Greeting
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: Place Profile: Corinth
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comfort in Suffering
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Delivered from Suffering
8For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Place Profile: Asia Minor
9Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
10who delivered us from so great a death, and doesa deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
11you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on ourb behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
Paul’s Sincerity
12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
13For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end
14(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Sparing the Church
15And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit—
16to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea.
17Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?
18But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.
19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
20For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
21Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
22who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
23Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
24Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.
1But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.
2For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?
Forgive the Offender
3And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.
4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
5But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. Focus: Accountability
6This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
7so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
9For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
10Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that onea for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Triumph in Christ
12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
13I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
14Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
16To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17For we are not, as so many,b peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
Christ’s Epistle
1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?
2You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
3clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
The Spirit, Not the Letter
4And we have such trust through Christ toward God.
5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
6who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;a for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Glory of the New Covenant
7But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, Focus: Image-Conscious
8how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
9For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
10For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels.
11For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
12Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—
13unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.
14But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
15But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
16Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The Light of Christ’s Gospel
1Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. Focus: A Code of Ethics for Christian Witness
3But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Cast Down but Unconquered
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. Focus: Earthen Vessels
8We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,”a we also believe and therefore speak,
14knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Seeing the Invisible
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Life Studies: George Washington Carver
Assurance of the Resurrection
1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, Focus: Managing Expectations
3if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
9Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Focus: The Judgment Seat
11Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Be Reconciled to God
12For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Insight: A New Creation
18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Marks of the Ministry
1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2For He says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”a
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. Focus: Dealing with Stress
4But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Be Holy
11O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.
12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
13Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.
14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For youb are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
17Therefore
1Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The Corinthians’ Repentance
2Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.
3I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
5For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
6Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, Person Profile: Titus Focus: A Man to Count On
7and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
8For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.
9Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
The Joy of Titus
13Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
14For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.
15And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
16Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.
Excel in Giving
1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
4imploring us with much urgency that we would receivea the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
Christ Our Pattern
8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. Focus: Christ Became Poor
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;
14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.
15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”b
Collection for the Judean Saints
16But thanks be to God who putsc the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.
18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,
19and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind,
20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—
21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.
23If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24Therefore show to them, andd before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
Administering the Gift
1Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;
2for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.
3Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready;
4lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.a
5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
The Cheerful Giver
6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Focus: Reaping the Benefits
7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”b Focus: Who Are the Poor?
10Now mayc He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
14and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
The Spiritual War
1Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. Focus: Integrity in the Face of Competition
2But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Reality of Paul’s Authority
7Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.a
8For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave usb for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—
9lest I seem to terrify you by letters.
10“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
Limits of Paul’s Authority
12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.
14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
16to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”c
18For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Concern for Their Faithfulness
1Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.
2For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicitya that is in Christ.
4For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
Paul and False Apostles
5For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Insight: The Apostles
6Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifestedb among you in all things.
7Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
9And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
10As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
12But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Reluctant Boasting
16I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
17What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
19For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!
20For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
21To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.
Suffering for Christ
22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
28besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
The Vision of Paradise
1It is doubtlessa not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:
2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
3And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
4how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
6For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
The Thorn in the Flesh
7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Focus: Strength Through Weakness
8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Signs of an Apostle
11I have become a fool in boasting;b you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
12Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
13For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Love for the Church
14Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!
17Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?
18I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19Again, do you thinkc that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.
20For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;
21lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
Coming with Authority
1This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”a
2I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I writeb to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—
3since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
4For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
5Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
6But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
Paul Prefers Gentleness
7Now Ic pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.
10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction. Focus: Spiritual Authority
Greetings and Benediction
11Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
12Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints greet you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.