demolishing sophistries[3] and every arrogance that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ;
Chapter 10 Verse 6
6. being ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.[4]
Chapter 10 Verse 7
7. Do you only look at the ‘face’ of things? If anyone has persuaded himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also we are Christ’s.
Chapter 10 Verse 8
8. Now even if I boast a little to excess about our authority (which the Lord gave us for building up, not to tear you down), I will not act ashamed,[5]
Chapter 10 Verse 9
9. so as not to appear to agree that it is only with letters that I ‘terrify’ you.
Chapter 10 Verse 10
10. Because some say, “His letters are ‘heavy’ and forceful, but his physical presence is weak, and his speech can be disdained.”
Chapter 10 Verse 11
11. Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters while absent is just what we will be in action when present.
Chapter 10 Verse 12
12. Now we do not dare to class or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.[6]
Chapter 10 Verse 13
13. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will stay within the boundaries that God assigned to us, a field that includes you.
Chapter 10 Verse 14
14. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we had not reached you, because we did indeed get to you with the Gospel of Christ;
Chapter 10 Verse 15
15. nor do we boast ‘off limits’ in the labors of others, but we have hope that as your faith grows our boundaries will be greatly expanded through you,
Chapter 10 Verse 16
16. so as to evangelize the regions beyond you[7] (not to boast in work already done in someone else’s field).
Chapter 10 Verse 17
17. “He who boasts, let him boast in the LORD.”[8]
Chapter 10 Verse 18
18. Because it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.[9]
Chapter 11
Chapter 11 Verse 1
1. I could wish that you would put up with a little of my foolishness, but indeed you already are.
Chapter 11 Verse 2
2. For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I betrothed you to one man to present you to Christ as a pure virgin.
Chapter 11 Verse 3
3. But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve with his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted[1] from the integrity that is in Christ.
Chapter 11 Verse 4
4. For if someone comes and preaches another ‘Jesus’ whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you easily put up with it.[2]
Chapter 11 Verse 5
5. Now I consider that I am not at all inferior to the very best apostles.
Chapter 11 Verse 6
6. Though I may not be a trained speaker, I do have knowledge—but we have been fully manifested to you in all things.
Chapter 11 Verse 7
7. Or did I commit a sin in humbling self so that you might be exalted, in that I proclaimed God’s Gospel to you free of charge?
Chapter 11 Verse 8
8. I ‘robbed’ other congregations, receiving support from them so as to serve you,
Chapter 11 Verse 9
9. and when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone; because the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. Yes, I kept myself from being a burden to you in anything, and will keep on.
Chapter 11 Verse 10
10. The truth of Christ is in me: this boasting will not be silenced in me in the regions of Achaia.
Chapter 11 Verse 11
11. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
Chapter 11 Verse 12
12. Further, I will keep on doing what I do in order to cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things of which they boast.
Chapter 11 Verse 13
13. Such men are really false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into ‘apostles’ of Christ.[3]
Chapter 11 Verse 14
14. And no wonder, because Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Chapter 11 Verse 15
15. So it is no great thing if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness,[4] whose end will be according to their works.
Chapter 11 Verse 16
16. Again I say, let no one think me a fool. But should anyone do so, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little bit.
Chapter 11 Verse 17
17. What I am going to say I do not say according to the Lord, but as though foolishly,[5] in this confident boasting.
Chapter 11 Verse 18
18. Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I will too
Chapter 11 Verse 19
19. (for you put up with fools gladly, being so wise yourselves!).
Chapter 11 Verse 20
20. In fact, you even put up with someone who enslaves you, who ‘devours’ you, who takes advantage, who exalts himself, who beats on your face![6]
Chapter 11 Verse 21
21. Is it disrespectful to say that we were ‘weak’?[7] In whatever anyone is bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also.
Chapter 11 Verse 22
22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham?So am I.
Chapter 11 Verse 23
23. Are they ministers of Christ? (I’m being irrational) I am more: in labors more abundantly, in beatings beyond count, in prison more frequently, in ‘deaths’ often[8]—
Chapter 11 Verse 24
24. five times from the Jews I received the ‘forty lashes minus one’;[9]
Chapter 11 Verse 25
25. three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked (I spent twenty-four hours in the open sea)—
Chapter 11 Verse 26
26. in frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in cities, in danger in wildernesses, in danger in the sea, in danger among false brothers;
Chapter 11 Verse 27
27. in toil and hardship, in many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, in frequent fastings, in cold and nakedness[10]—
Chapter 11 Verse 28
28. quite apart from the other things, my daily disturbances, my concern for all the congregations.
Chapter 11 Verse 29
29. Who is weak, and I do not feel it? Who is caused to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
Chapter 11 Verse 30
30. Well, if I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.
Chapter 11 Verse 31
31. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ,[11] who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
Chapter 11 Verse 32
32. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes, wanting to arrest me;
Chapter 11 Verse 33
33. but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.[12]
Chapter 12
Chapter 12 Verse 1
1. It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast; still, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
Chapter 12 Verse 2
2. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or outside of it, I do not know, God knows.
Chapter 12 Verse 3
3. Yes, I know such a man—whether in the body or outside of it, I do not know, God knows—
Chapter 12 Verse 4
4. how he was caught up into Paradise[1] and heard inexpressible things, things that a man is not permitted to tell.
Chapter 12 Verse 5
5. I can boast about someone like that, but not about myself, unless it be my weakness.
Chapter 12 Verse 6
6. Now even if I wanted to go on boasting, I would not be stupid but speak the truth;[2] but I refrain, so that no one will think more of me than what he sees in me and hears from me.
Chapter 12 Verse 7
7. Because of the incredible importance of the revelations, to keep me from feeling too important, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan[3] to beat on me—to keep me from feeling too important.
Chapter 12 Verse 8
8. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
Chapter 12 Verse 9
9. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more cheerfully about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may take up residence upon me.[4]
Chapter 12 Verse 10
10. So then, I take pleasure in weaknesses,[5] in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Chapter 12 Verse 11
11. I have been boasting foolishly, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, because in nothing have I been inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
Chapter 12 Verse 12
12. Truly the apostolic signs were produced among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
Chapter 12 Verse 13
13. Now in just what were you treated as inferior, compared to the other congregations, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong.[6]
Chapter 12 Verse 14
14. Well now, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will still not burden you, because I want you, not your things—children should not have to save up for parents, but parents for children.
Chapter 12 Verse 15
15. So I will gladly spend and be spent for the sake of your souls, even if the more I love you the less I am loved.
Chapter 12 Verse 16
16. ‘Ok, ok, I didn’t burden you, but being crafty I took you by deception.’[7]
Chapter 12 Verse 17
17. Come now, did I actually take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?
Chapter 12 Verse 18
18. I urged Titus and sent the brother along—did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit, in the same footprints?
Chapter 12 Verse 19
19. Do you still think that we are defending ourselves to you? It is before God we speak, in Christ; but all of it, dear ones, is with a view to your edification.
Chapter 12 Verse 20
20. Yes, I am afraid that when I come I may not find you such as I wish, and you not find me such as you wish—may there be no strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, factions, slanders, gossipings, conceits, disorders—
Chapter 12 Verse 21
21. that when I come again my God may not humble me before you, and I will mourn for many who have previously sinned and not repented of the impurity and fornication and licentiousness which they practiced.[8]
Chapter 13
Chapter 13 Verse 1
1. This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”[1]
Chapter 13 Verse 2
2. As I already said while with you the second time, I now repeat in writing[2] while absent, to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again I will not spare,
Chapter 13 Verse 3
3. since you want proof that Christ is speaking through me—He who is not weak toward you but powerful among you
Chapter 13 Verse 4
4. (although He was crucified in weakness, He lives by the power of God). Now we also are weak in Him, but we will live with Him by the power of God toward you.[3]
Chapter 13 Verse 5
5. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you yourselves really not know that Jesus Christ is in you?[4]—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Chapter 13 Verse 6
6. Well I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
Chapter 13 Verse 7
7. Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do what is right (even though we may appear to have failed).[5]
Chapter 13 Verse 8
8. For we cannot do anything against the Truth, but only for the Truth.
Chapter 13 Verse 9
9. Now we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And we also pray for this, your perfecting.
Chapter 13 Verse 10
10. This is why I write these things while absent, so that when present I may not have to deal harshly, according to the authority that the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down.
Chapter 13 Verse 11
11. Finally, brothers, rejoice; restore each other; encourage one another; be of one mind; live in peace; and the God of the love and the peace will be with you.
Chapter 13 Verse 12
12. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Chapter 13 Verse 13
13. All the saints greet you.
Chapter 13 Verse 14
14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.[6] Amen.