New King James Version (NKJV)

1 But I determined this within myself,that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

2 For if I make yousorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

3 And 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 isthejoyof you all.

4 For 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.

5 Butif anyone has caused grief, he has notgrieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.

6 This punishment whichwasinflictedby the majorityissufficient for such a man,

7 so that, on the contrary, yououghtrather to forgive and comforthim, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirmyourlove to him.

9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you areobedient in all things.

10 Now whom you forgive anything, I alsoforgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Triumph in Christ

12 Furthermore,when I came to Troas topreachChrist’s gospel, anda door was opened to me by the Lord,

13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

14 Now thanksbeto God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christamong those who are being saved andamong those who are perishing.

16 To the onewearethe aroma of deathleadingto death, and to the other the aroma of lifeleadingto life. Andwhoissufficient for these things?

17 For we are not, as so many,peddling the word of God; but asof sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

Christ’s Epistle

1 Dowe begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as someothers,epistles of commendation to you orlettersof commendation from you?

2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ,ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, noton tablets of stone buton tablets of flesh,thatis,of the heart.

The Spirit, Not the Letter

4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God.

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything asbeingfrom ourselves, butour sufficiencyisfrom God,

6 who also made us sufficient asministers ofthe new covenant, notof the letter but of the Spirit; forthe letter kills,but the Spirit gives life.

Glory of the New Covenant

7 But ifthe ministry of death,writtenandengraved 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, whichglorywas passing away,

8 how willthe ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?

9 For if the ministry of condemnationhadglory, the ministryof righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels.

11 For if what is passing awaywasglorious, what remainsismuch more glorious.

12 Therefore, since we have such hope,we use great boldness of speech—

13 unlike Moses,whoput a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily atthe end of what was passing away.

14 Buttheir minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because theveilis taken away in Christ.

15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.

16 Neverthelesswhen one turns to the Lord,the veil is taken away.

17 Nowthe Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lordis, thereisliberty.

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholdingas in a mirrorthe 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

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry,as we have received mercy, wedo not lose heart.

2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truthcommending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

3 But even if our gospel is veiled,it is veiled to those who are perishing,

4 whose mindsthe god of this agehas blinded, who do not believe, lestthe light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,who is the image of God, should shine on them.

5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, andourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For it is the Godwho commanded light to shine out of darkness, who hasshone in our hearts togivethe light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cast Down but Unconquered

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

8 Wearehard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;weareperplexed, but not in despair;

9 persecuted, but notforsaken;struck down, but not destroyed—

10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

11 For we who liveare always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we havethe same spirit of faith, according to what is written,“I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

14 knowing thatHe who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will presentuswith you.

15 Forall thingsarefor your sakes, thatgrace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible

16 Therefore wedo not lose heart. Even though our outwardmanis perishing, yet the inward man isbeing renewed day by day.

17 Forour light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceedingandeternal weight of glory,

18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seenaretemporary, but the things whicharenot seen are eternal.

Assurance of the Resurrection

1 For we know that ifour earthly house,thistent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a housenot made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in thiswe groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

3 if indeed,having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.

4 For we who are inthistent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed,but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thingisGod, who alsohas given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 Sowearealways confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.

7 Forwe walk by faith, not by sight.

8 We are confident, yes,well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,that each one may receive the thingsdonein the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Knowing, 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

12 Forwe do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunityto boast on our behalf, that you may haveananswerfor those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

13 Forif we are beside ourselves,itisfor God; or if we are of sound mind,itisfor you.

14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: thatif One died for all, then all died;

15 and He died for all,that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh,yet now we knowHimthusno longer.

17 Therefore, if anyoneisin Christ,heisa new creation;old things have passed away; behold, all things have becomenew.

18 Now all thingsareof God,who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 that is, thatGod was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we areambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we imploreyouon Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

21 ForHe made Him who knew no sintobesin for us, that we might becomethe righteousness of God in Him.

Marks of the Ministry

1 We then,asworkers togetherwithHimalsoplead withyounot to receive the grace of God in vain.

2 For He says:

# “In an acceptable time I have heard you,

And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, nowisthe accepted time; behold, nowisthe day of salvation.

3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

4 But in allthingswe commend ourselvesas ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,

7 by the word of truth, bythe power of God, bythe armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, andyettrue;

9 as unknown, andyetwell known;as dying, and behold we live;as chastened, andyetnot killed;

10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making manyrich; as having nothing, andyetpossessing all things.

Be Holy

11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you,our heart is wide open.

12 You are not restricted by us, butyou are restricted by yourownaffections.

13 Now in return for the same(I speak as to children), you also be open.

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Forwhat fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? Foryou are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

# “I will dwell in them

And walk among them.

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people.”

17 Therefore

# “Come out from among them

And be separate, says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean,

And I will receive you.”

18 “Iwill be a Father to you,

# And you shall be Mysons and daughters,

Says theLordAlmighty.”

1 Therefore,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

2 Openyourheartsto us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one,we have cheated no one.

3 I do not saythisto condemn; forI have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.

4 Greatismy boldness of speech toward you,greatismy boasting on your behalf.I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

5 For indeed,when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, butwe were troubled on every side.Outsidewereconflicts, insidewerefears.

6 NeverthelessGod, who comforts the downcast, comforted us bythe coming of Titus,

7 and 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.

8 For even if I made yousorry 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.

9 Now 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.

10 Forgodly sorrow produces repentanceleadingto salvation, not to be regretted;but the sorrow of the world produces death.

11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you,whatclearing of yourselves, what indignation,whatfear,whatvehement desire,whatzeal,whatvindication! In allthingsyou proved yourselves to beclear in this matter.

12 Therefore, although I wrote to you,Ididnotdoitfor 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

13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirithas been refreshed by you all.

14 For 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.

15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembersthe obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.

16 Therefore I rejoice thatI have confidence in you in everything.

Excel in Giving

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy andtheir deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

3 For I bear witness that according totheirability, yes, and beyondtheirability,theywerefreely willing,

4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift andthe fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And notonlyas we had hoped, but they firstgave themselves to the Lord, andthento us by thewill of God.

6 Sowe urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

7 But asyou abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—seethat you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern

8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

9 For 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 becomerich.

10 And in thisI give advice:It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began andwere desiring to do a year ago;

11 but now you also must complete the doingofit;that astherewasa readiness to desireit,sotherealsomaybea completion out of whatyouhave.

12 Forif there is first a willing mind,itisaccepted according to what one has,andnot according to what he does not have.

13 ForIdonot mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

14 but by an equality,thatnow at this time your abundancemaysupplytheir lack, that their abundance also maysupplyyour lack—that there may be equality.

15 As it is written,“He whogatheredmuch had nothing left over, and he whogatheredlittle had no lack.”

Collection for the Judean Saints

16 But thanksbeto God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

18 And we have sent with himthe brother whose praiseisin the gospel throughout all the churches,

19 and not onlythat,but who was alsochosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by usto the glory of the Lord Himself andtoshowyour ready mind,

20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—

21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 And 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 whichwehavein you.

23 IfanyoneinquiresaboutTitus,heismy partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethrenareinquiredabout, they aremessengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of ourboasting on your behalf.

Administering the Gift

1 Now concerningthe ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready ayear ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.

3 Yet 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;

4 lest ifsomeMacedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, whichyouhadpreviously promised, that it may be ready asamatterofgenerosity and not as a grudging obligation.

The Cheerful Giver

6 But thisIsay:He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7 Soleteach onegiveas he purposes in his heart,not grudgingly or of necessity; forGod loves a cheerful giver.

8 And Godisable to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in allthings,may have an abundance for every good work.

9 As it is written:

# “He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now may He whosupplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you havesownand increase the fruits of yourrighteousness,

11 whileyouareenriched in everything for all liberality,which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

12 For the administration of this service not onlysupplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

13 while, through the proof of this ministry, theyglorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and foryourliberalsharing with them and allmen,

14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceedinggrace of God in you.

15 Thanksbeto Godfor His indescribable gift!

The Spiritual War

1 NowI, Paul, myselfampleading withyouby the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

2 But I beg youthat 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.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4 For the weaponsof our warfarearenot carnal butmighty in Godfor pulling down strongholds,

5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

6 and being ready to punish all disobedience whenyour obedience is fulfilled.

Reality of Paul’s Authority

7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance?If anyone is convinced in himself that heisChrist’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even soweareChrist’s.

8 For even if I should boast somewhat moreabout our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction,I shall not be ashamed—

9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters.

10 “Forhisletters,” they say, “areweighty and powerful, buthisbodily presenceisweak, andhisspeech contemptible.”

11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, suchwewillalsobein deed when we are present.

Limits of Paul’s Authority

12 For 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.

13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.

14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as thoughourauthoritydid not extend to you),for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;

15 not boasting of things beyond measure,thatis,in other men’s labors, but having hope,thatas your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,

16 to preach the gospel in theregionsbeyond you,andnot to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

17 But“he who glories, let him glory in theLord.”

18 Fornot he who commends himself is approved, butwhom the Lord commends.

Concern for Their Faithfulness

1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a littlefolly—and indeed you do bear with me.

2 For I amjealous for you with godly jealousy. ForI have betrothed you to one husband,that I may presentyouas a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear, lest somehow, asthe serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your mindsmay be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, orifyou receive a different spirit which you have not received, or adifferent gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Paul and False Apostles

5 For I consider thatI am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.

6 Even thoughIamuntrained in speech, yetIamnotin knowledge. Butwe have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to youfree of charge?

8 I robbed other churches, taking wagesfromthemto minister to you.

9 And when I was present with you, and in need,I was a burden to no one, for what I lackedthe brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keepmyself.

10 As the truth of Christ is in me,no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11 Why?Because I do not love you? God knows!

12 But 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.

13 For sucharefalse apostles,deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself intoan angel of light.

15 Therefore 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

16 I 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.

17 What I speak,I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18 Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.

19 For you put up with fools gladly,since youyourselvesare wise!

20 For you put up with itif one brings you into bondage, if one devoursyou,if one takesfromyou,if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.

21 ToourshameI say that we were too weak for that! Butin whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.

Suffering for Christ

22 Are theyHebrews? SoamI. Are they Israelites? SoamI. Are they the seed of Abraham? SoamI.

23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—Iammore:in labors more abundant,in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently,in deaths often.

24 From the Jews five times I receivedfortystripesminus one.

25 Three times I wasbeaten with rods;once I was stoned; three times Iwas shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 injourneys often,inperils of waters,inperils of robbers,inperils ofmyowncountrymen,inperils of the Gentiles,inperils in the city,inperils in the wilderness,inperils in the sea,inperils among false brethren;

27 in weariness and toil,in sleeplessness often,in hunger and thirst, infastings often, in cold and nakedness—

28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily:my deep concern for all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burnwithindignation?

30 If I must boast,I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;

33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.