CHAPTER VIII. Paul exhorteth to liberality. his cause that had done the 4 Praying us with much enwrong, nor for his cause that treaty that we would receive suffered wrong, but that our the gift, and take upon us the care for you in the sight of fellowship of the ministering God might appear unto you. to the saints. 13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. CHAPTER VIII. 1 He stirreth them up to a liberal contri. bution for the poor saints at Jerusalem, by the example of the Macedonians, by commendation of their former forwardness, 9 by the example of Christ, 14 and by the spiritual profit that shall redound to themselves thereby: 16 com mending to them the integrity and will ingness of Titus, and those other brethren, who upon his request, exhortation, and commendation, were purposely come to them for this business. 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 also finish in you the same grace also. 7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of 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. 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. 11 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. 2 How that in a great trial of 12 For if there be first a willaffliction, the abundance of ing mind, it is accepted actheir joy and their deep pov-cording to that a man hath, erty abounded unto the riches and not according to that he of their liberality. hath not. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burden 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of ed: themselves; 14 But by an equality, that The integrity II. CORINTHIANS. of Titus. now at this time your abund-the churches, and the glory ance may be a supply for of Christ. their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want; that there may be equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 24 Wherefore shew bye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. CHAPTER IX. 6 1 He yieldeth the reason why, though he 17 For indeed he accepted the FOR as touching the minis exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 19 And not that only, but who was 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 this, that no man should blame us in this abundance 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. 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 inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of tering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you 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 be half; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. JOW 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 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth us as if we walked according seed to the sower both minis- to the flesh. ter bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of filled. Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. CHAPTER X. 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is ful 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 Thanks be unto God for 8 For though I should boast his unspeakable gift. somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath Against the false apostles, who disgraced given us for edification, and the weakness of his person and bodily not for your destruction, I presence, he setteth out the spiritual should not be ashamed: might and authority, with which he is armed against all adversary powers, 7 assuring them that at his coming he will be found as mighty in word, as he is now in writing being absent, 12 and 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, Paul excuseth II. CORINTHIANS. are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such a 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. his selfboasting. of the false apostles than of him, he entereth into a forsed commendation of himself, 5 of his equality with the chief apostles, 7 of his preaching the gospel to them freely, and without any their charge, 13 shewing that he was not inferior to those deceitful workers in any legal prerogative, 23 and in the service of Christ, and in all kind of sufferings for his ministry, far superior. WOULD to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly and indeed bear with me. 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that 2 For I am jealous over you commend themselves: but with godly jealousy: for I they, measuring themselves have espoused you to one husby themselves, and compar-band, that I may present you ing themselves among them-asa chaste virgin to Christ, selves, are not wise. 3 But I fear, lest by any 13 But we will not boast of means, as the serpent beguil things without our measure, ed Eve through his subtilty, but according to the measure so your minds should be corof the rule which God hath rupted from the simplicity. distributed to us, a measure to that is in Christ. reach even unto you. 4 For if he that cometh preach 14 For we stretch not our-eth another Jesus, whom we selves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you; for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 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 ready to our hand. 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. CHAPTER XI. 1 Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, who seemed to make more account have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with 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 thoroughly made manifest among you in all things. 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. 9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for Paul's labours CHAPTER XI. and sufferings. that which was lacking to me proach, as though we had been the brethren which came from weak. Howbeit, whereinsoMacedonia supplied: and in ever any is bold, (I speak foolall things I have kept myself ishly,) I am bold also. from being burdensome unto 22 Are they Hebrews? so am you, and so will I keep myself. I. Are they Israelites? so am 10 As the truth of Christ is in Are they the seed of Abrame, no man shall stop me of ham? so am I. this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 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 himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their 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 boasting. I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool,) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am 18 Seeing that many glory aft-not weak? who is offended, er the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21 I speak as concerning re and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor |