you, lest, when I came, I should 14 Now thanks be unto God, have sorrow from them of whom which always causeth us to triI ought to rejoice; having con-umph in Christ, and maketh fidence in you all, that my joy is manifest the savour of his the joy of you all. knowledge by us in every 4 For out of much affliction place. and anguish of heart I wrote un- 15 For we are unto God a to you with many tears; not that sweet savour of Christ, in them ye should be grieved, but that ye that are saved, and in them that might know the love which I perish: have more abundantly unto 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death: and you. 5 But if any have caused grief, to the other the savour of life he hath not grieved me, but in unto life. And who is sufficient part: that I may not overcharge for these things? you all. 17 For we are not as many, 6 Sufficient to such a man is which corrupt the word of God: this punishment, which was in- but as of sincerity, but as of God, flicted of many. in the sight of God speak we in CHAP. III. 7 So that contrariwise, ye Christ. ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a He sheweth that their gifts and graces were one should be swallowed up a sufficient commendation of his miniswith overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. try. DO O we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of 9 For to this end also did I commendation to you, or letters write, that I might know the of commendation from you! proof of you, whether ye be 2 Ye are our epistle written in obedient in all things. our hearts, known and read of 10 To whom ye forgive any all men : thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not tables of stone, but in fleshly taignorant of his devices. bles of the heart. 12 Furthermore, when I came 4 And such trust have we to Troas to preach Christ's gos-through Christ to God-ward: pel, and a door was opened un- 5 Not that we are sufficient to me of the Lord, of ourselves to think any thing 13 I had no rest in my spirit, as of ourselves; but our suffi because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. ciency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the 18 But we all, with open spirit giveth life. face beholding as in a glass the 7 But if the ministration of glory of the Lord, are changdeath, written and engraven in ed into the same image from stones, was glorious, so that the glory to glory, even as by the children of Israel could not stead- Spirit of the Lord. fastly behold the face of Moses CHAP. IV. for the glory of his countenance; 1 Paul's unwearied diligence and zeal in which glory was to be done preaching: 7 his troubles for the same. away: Fa How shall not the ministra- THEREFORE, seeing we ministry, as tion of the Spirit be rather glo- have received mercy, we faint rious? not; 9 For if the ministration of 2 But have renounced the condemnation be glory, much hidden things of dishonesty; more doth the ministration of not walking in craftiness, nor righteousness exceed in glory. handling the word of God de 10 For even that which was ceitfully; but, by manifestation made glorious had no glory in of the truth, commending ourthis respect, by reason of the selves to every man's conscience glory that excelleth. in the sight of God. 11 For if that which is done 3 But if our gospel be hid, it away was glorious, much more is hid to them that are lost. that which remaineth is glori- 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds ous. 12 Seeing then that we have of them which believe not, lest such hope, we use great plain- the light of the glorious gospel ness of speech: of Christ, who is the image 13 And not as Moses, which of God, should shine unto put a vail over his face, that the them. children of Israel could not 5 For we preach not ourselves, steadfastly look to the end of but Christ Jesus the Lord; and that which is abolished : ourselves your servants for Jesus' 14 But their minds were sake. blinded: for until this day re- 6 For God, who commandmaineth the same vail untaken ed the light to shine out of darkaway in the reading of the old ness, hath shined in our hearts, testament; which vail is done to give the light of the knowlaway in Christ. edge of the glory of God in the 15 But even unto this day, face of Jesus Christ..... when Moses is read, the vail is 7 But we have this treasure upon their heart. in earthern vessels, that the ex16 Nevertheless, when it shall cellency of the power may be turn to the Lord, the vail shall of God, and not of us. be taken away. 8 We are troubled on every 17 Now the Lord is that side, yet not distressed; we are Spirit: and where the Spirit of perplexed, but not in despair; the Lord is, there is liberty. 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ernacle were dissolved, we have 10 Always bearing about in a building of God, a house not the body the dying of the Lord made with hands, eternal in the Jesus, that the life also of Jesus heavens. might be made manifest in our 2 For in this we groan, earnbody. estly desiring to be clothed up 11 For we which live are al- on with our house which is from ways delivered unto death for heaven: Jesus' sake, that the life also of 3 If so be that being clothJesus might be made manifested we shall not be found nakin our mortal flesh. ed. 12 So then death worketh in 4 For we that are in this tabus, but life in you. ernacle do groan, being burden 13 We having the same spirited: not for that we would be unof faith, according as it is writ- clothed, but clothed upon, that ten, I believed, and therefore mortality night be swallowed up have I spoken; we also believe, of life. and therefore speak; 5 Now he that hath wrought 14 Knowing, that he which us for the self-same thing is God, raised up the Lord Jesus, shall who also hath given unto us the raise up us also by Jesus, and earnest of the Spirit. shall present us with you. 6 Therefore we are always 15 For all thingsare for your confident, knowing that, whilst sakes, that the abundant grace we are at home in the body, we might through the thanksgiving are absent from the Lord: of many redound to the glory of 7 (For we walk by faith, not God. by sight :) 16 For which cause we faint 8 We are confident, I say, not; but though our outward and willing rather to be absent man perish, yet the inward from the body, and to be presman is renewed day by day. ent with the Lord. 17 For our light affliction, 9 Wherefore we labour, that which is but for a moment, whether present, or absent, we worketh for us a far more ex- may be accepted of him. ceeding and eternal weight of 10 For we must all appear glory; before the judgment seat of 18 While we look not at the Christ; that every one may rethings which are seen, but at ceive the things done in his the things which are not seen: body, according to that he hath for the things which are seen done, whether it be good or bad. are temporal; but the things 11 Knowing therefore the which are not seen are eternal. terror of the Lord, we persuade CHAP. V. 1 Paul, in assured hope of immortal glory, laboureth to approve himself to Christ, &c. men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. we know that if our FOR 12 For we commend not ourearthly house of this tab- selves again unto you, but give 1 you occasion to glory on our CHAP. VI. behalf, that ye may have some-1 Paul's sufferings and patience in the minwhat to answer them which istry....14 Exhortation to avoid idolaglory in appearance, and not in ters, &c. heart. art For whether we be beside WE then, as workers togeth er with him, beseech you ourselves, it is to God: or also that ye receive not the grace whether we be sober, it is for of God in vain. your cause. 2 (For he saith, I have heard 14 For the love of Christ con- thee in a time accepted, and in straineth us; because we thus the day of salvation have I sucjudge, that if one died for all, coured thee: behold, now is the then were all dead : accepted time; dehold, now is 15 And that he died for all, the day of salvation.) that they which live should not 3 Giving no offence in any henceforth live unto themselves, thing, that the ministry be not but unto him which died for blamed : them, and rose again. 4 But in all things approving 16 Wherefore henceforth ourselves as the ministers of know we no man after the flesh: God, in much patience, in afflicyea, though we have known tions, in necessities, in distressChrist after the flesh, yet now es, henceforth know we him no 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watch more. 17 Therefore, if any man beings, in fastings ; in Christ, he is a new creature : 6 By pureness, by knowlold things are passed away; be-edge, by long-suffering, by kindhold, all things are become new. ness, by the Holy Ghost, by love 18 And all things are of God, unseigned, who hath reconciled us to him- 7 By the word of truth, by self by Jesus Christ, and hath the power of God, by the argiven to us the ministry of rec-mour of righteousness on the oncilation; right hand and on the left, 19 To wit, that God was in 8 By honour and dishonour, Christ, reconciling the world by evil report and good report ; unto himself, not imputing their as deceivers, and yet true; trespasses unto them; and hath 9 As unknown, and yet well committed unto us the word of known; as dying, and behold, reconciliation. we live; as chastened, and not 20 Now then we are ambas- killed; sadors for Christ, as though God 10 As sorrowful, yet always did beseech you by us: we pray rejoicing; as poor, yet making you in Christ's stead, be ye re-many rich; as having nothing, conciled to God. and yet possessing all things. 21 For he hath made him to 11 O ye Corinthians, our be sin for us, who knew no sin; mouth is open unto you, our that we might be made the righ-heart is enlarged. eousness of God in him. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, Y but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked 5 For, when we were come together with unbelievers: for into Macedonia, our flesh had what fellowship hath righteous- no rest, but we were troubled on ness with unrighteousness? and every side; without were fightwhat communion hath light ings, within were fears. with darkness? 6 Nevertheless God, that com 15 And what concord hath forteth those that are cast down, Christ with Belial? or what comforted us by the coming of part hath he that believeth with Titus; an infidel? 7 And not by his coming only, 16 And what agreement hath but by the consolation wherethe temple of God with idols? with he was comforted in you, for ye are the temple of the liv- when he told us your earnest deing God; as God hath said, I sire, your mourning, your ferwill dwell in them, and walk in vent mind toward me; so that I them; and I will be their God, rejoiced the more. and they shall be my people. 8 For though I made you sor 17 Wherefore come out from ry with a letter, I do not repent, among them, and be ye separ- though I did repent: for I perate, saith the Lord, and touch ceive that the same epistle hath not the unclean thing; and I made you sorry, though it were will receive you; but for a season. 18 And will be a Father unto 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye you, and ye shall be my sons were made sorry, but that ye and daughters, saith the Lord sorrowed to repentance, for ye Almighty. were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. CHAP. VII. 1 He exhorteth to purity of life, 3 and sheweth the source of his comfort in afflictions. 10 For godly sorrow worketh HAVING therefore these repentance to salvation not to promises, dearly beloved, be repented of: but the sorrow let us cleanse ourselves from all of the world worketh death. filthiness of the flesh and spirit, 11 For behold this self-same perfecting holiness in the fear of thing, that ye sorrowed after a God. godly sort, what carefulness it 2 Receive us; we have wrong- wrought in you, yea, what cleared no man, we have corrupted ing of yourselves, yea, what inno man, we have defrauded no dignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what man. 3 I speak not this to condemn zeal, yea, what revenge! In all you: for I have said before, that things ye have approved yourye are in our hearts to die and selves to be clear in this matter. live with you. 12 Wherefore, though I wrote |