and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10 For his letters, saith one, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. II Let such an one consider this, that, such as we are in word by letters, when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present. 12 For we make not bold to number ourselves or compare ourselves with some of them that commend themselves : but they measuring themselves among themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast without measure, but according to the measure of the line which God apportioned to us as a measure to reach even unto you. 17 But he that boasteth, let him boast in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commendeth. I CHAPTER XI. WOULD that ye could bear with me a little in folly: but indeed ye do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God: for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. 4 For if indeed he that cometh is preaching another Jesus, whom we preached not, or if ye are receiving another spirit, which ye received not, 14 For we are not stretching or another gospel, which ye ourselves beyond [our mea-accepted not, ye with reason sure], as if we reached not un-3bear with him. to you for even as far as 5 For I reckon that I am not unto you did we come in the a whit behind those overmuch gospel of Christ : apostles. 15 Not boasting without measure in other men's labours; but having hope, as your faith increaseth, to be enlarged among you according to our rule unto great abundance, 16 So as to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 1 Not expressed in the original. 6 But though I be a common man in my speech, yet am I not in my knowledge; but in every thing did we make things manifest unto you before all men. 4 7 Did I commit an offence in abasing myself that ye might 2 So the majority of the most ancient MSS. 3 So the Vatican MS.: the reading varies. 4 So the two oldest MSS. The others differ widely. be exalted, in that I preached unto you the gospel of God without charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages '[of them], that I might minister unto you. 9 And when I was present with you, and was in want, I was a burden to no man: for the brethren coming from Macedonia supplied my wants; and in every thing I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. Io The truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting shall not be shut 2against me in the regions of Achaia. II Wherefore ? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those who desire an occasion; that wherein they boast, they may be found even as we. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for even Satan transformeth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing then if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; but if ye will think so, yet even as a fool receive me, that I too may boast myself a little. 1 Not expressed in the original. 17 That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will boast also. 19 For ye bear with fools gladly, being [yourselves] wise. 20 For ye bear with them, if a man bringeth you into bondage, if a man devoureth you, if a man seizeth you, if a man exalteth himself, if a man smiteth you on the face. 21 By way of disparagement I assume that we were weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak in foolishness,) I am bold also. SO 22 Are they Hebrews? am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they Abraham's seed? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as beside myself) I am more; in labours more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I spent in the deep; 26 By journeyings often, by perils of rivers, by perils of robbers, by perils from my countrymen, by perils from the Gentiles, by perils in the city, by perils in the wilderness, by perils in the sea, by perils among false brethren; 3 So the oldest MSS. 27 By weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Omitting what is besides, 'my care day by day, my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I myself burn not? 30 If I must needs boast, I will boast of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept watch over the city of the Damascenes to apprehend me : 33 And through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands. I CHAPTER XII. 2MUST needs boast, though it is not expedient: but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, know not: God knoweth ;) such an one caught up even unto the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man, (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not God knoweth ;) 4 That he was caught up into 1 So the most ancient MSS. 2 So, or nearly so, the most ancient MSS.: but the reading is in great confusion. paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I boast: but of myself I will not boast, save in my weak nesses. 6 For if I should desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I shall say the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should esteem of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth perchance from me. 7 And that I might not through the exceeding greatness of the revelations be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in my flesh, an angel of Satan, that he may buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch. 8 Concerning this I thrice besought the Lord, that he might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: fect in weakness. Most gladly for [my] power is made pertherefore will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. IO Wherefore I am well content in infirmities, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. II I am become a fool; ye compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing came I behind those overmuch apostles, even though I am nothing. 3 Not expressed in the original. In glorying is omitted by all the oldest MSS. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 For what is there wherein ye were inferior to the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong. 14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 Yet I very gladly will spend and be spent for your souls; though while I love you more abundantly, I am less loved. 16 But be it so, I myself did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of them whom I have sent unto you? 18 I entreated Titus '[to come unto you], and with him I sent our brother. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same Spirit? [walked | we] not in the same steps? 19 Ye have been long thinking that we are excusing ourselves unto you. We speak before God in Christ: but all we do, dearly beloved, is for your edifying. 20 For I fear, that, when I come, I may find you not such as I would, and that I 1 Not expressed in the original. So the most ancient MSS. of two witnesses and three shall every word be established. 2 I have said already, and now say beforehand, as when [I was] present the second time, so also now 3in my absence to them which have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare : 3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me, who to you-ward is not weak, but is powerful in you. 4 For indeed he was crucified from weakness, yet he liveth from the power of God. For we also are weak in him, |yet we shall live with him from the power of God toward you. 5 Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Do ye not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? except indeed ye be reprobates. 3 I write is omitted in all the most ancient MSS. Though is omitted by the most ancient MSS. X 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 7 Yet we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong : we also pray for this, even your perfection. IO For this cause write I these things being absent, that 1 Thus all the most ancient MSS. I may not when present use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me for building up, and not for casting down. 11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made perfect, take comfort, be of one mind, be at peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 12 Salute one another with an 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.2 2 Amen is omitted by all the most ancient MSS. |