them, and be ye separate, saith the same epistle hath made you sorry, Lord, and touch not the unclean though it were but for a season. thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. CHAPTER VII. 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 receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh re HAVING therefore these pro-pentance to salvation not to be remises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse pented of: but the sorrow of the ourselves from all filthiness of the world worketh death. flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. II 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 approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 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. 5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; with- 13 Therefore we were comforted in out were fightings, within were fears. your comfort: yea, and exceedingly 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth the more joyed we for the joy of Tithose that are cast down, comforted tus, because his spirit was refreshed us by the coming of Titus; by you all. 7 And not by his coming only, but 14 For if I have boasted any thing by the consolation wherewith he was to him of you, I am not ashamed; comforted in you, when he told us but as we spake all things to you in your earnest desire, your mourning, truth, even so our boasting, which your fervent mind toward me; so that I made before Titus, is found a I rejoiced the more. truth. 8 For though I made you sorry 15 And his inward affection is more with a letter, I do not repent, though abundant toward you, whilst he reI did repent: for I perceive that the membereth the obedience of you all, 7,3 V ye are in 8 V but though I did repent, I perceive 12 SV your care for us 13 SV Theref. we were comforted: but in addition to our comfort, we rejoiced very much more at the joy of Titus 14 S* om. to you; V your boasting before Titus, S our boasting before Titus 15 S om. all how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. CHAPTER VIII. MOREOVER, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 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. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 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. II 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. 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. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may 4 Praying us with much intreaty be a supply for their want, that their that we would receive the gift, and abundance also may be a supply take upon us the fellowship of the for your want: that there may be ministering to the saints. equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 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. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would 16 But thanks be to God, which put also finish in you the same grace also. the same earnest care into the heart 7 Therefore, as ye abound in every of Titus for you. thing, in faith, and utterance, and 17 For indeed he accepted the exknowledge, and in all diligence, and hortation; but being more forward, of in your love to us, see that ye abound his own accord he went unto you. in this grace also. 18 And we have sent with him the 8 I speak not by commandment, brother, whose praise is in the gospel but by occasion of the forwardness of throughout all the churches; others, and to prove the sincerity of 19 And not that only, but who was your love. 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 be rich. 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: 20 Avoiding this, that no man 16 SV om. therefore 8,4 SV with much intreaty beseeching of us the grace and the fellowship 7 V and in our love to you 9 V om. Christ 12 SV according to what it may have, not according to what it hath not 13 SV and you burdened 19 V to travel with us in this grace; V of the Lord; SV of our ready mind should blame us in this abundance to exhort the brethren, that they which is administered by us: 21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. would go before unto you, and make 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. 23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, 7 Every man according as he purhe is my partner and fellowhelper poseth in his heart, so let him give; concerning you: or our brethren be not grudgingly, or of necessity: for enquired of, they are the messengers God loveth a cheerful giver. of the churches, and the glory of 8 And God is able to make all grace Christ. 24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. CHAPTER IX. FOR as touching the ministering abound toward you; that ye, always ever. as touching the ministering 10 Now he that ministereth seed to to the saints, it is superfluous for me the sower both minister bread for to write to you: your food, and multiply your seed 2 For I know the forwardness of sown, and increase the fruits of your your mind, for which I boast of you righteousness;) to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 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: II Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia 13 Whiles by the experiment of come with me, and find you unpre- this ministration they glorify God for pared, we (that we say not, ye) should your professed subjection unto the be ashamed in this same confident gospel of Christ, and for your liberal boasting. distribution unto them, and unto all 5 Therefore I thought it necessary men; 21 SV For we provide; S but also of men 22 translate which he hath in you 9,4 SV in this same matter 5 S om. and after bounty 7 SV as he hath purposed 10 SV seed to the sower and bread for eating, shall minister and multiply your seed sown, and will increase IV of God 12 V unto Christ 8 SV And God is able 14 And by their prayer for you, tion, and not for your destruction, I which long after you for the exceed- should not be ashamed: ing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. CHAPTER X. 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: 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. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily temptible. presence is weak, and his speech con II 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. 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. 13 But we will not boast of things 4 (For the weapons of our warfare without our measure, but according are not carnal, but mighty through to the measure of the rule which God God to the pulling down of strong hath distributed to us, a measure to holds ;) reach even unto you. 5 Casting down imaginations, and 14 For we stretch not ourselves beevery high thing that exalteth itself yond our measure, as though we reachagainst the knowledge of God, and ed not unto you: for we are come as bringing into captivity every thought far as to you also in preaching the to the obedience of Christ; gospel of Christ: 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 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. 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, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made 8 For though I should boast some-ready to our hand. what more of our authority, which 17 But he that glorieth, let him the Lord hath given us for edifica-glory in the Lord. 10, V am bold for you 7 V seemeth to trust in himself; SV let him with himself; SV om. Christ's after are we 8 SV om. us 12 S* om. themselves after measuring 14 V For we stretch ourselves (om. not); S om. for after you 18 For not he that commendeth I have kept myself from being burhimself is approved, but whom the densome unto you, and so will I keep Lord commendeth. CHAPTER XI. myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting WOULD to God ye could bear in the regions of Achaia. with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 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. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. II Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan him4 For if he that cometh preacheth self is transformed into an angel of another Jesus, whom we have not light. preached, or if ye receive another 15 Therefore it is no great thing spirit, which ye have not received, if his ministers also be transformed or another gospel, which ye have not as the ministers of righteousness; accepted, ye might well bear with whose end shall be according to their him. 5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. works. 16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boast 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be ex-ing. alted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 9 And when I was present with you, 20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you and wanted, I was chargeable to no into bondage, if a man devour you, man: for that which was lacking to if a man take of you, if a man exalt me the brethren which came from himself, if a man smite you on the Macedonia supplied: and in all things face. 11,3 SV om. so; SV from the simplicity and holiness 5 V But I suppose 6 SV but in every matter we made things manifest before all men among you 10 translate this boasting in me shall not be stopped in the regions |