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2ND
CORINTHIANS
CHAPTER
1
1
Pavl an Apostle of Iesvs Christ, by the will of God, and our brother Timotheus,
to the Church of God, which is at Corinthus with all the Saints, which are in
all Achaia:
2 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus
Christ.
3 Blessed be God, euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, the Father of
mercies, and the God of all comfort,
4 Which comforteth vs in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort
them which are in any affliction by the comfort wherewith we our selues are
comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abounde in vs, so our consolation aboundeth
through Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and saluation, which
is wrought in the induring of the same sufferings, which we also suffer: or
whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and saluation.
7 And our hope is stedfast concerning you, in as much as we know that as ye are
partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For brethren, we woulde not haue you ignorant of our affliction, which came
vnto vs in Asia, howe we were pressed out of measure passing strength, so that
we altogether doubted, euen of life.
9 Yea, we receiued the sentence of death in our selues, because we shoulde not
trust in our selues, but in God, which rayseth the dead.
10 Who deliuered vs from so great a death, and doeth deliuer vs: in whom we
trust, that yet hereafter he will deliuer vs,
11 So that ye labour together in prayer for vs, that for the gift bestowed vpon
vs for many, thankes may be giuen by many persons for vs.
12 For our reioycing is this, the testimonie of our conscience, that in
simplicitie and godly purenesse, and not in fleshly wisedome, but by the grace
of God wee haue had our conuersation in the worlde, and most of all to you
wardes.
13 For wee write none other thinges vnto you, then that ye reade or els that ye
acknowledge, & I trust ye shal acknowledge vnto ye end.
14 Euen as ye haue acknowledged vs partly, that we are your reioycing, euen as
ye are ours, in the day of our Lord Iesus.
15 And in this confidence was I minded first to come vnto you, that ye might
haue had a double grace,
16 And to passe by you into
Macedonia
, and to come againe out of
Macedonia
vnto you, and to be led foorth towarde Iudea of you.
17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I vse lightnesse? or minde I those
thinges which I minde, according to the flesh, that with me should be, Yea, yea,
and Nay, nay?
18 Yea, God is faithfull, that our worde towarde you was not Yea, and Nay.
19 For the Sonne of God Iesus Christ, who was preached among you by vs, that is,
by me, and Siluanus, and Timotheus, was not Yea, & Nay: but in him it was
Yea.
20 For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and are in him Amen, vnto the
glorie of God through vs.
21 And it is God which stablisheth vs with you in Christ, and hath anoynted vs.
22 Who hath also sealed vs, and hath giuen the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts.
23 Nowe, I call God for a recorde vnto my soule, that to spare you, I came not
as yet vnto Corinthus.
24 Not that wee haue dominion ouer your faith, but wee are helpers of your ioy:
for by faith yee stande.
CHAPTER
2
1 Bvt I determined thus in my selfe, that I would not come againe to you in
heauinesse.
2 For if I make you sorie, who is he then that shoulde make me glad, but ye same
which is made sorie by me?
3 And I wrote this same thing vnto you, lest when I came, I should take heauines
of them, of whom I ought to reioyce: this confidence haue I in you all, that my
ioye is the ioye of you all.
4 For in great affliction, & anguish of heart I wrote vnto you with many
teares: not that yee should be made sorie, but that ye might perceiue the loue
which I haue, specially vnto you.
5 And if any hath caused sorowe, the same hath not made mee sorie, but partly
(lest I should more charge him ) you all.
6 It is sufficient vnto the same man, that hee was rebuked of many.
7 So that nowe contrariwise yee ought rather to forgiue him, and comfort him,
lest the same shoulde bee swalowed vp with ouermuch heauinesse.
8 Wherefore, I pray you, that you woulde confirme your loue towards him.
9 For this cause also did I write, that I might knowe the proofe of you, whether
yee would be obedient in all things.
10 To whome yee forgiue any thing, I forgiue also: for verely if I forgaue any
thing, to whome I forgaue it, for your sakes forgaue I it in the sight of
Christ,
11 Lest Satan should circumuent vs: for we are not ignorant of his enterprises.
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christs Gospell, and a doore was
opened vnto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I founde not Titus my brother, but tooke
my leaue of them, and went away into Macedonia.
14 Now thankes be vnto God, which alwaies maketh vs to triumph in Christ, and
maketh manifest the sauour of his knowledge by vs in euery place.
15 For wee are vnto God the sweete sauour of Christ, in them that are saued, and
in them which perish.
16 To the one we are the sauour of death, vnto death, and to the other the
sauour of life, vnto life: and who is sufficient for these things?
17 For wee are not as many, which make marchandise of the woorde of God: but as
of sinceritie, but as of God in ye sight of God speake we in Christ.
CHAPTER
3
1 Doe we begin to praise our selues againe? or neede we as some other, epistles
of recommendation vnto you, or letters of recommendation from you?
2 Yee are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is vnderstand, and read of
all men,
3 In that yee are manifest, to be the Epistle of Christ, ministred by vs, and
written, not with yncke, but with the Spirite of the liuing God, not in tables
of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.
4 And such trust haue we through Christ to God:
5 Not that we are sufficient of our selues, to thinke any thing, as of our
selues: but our sufficiencie is of God,
6 Who also hath made vs able ministers of the Newe testament, not of the letter,
but of the Spirite: for the letter killeth, but the Spirite giueth life.
7 If then the ministration of death written with letters and ingrauen in stones,
was glorious, so that the children of
Israel
coulde not beholde the face of Moses, for the glorie of his countenance (which
glorie is done away.)
8 Howe shall not the ministration of the Spirite be more glorious?
9 For if the ministerie of condemnation was glorious, much more doeth the
ministration of righteousnesse exceede in glorie.
10 For euen that which was glorified, was not glorified in this point, that is,
as touching the exceeding glorie.
11 For if that which should be abolished, was glorious, much more shall that
which remaineth, be glorious.
12 Seeing then that we haue such trust, we vse great boldnesse of speach.
13 And we are not as Moses, which put a vaile vpon his face, that the children
of
Israel
should not looke vnto the ende of that which should be abolished.
14 Therefore their mindes are hardened: for vntill this day remaineth the same
couering vntaken away in the reading of the olde Testament, which vaile in
Christ is put away.
15 But euen vnto this day, whe Moses is read, the vaile is laid ouer their
hearts.
16 Neuertheles when their heart shall be turned to the Lord, the vaile shalbe
taken away.
17 Nowe the Lorde is the Spirite, and where the Spirite of the Lorde is, there
is libertie.
18 But we al behold as in a mirrour the glory of the Lorde with open face, and
are changed into the same image, from glorie to glorie, as by the Spirit of the
Lord.
CHAPTER
4
1 Therefore, seeing that we haue this ministerie, as we haue receiued mercy, we
faint not:
2 But haue cast from vs ye clokes of shame, and walke not in craftines, neither
handle we the worde of God deceitfully: but in declaration of the trueth we
approue our selues to euery mans conscience in the sight of God.
3 If our Gospell bee then hid, it is hid to them that are lost.
4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes, that is, of the
infidels, that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ, which is the image
of God, should not shine vnto them.
5 For we preach not our selues, but Christ Iesus the Lorde, and our selues your
seruaunts for Iesus sake.
6 For God that commanded the light to shine out of darknesse, is he which hath
shined in our hearts, to giue the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Iesus Christ.
7 But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of that
power might be of God, and not of vs.
8 Wee are afflicted on euery side, yet are we not in distresse: we are in doubt,
but yet wee despaire not.
9 We are persecuted, but not forsaken: cast downe, but we perish not.
10 Euery where we beare about in our bodie the dying of the Lorde Iesus, that
the life of Iesus might also be made manifest in our bodies.
11 For we which liue, are alwaies deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake, that the
life also of Iesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in vs, & life in you.
13 And because we haue the same spirite of faith, according as it is written, I
beleeued, and therefore haue I spoken, we also beleeue, and therefore speake,
14 Knowing that he which hath raised vp the Lord Iesus, shall raise vs vp also
by Iesus, and shall set vs with you.
15 For all thinges are for your sakes, that that most plenteous grace by the
thankesgiuing of many, may redound to the praise of God.
16 Therefore we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man
is renewed daily.
17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a farre
most excellent and an eternall waight of glorie:
18 While we looke not on the thinges which are seene, but on the things which
are not seene: for the things which are seene, are temporall: but the things
which are not seene, are eternall.
CHAPTER
5
1 For we knowe that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed, we
haue a building giuen of God, that is, an house not made with handes, but
eternall in the heauens.
2 For therefore we sighe, desiring to be clothed with our house, which is from
heauen.
3 Because that if we be clothed, we shal not be found naked.
4 For in deede we that are in this tabernacle, sigh and are burdened, because we
would not be vnclothed, but would be clothed vpon, that mortalitie might be
swalowed vp of life.
5 And he that hath created vs for this thing, is God, who also hath giuen vnto
vs the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always bolde, though we knowe that whiles we are at home in
the bodie, we are absent from the Lord.
7 (For we walke by faith, and not by sight.)
8 Neuerthelesse, we are bolde, and loue rather to remoue out of the body, and to
dwell with the Lord.
9 Wherefore also we couet, that both dwelling at home, and remouing from home,
we may be acceptable to him.
10 For we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ, that euery man
may receiue the things which are done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or euill.
11 Knowing therefore that terrour of the Lord, we persuade men, and we are made
manifest vnto God, and I trust also that we are made manifest in your
consciences.
12 For we prayse not our selues againe vnto you, but giue you an occasion to
reioyce of vs, that ye may haue to answere against them, which reioyce in the
face, and not in the heart.
13 For whether we be out of our wit, we are it to God: or whether we be in our
right minde, we are it vnto you.
14 For that loue of Christ constraineth vs,
15 Because we thus iudge, that if one be dead for all, then were all dead, and
he died for all, that they which liue, shoulde not henceforth liue vnto
themselues, but vnto him which died for them, and rose againe.
16 Wherefore, henceforth know we no man after the flesh, yea though wee had
knowen Christ after the flesh, yet nowe henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, let him be a newe creature. Olde things
are passed away: beholde, all things are become newe.
18 And all things are of God, which hath reconciled vs vnto himselfe by Iesus
Christ, and hath giuen vnto vs the ministerie of reconciliation.
19 For God was in Christ, and reconciled the world to himselfe, not imputing
their sinnes vnto them, and hath committed to vs the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then are we ambassadours for Christ: as though God did beseeche you
through vs, we pray you in Christes steade, that ye be reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, which knewe no sinne, that we should
be made the righteousnesse of God in him.
CHAPTER
6
1 So we therefore as workers together beseech you, that ye receiue not the grace
of God in vaine.
2 For he sayth, I haue heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of
saluation haue I succoured thee: beholde nowe the accepted time, beholde nowe
the day of saluation.
3 We giue no occasion of offence in any thing, that our ministerie shoulde not
be reprehended.
4 But in all things we approue our selues as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labours,
6 By watchings, by fastings, by puritie, by knowledge, by long suffering, by
kindnesse, by the holy Ghost, by loue vnfained,
7 By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse
on the right hand, and on the left,
8 By honour, and dishonour, by euill report, and good report, as deceiuers, and
yet true:
9 As vnknowen, and yet knowen: as dying, and beholde, we liue: as chastened, and
yet not killed:
10 As sorowing, and yet always reioycing: as poore, and yet make many riche: as
hauing nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O Corinthians, our mouth is open vnto you: our heart is made large.
12 Ye are not kept strait in vs, but ye are kept strait in your owne bowels.
13 Nowe for the same recompence, I speake as to my children, Be you also
inlarged.
14 Be not vnequally yoked with the infidels: for what felowship hath
righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse? and what communion hath light with
darkenesse?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath the beleeuer with
the infidell?
16 And what agreement hath the
Temple
of
God
with idols? for ye are the
Temple
of the liuing God: as God hath said, I will dwell among them, and walke there:
and I will be their God, and they shalbe my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and separate your selues, saith the Lord,
and touch none vncleane thing, and I wil receiue you.
18 And I will be a Father vnto you, and ye shalbe my sonnes and daughters, saith
the Lord almightie.
CHAPTER
7
1 Seing then we haue these promises, dearely beloued, let vs clense our selues
from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit, and finish our sanctification in
the feare of God.
2 Receiue vs: we haue done wrong to no man: we haue corrupted no man: we haue
defrauded no man.
3 I speake it not to your condemnation: for I haue said before, that ye are in
our hearts, to die and liue together.
4 I vse great boldnesse of speach toward you: I reioyce greatly in you: I am
filled with comfort, and am exceeding ioyous in all our tribulation.
5 For when we were come into
Macedonia
, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on euery side, fightings without,
and terrours within.
6 But God, that comforteth the abiect, comforted vs at the comming of Titus:
7 And not by his comming onely, but also by the consolation wherewith he was
comforted of you, when he tolde vs your great desire, your mourning, your
feruent minde to me warde, so that I reioyced much more.
8 For though I made you sorie with a letter, I repent not, though I did repent:
for I perceiue that the same epistle made you sorie, though it were but for a
season.
9 I nowe reioyce, not that ye were sorie, but that ye sorowed to repentance: for
ye sorowed godly, so that in nothing ye were hurt by vs.
10 For godly sorowe causeth repentance vnto saluation, not to be repented of:
but the worldly sorowe causeth death.
11 For beholde, this thing that ye haue bene godly sory, what great care it hath
wrought in you: yea, what clearing of yourselues: yea, what indignation: yea,
what feare: yea, howe great desire: yea, what a zeale: yea, what reuenge: in all
things ye haue shewed your selues, that ye are pure in this matter.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote vnto you, I did not it for his cause that had done
the wrong, neither for his cause that had the iniurie, but that our care toward
you in the sight of God might appeare vnto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted, because ye were comforted: but rather we
reioyced much more for the ioye of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by
you all.
14 For if that I haue boasted any thing to him of you, I haue not bene ashamed:
but as I haue spoken vnto you all things in trueth, euen so our boasting vnto
Titus was true.
15 And his inwarde affection is more aboundant toward you, when he remembreth
the obedience of you all, and howe with feare and trembling ye receiued him.
16 I reioyce therefore that I may put my confidence in you in all things.
CHAPTER
8
1 We doe you also to wit, brethren, of the grace of God bestowed vpon the
Churches of Macedonia,
2 Because in great triall of affliction their ioy abounded, and their most
extreeme pouertie abounded vnto their rich liberalitie.
3 For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyonde their power, they were
willing,
4 And praied vs with great instance that we woulde receiue the grace, and
felowship of the ministring which is toward the Saints.
5 And this they did, not as we looked for: but gaue their owne selues, first to
the Lorde, and after vnto vs by the will of God,
6 That we should exhort Titus, that as hee had begon, so he would also
accomplish the same grace among you also.
7 Therefore, as yee abound in euery thing, in faith and woorde, and knowledge,
and in all diligence, and in your loue towardes vs, euen so see that yee abound
in this grace also.
8 This say I not by commaundement, but because of the diligence of others:
therefore prooue I the naturalnesse of your loue.
9 For ye knowe the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, that hee being rich, for your
sakes became poore, that yee through his pouertie might be made rich.
10 And I shewe my minde herein: for this is expedient for you, which haue begun
not to doe onely, but also to will, a yeare agoe.
11 Nowe therefore performe to doe it also, that as there was a readinesse to
will, euen so yee may performe it of that which yee haue.
12 For if there be first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man
hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieued: But vpon like
condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lacke:
14 That also their aboundance may bee for your lacke, that there may be
equalitie:
15 As it is written, Hee that gathered much, had nothing ouer, and hee that
gathered litle, had not the lesse.
16 And thanks be vnto God, which hath put in the heart of Titus the same care
for you.
17 Because hee accepted the exhortation, yea, hee was so carefull that of his
owne accorde hee went vnto you.
18 And wee haue sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel
throughout al the Churches.
19 (And not so onely, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellowe in our
iourney, concerning this grace that is ministred by vs vnto the glorie of the
same Lorde, and declaration of your prompt minde)
20 Auoiding this, that no man shoulde blame vs in this aboundance that is
ministred by vs,
21 Prouiding for honest thinges, not onely before the Lord, but also before men.
22 And we haue sent with them our brother, whom we haue oft times prooued to be
diligent in many thinges, but nowe much more diligent, for the great confidence,
which I haue in you.
23 Whether any doe inquire of Titus, he is my fellowe and helper to you ward: or
of our brethren, they are messengers of the Churches, and the glorie of Christ.
24 Wherefore shew toward them, and before the Churches the proofe of your loue,
and of the reioycing that we haue of you.
CHAPTER
9
1 For as touching the ministring to the Saints, it is superfluous for me to
write vnto you.
2 For I knowe your readinesse of minde, whereof I boast my selfe of you vnto
them of
Macedonia
, and say, that Achaia was prepared a yeere agoe, and your zeale hath prouoked
many.
3 Nowe haue I sent the brethren, lest our reioycing ouer you shoulde bee in
vaine in this behalfe, that yee (as I haue sayde) be readie:
4 Lest if they of
Macedonia
come with me, and finde you vnprepared, we (that wee may not say, you) should
be ashamed in this my constant boasting.
5 Wherefore, I thought it necessarie to exhort the brethren to come before vnto
you, and to finish your beneuolence appointed afore, that it might be readie,
and come as of beneuolence, and not as of niggardlinesse.
6 This yet remember, that he which soweth sparingly, shall reape also sparingly,
and hee that soweth liberally, shall reape also liberally.
7 As euery man wisheth in his heart, so let him giue, not grudgingly, or of
necessitie: for God loueth a cheerefull giuer.
8 And God is able to make all grace to abound towarde you, that yee alwayes
hauing all sufficiencie in all thinges, may abounde in euery good worke,
9 (As it is written, He hath sparsed abroad and hath giuen to the poore: his
beneuolence remayneth for euer.
10 Also hee that findeth seede to the sower, will minister likewise bread for
foode, and multiplie your seede, and increase the fruites of your beneuolence,)
11 That on all partes yee may bee made rich vnto all liberalitie, which causeth
through vs thanksgiuing vnto God.
12 For the ministration of this seruice not onely supplieth the necessities of
the Saintes, but also aboundantly causeth many to giue thankes to God,
13 (Which by the experiment of this ministration praise God for your voluntarie
submission to the Gospell of Christ, and for your liberall distribution to them,
and to all men)
14 And in their praier for you, to log after you greatly, for the aboundant
grace of God in you.
15 Thankes therefore bee vnto God for his vnspeakeable gift.
CHAPTER
10
1 Nowe I Paul my selfe beseech you by the meekenes, and gentlenes of Christ,
which when I am present among you am base, but am bolde toward you being absent:
2 And this I require you, that I neede not to be bolde when I am present, with
that same confidence, wherewith I thinke to bee bolde against some, which
esteeme vs as though wee walked according to the flesh.
3 Neuerthelesse, though wee walke in the flesh, yet we doe not warre after the
flesh.
4 (For the weapons of our warrefare are not carnall, but mightie through God, to
cast downe holdes)
5 Casting downe the imaginations, and euery high thing that is exalted against
the knowledge of God, and bringing into captiuitie euery thought to the
obedience of Christ,
6 And hauing ready the vengeance against all disobedience, when your obedience
is fulfilled.
7 Looke yee on things after the appearance? If any man trust in himselfe that
hee is Christes, let him consider this againe of himself, that as he is Christes,
euen so are we Christes.
8 For though I shoulde boast somewhat more of our authoritie, which the Lorde
hath giuen vs for edification, and not for your destruction, I should haue no
shame.
9 This I say, that I may not seeme as it were to feare you with letters.
10 For the letters, sayeth hee, are sore and strong, but his bodily presence is
weake, and his speache is of no value.
11 Let such one thinke this, that such as wee are in woorde by letters, when we
are absent, such wil we be also in deede, when we are present.
12 For wee dare not make our selues of the nomber, or to compare our selues to
them, which praise themselues: but they vnderstand not that they measure
themselues with themselues, and compare themselues with themselues.
13 But we wil not reioyce of things, which are not within our measure, but
according to the measure of the line, whereof God hath distributed vnto vs a
measure to attaine euen vnto you.
14 For we stretche not our selues beyonde our measure, as though wee had not
attained vnto you: for euen to you also haue we come in preaching the Gospel of
Christ,
15 Not boasting of things which are without our measure: that is, of other mens
labours: and we hope, when your faith shall increase, to bee magnified by you
according to our line aboundantly,
16 And to preache the Gospel in those regions which are beyonde you: not to
reioyce in another mans line, that is, in the thinges that are prepared alreadie.
17 But let him that reioyceth, reioyce in the Lorde.
18 For hee that praiseth himselfe, is not alowed, but he whome the Lorde
praiseth.
CHAPTER
11
1 Woulde to God, yee coulde suffer a litle my foolishnes, & in deede, ye
suffer me.
2 For I am ielous ouer you, with godly ielousie: for I haue prepared you for one
husband, to present you as a pure virgine to Christ:
3 But I feare least as the serpent beguiled Eue through his subtiltie, so your
mindes shoulde be corrupt fro the simplicitie that is in Christ.
4 For if he that commeth, preacheth another Iesus whome we haue not preached: or
if yee receiue another spirite whome ye haue not receiued: either another
Gospell, which yee haue not receiued, ye might well haue suffered him.
5 Verely I suppose that I was not inferior to the very chiefe Apostles.
6 And though I be rude in speaking, yet I am not so in knowledge, but among you
wee haue beene made manifest to the vttermost, in all things.
7 Haue I committed an offence, because I abased my selfe, that ye might be
exalted, and because I preached to you ye Gospell of God freely?
8 I robbed other Churches, and tooke wages of them to doe you seruice.
9 And when I was present with you, and had neede, I was not slouthfull to the
hinderance of any man: for that which was lacking vnto me, the brethre which
came from
Macedonia
, supplied, and in all thinges I kept and will keepe my selfe, that I should not
be grieuous to you.
10 The trueth of Christ is in me, that this reioycing shall not be shut vp
against me in the regions of Achaia.
11 Wherefore? because I loue you not? God knoweth.
12 But what I doe, that will I doe: that I may cut away occasion from them which
desire occasion, that they might be found like vnto vs in that wherein they
reioyce.
13 For such false apostles are deceitfull workers, and transforme themselues
into the Apostles of Christ.
14 And no marueile: for Satan himselfe is transformed into an Angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers transforme themselues,
as though they were the ministers of righteousnes, whose end shall be according
to their workes.
16 I say againe, Let no man thinke that I am foolish, or els take mee euen as a
foole, that I also may boast my selfe a litle.
17 That I speake, I speake it not after the Lord: but as it were foolishly, in
this my great boasting.
18 Seeing that many reioyce after the flesh, I will reioyce also.
19 For ye suffer fooles gladly, because that yee are wise.
20 For ye suffer, euen if a man bring you into bondage, if a man deuoure you, if
a man take your goods, if a man exalt himselfe, if a man smite you on the face.
21 I speake as concerning the reproche: as though that we had bene weake: but
wherein any ma is bold (I speake foolishly) I am bold also.
22 They are Hebrues, so am I: they are Israelites, so am I: they are the seede
of Abraham, so am I:
23 They are the ministers of Christ (I speake as a foole) I am more: in labours
more aboundant: in stripes aboue measure: in prison more plenteously: in death
oft.
24 Of the Iewes fiue times receiued I fourtie stripes saue one.
25 I was thrise beaten with roddes: I was once stoned: I suffered thrise
shipwracke: night and day haue I bene in the deepe sea.
26 In iourneying I was often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
perils of mine owne nation, in perils among the Gentiles, in perils in the citie,
in perils in wildernes, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren,
27 In wearinesse and painefulnesse, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in colde and in nakednesse.
28 Beside the thinges which are outwarde, I am combred dayly, and haue the care
of all the Churches.
29 Who is weake, and I am not weake? who is offended, and I burne not?
30 If I must needes reioyce, I will reioyce of mine infirmities.
31 The God, euen the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ, which is blessed for
euermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In
Damascus
the gouernour of the people vnder King Aretas, layde watch in the citie of the
Damascens, and would haue caught me.
33 But at a windowe was I let downe in a basket through the wall, and escaped
his handes.
CHAPTER
12
1 It is not expedient for me no doubt to reioyce: for I will come to visions and
reuelations of the Lorde.
2 I know a man in Christ aboue fourteene yeeres agone, (whether he were in the
body, I can not tell, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth) which was
taken vp into the thirde heauen.
3 And I knowe such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not
tell: God knoweth)
4 How that he was taken vp into
Paradise
, and heard words which cannot be spoken, which are not possible for man to
vtter.
5 Of such a man will I reioyce: of my selfe will I not reioyce, except it bee of
mine infirmities.
6 For though I woulde reioyce, I should not be a foole, for I will say the
trueth: but I refraine, lest any man should thinke of me aboue that hee seeth in
me, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of
reuelations, there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of
Satan to buffet mee, because I should not be exalted out of measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrise, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said vnto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made
perfect through weakenesse. Very gladly therefore will I reioyce rather in mine
infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in anguish for Christes sake: for when I am weake, then am I
strong.
11 I was a foole to boast my selfe: yee haue compelled mee: for I ought to haue
bene commended of you: for in nothing was I inferiour vnto the very chiefe
Apostles, though I bee nothing.
12 The signes of an Apostle were wrought among you with all patience, with
signes, and wonders, and great workes.
13 For what is it, wherein yee were inferiours vnto other Churches, except that
I haue not bene slouthfull to your hinderance? forgiue me this wrong.
14 Behold, the thirde time I am ready to come vnto you, and yet will I not be
slouthfull to your hinderance: for I seeke not yours, but you: for the children
ought not to laye vp for the fathers, but the fathers for the children.
15 And I will most gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for your soules: though
the more I loue you, the lesse I am loued.
16 But bee it that I charged you not: yet for as much as I was craftie, I tooke
you with guile.
17 Did I pill you by any of them whom I sent vnto you?
18 I haue desired Titus, and with him I haue sent a brother: did Titus pill you
of any thing? walked we not in the selfe same spirit? walked we not in the same
steppes?
19 Againe, thinke yee that wee excuse our selues vnto you? we speake before God
in Christ. But wee doe all thinges, dearely beloued, for your edifying.
20 For I feare least when I come, I shall not finde you such as I would: and
that I shalbe found vnto you such as ye woulde not, and least there be strife,
enuying, wrath, contentions, backebitings, whisperings, swellings and discord.
21 I feare least when I come againe, my God abase me among you, and I shall
bewaile many of them which haue sinned already, and haue not repented of the
vncleannesse, and fornication, and wantonnesse which they haue committed.
CHAPTER
13
1 Lo this is the thirde time that I come vnto you. In the mouth of two or three
witnesses shall euery worde stand
2 I tolde you before, and tell you before: as though I had bene present the
seconde time, so write I nowe being absent to them which heretofore haue sinned
and to all others, that if I come againe, I will not spare,
3 Seeing that ye seeke experience of Christ, that speaketh in mee, which towarde
you is not weake, but is mightie in you.
4 For though hee was crucified concerning his infirmitie, yet liueth hee through
the power of God; wee no doubt are weake in him, but we shall liue with him,
through the power of God towarde you.
5 Proue your selues whether ye are in the faith: examine your selues: knowe yee
not your owne selues, howe that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall knowe that wee are not reprobates.
7 Nowe I pray vnto God that yee doe none euill, not that we should seeme
approued, but that ye should doe that which is honest: though we be as
reprobates.
8 For wee can not doe any thing against the trueth, but for the trueth.
9 For we are glad when wee are weake, and that ye are strong: this also we wish
for, euen your perfection.
10 Therefore write I these thinges being absent, least when I am present, I
should vse sharpenesse, according to the power which the Lorde hath giuen mee,
to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally brethren, fare ye wel: be perfect: be of good comfort: be of one
minde: liue in peace, and the God of loue and peace shalbe with you.
12 Greete one another with an holy kisse.
13 All the Saintes salute you.
14 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the loue of God, and the communion of
the holy Ghost be with you all, Amen. The seconde Epistle to the Corinthians,
written from Philippi, a citie in
Macedonia
, and sent by Titus and Lucas.
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