9 1 For indeed concerning the supplies the wants of the saints, but relief which is for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your forwardness, of which I boast concerning you to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been ready since last year, and your zeal has roused the greater number. 3 But I have sent the brethren, that our boasting concerning you may not be in vain in this respect; that, as I said, you may be ready: 4 lest perhaps if Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we, that we say not you, should be ashamed in this confidence. 5 I thought it necessary and gentleness of Christ, who in therefore to exhort the brethren, that they would go before to you, and make up beforehand your blessing that was promised before, that this may be ready as a blessing, and not as covetousness. 10 presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent am bold towards you; 2 but I entreat that I may not when present be bold with that confidence, with which I think to be bold against some who think 6 But as to this, he that sows of us as if we walk according to sparingly shall also reap sparingly, the flesh. 3 For though walking in and he that sows with blessings the flesh, we do not war according shall also reap with blessings. 7 to the flesh 4 (for the weapons of Let each one give as he purposes in our warfare are not carnal, but his heart, not from sorrow or from necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every grace abound to you, that you having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound for every good work; 9 as it is written: He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness remains for ever. 10 But he that supplies seed for the sower, and bread for eating, 7 Do you look on things accordwill supply and multiply your seed ing to outward appearance? If any sown, and increase the fruits of one confides in himself that he is your righteousness: 11 being en- Christ's, let him conclude this again riched in everything for all liberality, of himself, that as he is Christ's, which works out through us thanks- so also are we Christ's. 8 For even giving to God. 12 Because the ad- if I should boast somewhat more ministration of this service not only abundantly of our authority, which mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds), 5 casting down reasonings and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and leading captive every thought to the obedience of Christ, 6 and having in readiness to inflict punishment on every failure in obedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. the Lord gave us for edification, Christ: 3 I fear, however, lest perand not for your destruction, I shall haps, as the serpent completely denot be made ashamed. 9 That Iceived Eve in his craftiness, so your may not seem as if I would terrify minds should be corrupted from the you by letters. 10 For his letters, simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For say they, are weighty and powerful, if indeed he that comes preaches but his bodily presence weak, and another Jesus whom we did not his speech contemptible. 11 Let preach, or you receive another such a one think this, that such as spirit which you did not receive, or we are in word by letters, when ab- another gospel which you did not sent, such are we also in deed, when accept, you might well bear with present. 12 For we dare not num- him; 5 for I think that I am in ber ourselves among or compare nothing inferior to these very great ourselves with some that commend apostles. 6 If, however, I am rude themselves; but they, measuring in speech, yet not in knowledge, but themselves among themselves, and in everything we have made it mancomparing themselves with them-ifest toward you among all. 7 Or selves, are not wise. 13 But we will did I commit a sin in abasing mynot boast without measure, but ac- self that you might be exalted, becording to the measure of the rule, cause I preached to you the gospel which God has apportioned to us, of God without charge? 8 I robbed a measure to reach even to you. other churches, taking wages to do 14 For we do not stretch ourselves you service; and when present with too far, as if we do not come to you, though in want, I was a buryou; for even as far as to you did den to no one; 9 for my want the we come first in the gospel of brethren who came from MaceChrist, 15 not boasting without donia supplied; and in everything measure in the labors of others; I have kept myself from being burbut having hope, when your faith densome to you, and will keep myis increased, to be enlarged among you according to our rule, abundantly, 16 to preach the gospel in regions beyond you, not to boast ourselves in things made ready in another man's line. 17 But he that boasts, in the Lord let him boast; 18 for not he that commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends. 11 self. 10 The truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting shall not be stopped in my case in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I love you not? God knows. 12 But what I do, I will also do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire the occasion, that in what they boast they may be found even as we. 13 For such as they are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder; for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 No great thing, then, if his ministers also transform themselves as min isters of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their works. presses upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, 16 I say again, let no one think and I am not weak? Who is enthat I am foolish; but if otherwise, snared, and I burn not? 30 If I at least as foolish receive me, that must boast, of the things that conI also may boast myself some little. cern my infirmities will I boast. 31 17 What I say, I say not according The God and Father of our Lord to the Lord, but as in folly, in this Jesus, who is blessed throughout the confidence of boasting. 18 Since ages, knows that I lie not. 32 In many boast according to the flesh, Damascus, the governor under AreI also will boast. 19 For you bear tas the king guarded the city of the with the foolish with pleasure, since Damascenes, that he might appreyou are wise; 20 for you bear with hend me; 33 and through a window, it if any one brings you into bond-1 was let down in a basket, through age, if any one devours you, if any the wall, and escaped his hands. one seizes upon you, if any one 12 1 To boast surely profits exalts himself, if any one smites me not; for I will come to you on the face. 21 To my re-visions and revelations of the Lord. proach I say it, that we were weak; 2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen but in whatever any one is bold, in years ago, whether in the body folly I say it, I also am bold. 22 I know not, or out of the body I Are they Hebrews? I also. Are know not, God knows, such a one they Israelites? I also. Are they caught away even to the third the posterity of Abraham? I also. heaven. 3 And I know such a man, 23 Are they ministers of Christ? I whether in the body or apart from speak as if beside myself, I more; the body I know not, God knows; in labors more abundant, in stripes 4 that he was caught away into above measure, in prisons more fre- paradise, and heard unspeakable quently, in deaths often; 24 of the words, which it is not lawful for Jews five times received I forty man to utter. 5 Concerning such a stripes save one, 25 three times was one I will boast, but concerning myI beaten with rods, once was I self I will not boast, except in my stoned, three times have I been infirmities. 6 For though I should shipwrecked, a night and a day I desire to boast, I shall not be foolspent in the deep: 26 in journeyings ish, for I will speak the truth; but often, in dangers of rivers, in I forbear, lest any one should think dangers of robbers, in dangers from with regard to me above what he my countrymen, in dangers from sees me, or hears anything from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in me. 7 And, lest I might be exdangers in the desert, in dangers alted above measure through the in the sea, in dangers among false exceeding greatness of the revelabrethren, 27 in labor and toil, in tions, there was given me a thorn watchings often, in hunger and in the flesh, a message of Satan, thirst, in fastings often, in cold that he might buffet me, that I and nakedness. 28 Apart from might not be exalted above measthings besides these, that which ure. 8 Concerning this, three times 20 did I beseech the Lord that he ing that to you we are making a might depart from me. 9 And he defense. In the presence of God in said to me: My grace is sufficient Christ do we speak; but all things, for thee; for my power is per- beloved, for your edification. fected in weakness. Most gladly For I fear lest perhaps on coming then will I rather glory in my in- 1 shall find you not such as I wish, firmities, that the power of Christ and I shall be found to you as you may abide upon me. 10 Wherefore do not wish; lest perhaps there be I am well pleased in infirmities, in contentions, envyings, wraths, facoutrages, in necessities, in persecutions, evil-speakings, whisperings, tions. in straits, for Christ's sake; high-mindedness, tumults: 21 lest for when I am weak, then am I when I come again my God will strong. humble me with respect to you, and I shall bewail many of them that have sinned before, and have not repented because of the uncleanness, and lewdness, and wantonness which they have committed. 11 I have become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to be commended by you; for in nothing was I inferior to these very great apostles, though I am nothing. Iz The signs indeed of the apostle were wrought out among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. 13 For what is that in which you were inferior to the other churches, except that I did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong. 14 Behold, I am ready to come to you the third time, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 13 1 This third time am I coming to you: in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 2 I have said before, and I foretell, as when present the second time, also now in my absence, to those who have sinned before and to all the rest. that if I come again, I will not spare. 3 Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you; 4 for though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; for we are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you. 5 Try yourselves, whether you are in the faith, prove yourselves: or do you not know yourselves, that Christ Jesus is in you? unless you are disapproved. 6 But I hope that you shall know that we are not disapproved. 7 But we pray to God that you may do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do what is excellent, though we be as disap 16 But be it so, I did not become a burden to you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I make gain of you by any one of those that I sent to you? 18 I besought Titus, and with him sent the brother. Did Titus make gain of you? Walked we not in the same spirit? not in the same steps? 19 For a long time you are think proved. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak, and you are strong: this also we pray for, your perfect union. 10 For this reason I write these things while absent, that I may not, when present, use severity, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for edification, and not for destruction. 11 Finally, brethren, rejoice; be perfectly united, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and of peace shall be with you. 12 Salute 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. PAUL TO THE GALATIANS 1 1 Paul an apostle, not of please men? For if I yet pleased men, neither through man, but men, Christ's servant I should not through Jesus Christ and God the be. Father, who raised him from the dead, 2 and all the brethren that are with me, to the churches of Galatia. 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory from age to age: amen. 11 But I make known to you, brethren, the gospel that was preached by me, that it is not according to man; 12 for neither received I it from man, nor was I taught it, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, that I exceedingly persecuted the church of God and laid it waste; 14 and I made progress 6 I wonder that you are so soon in Judaism beyond many of my turning away from him that called own age in my nation, being exceedyou into the grace of Christ, to a ingly a zealot for the traditions of different gospel, 7 which is not an- my fathers. 15 But when he that set other, except that there are some me apart from my mother's womb, that trouble you, and wish to pervert and called me through his grace, was the gospel of Christ. 8 But though pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me, even we or an angel from heaven that I might preach him among the preach to you a gospel beside that Gentiles, immediately I conferred which we preached to you, let him not with flesh and blood; 17 neither be accursed. 9 As we have said went I up to Jerusalem to those before, even now I say again, if any who were apostles before me; but one preach to you a gospel beside I went away into Arabia, and rethat which you received, let him be turned again to Damascus. 18 Then accursed. 10 For do I now per- after three years, I went up to Jerusuade men or God? or seek I to'salem to become acquainted with |