Translation in British English
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through God’s will, and Timothy, our brother, to God’s assembly in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all consolation;
1:4 Who consoles us in every affliction, so that we may be able to console those in any distress with the consolation we ourselves have received from God.
1:5 For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ our consolation also overflows.
1:6 If we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, effective in the endurance of the same sufferings we also endure; or if we are consoled, it is for your consolation and salvation.
1:7 And our hope for you is firm, knowing that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our consolation.
1:8 We do not wish you to be unaware, brothers, of the trouble we experienced in Asia. We were exceedingly burdened, beyond our strength, so much so that we despaired of life itself.
1:9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death, so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
1:10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
1:11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
1:12 For our pride is this: the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially towards you.
1:13 For we write nothing to you other than what you read and understand; and I hope you will understand fully,
1:14 just as you have partially understood us, that on the day of our Lord Jesus, you will be proud of us as we will be of you.
1:15 With this confidence, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice.
1:16 I intended to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.
1:17 When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
1:18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”
1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
1:22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
1:23 I call God as my witness—and I stake my life on it—that it was to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
1:24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
2:1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.
2:2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?
2:3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.
2:4 For I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
2:5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely.
2:6 The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a person.
2:7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
2:8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
2:9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
2:10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,
2:11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
2:12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,
2:13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
2:15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2:16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?
2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
3:2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God.
3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
3:7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was,
3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
3:9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
3:10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
3:11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
3:13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.
3:14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
3:15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
3:16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
4:1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
4:5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
4:9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
4:10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
4:11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
4:12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
4:13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,
4:14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.
4:15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
5:2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,
5:3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
5:4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5:5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
5:6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
5:9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
5:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
5:12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
5:13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
5:20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6:1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
6:2 “For he has said, ‘In an accepted time I have listened to thee, and in a day of salvation have I aided thee’: behold, now is that accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
6:3 Giving no cause for offence in any matter, that the ministry be not discredited:
6:4 But in all things presenting ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
6:5 In beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchfulness, in fasts;
6:6 By purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
6:8 Through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
6:10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
6:11 O Corinthians, our speech is open unto you, our heart is expanded.
6:12 You are not constrained by us, but you are constrained in your own affections.
6:13 Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto children,) be ye also enlarged.
6:14 Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what partnership hath righteousness with wickedness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
7:2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
7:3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and to live together.
7:4 Great is my openness of speech towards you, great is my boasting on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
7:5 For, when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; conflicts without, fears within.
7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7:7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret: for I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though but for a season.
7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.
7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be regretted: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
7:12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
7:13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
7:14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
7:16 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 bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
8:3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves;
8:4 Beseeching us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
8:6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
8:7 Therefore, 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.
8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.
8:10 And herein 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.
8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
8:15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
8:16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
8:17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
8:18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
8:19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
8:20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
8:23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
8:24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
9:1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
9:2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
9:3 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:
9:4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
9:14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
10:9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
10:11 Let such an 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.
10:12 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, are not wise.
10:13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
10:15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.
10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
11:3 Yet, I harbour a fear that, just as the serpent cunningly led Eve astray, so too might your thoughts be led away from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
11:4 Indeed, if someone arrives preaching a Jesus other than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit or a different gospel from what you accepted, you might well tolerate it.
11:5 I consider myself in no way inferior to the most eminent apostles.
11:6 Though I may lack eloquence, I do not lack knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
11:7 Did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be elevated, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
11:8 I deprived other churches by accepting support from them to serve you.
11:9 And when I was with you and needed something, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from being a burden to you in any way.
11:10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.
11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
11:12 But I will continue doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.
11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
11:15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
11:16 I repeat, let no one think me a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
11:17 In this self-confident boasting, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
11:18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
11:19 For you, being so wise, tolerate fools gladly.
11:20 You tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts themselves, anyone hits you in the face.
11:21 To my shame, I admit that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking foolishly—I also dare to boast about.
11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.
11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea;
11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
11:27 I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
11:28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
11:29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
11:32 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.
11:33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
12:1 It is not beneficial for me, certainly, to boast. Nevertheless, I will move on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body, I do not know—God knows.
12:3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—
12:4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
12:5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
12:6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations.
12:7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
12:9 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 gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
12:11 I have been made a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12:12 The true marks of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs, wonders, and miracles.
12:13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
12:14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
12:15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
12:16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
12:17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?
12:18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps?
12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
12:20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
12:21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will mourn over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
13:2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others,
13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
13:4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
13:6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
13:7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test, but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.
13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
13:9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.
13:10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, goodbye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13:13 All the saints send their greetings.
13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
©This translation from the Greek text is the copyrighted work of churchpedia.org. Any commercial use of this translation is strictly prohibited, and if reposted, it must underline the authority of churchpedia.org and have a clear active link directing to this original page.
Content Disclaimer:
This translation is presented directly from the original Greek text. While faithfulness to the source material is paramount, it’s important to acknowledge that the Bible contains passages depicting violence, discrimination, and other sensitive content reflecting its historical and cultural context. Readers are encouraged to approach the text with respect and understanding, recognizing the diverse interpretations and perspectives it has generated throughout history.