CHAP. VIII.

OF LIBERALITY TO THE SAINTS,

Now, brethren, we inform you of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2. How, that in a great trial of affliction, (by perseeution and robbery), their overflowing joy (in Christ), in the depth of their poverty, hath abounded to the riches of their liberality (to their poorer brethren). 3. For to their power, (I testify), yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves: 4. Beseeching us with much entreaty, to receive their gift, and the joint ministration of it to the saints. 5. And this they did, not as we expected; but first devoted themselves, (and all they had), to the Lord, and to us by the will of God: 6. So we desired Titus, as he began, to accomplish

in you this grace (of liberality) also.

7. Therefore, as ye abound in every other gift, in faith, utterance, knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love to us; see that ye abound in this grace also.

8. I speak not by (way of) command, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, to prove the sincerity of your love. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that tho' he was rich (in the glories and dominion of the heavenly world), yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (in grace and glory).

10. And herein I give my advice; as this is expedient for you, as ye began before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11. Now, therefore, finish what ye have begun; that, according to the readiness to propose, there may also be the performance in proportion to what ye have. 12. For if there be first a willing mind, according to what a man hath, he is accepted, and not according to what he bath not. 13. For I mean not that others be eased, and you burdened; 14. But by an

equality, that now your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be an equality; 15. As it is written, (Exod. xvi. 18.) He that gathered much kept nothing over (an omer, which was enough to one, but gave what he had more to him) that had gathered little, so that he had no. want; (as the quantity which Providence gave, was just an omer to each.)

16. But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17. For indeed he complied with the exhortation; but, being more forward, he went to you of his own accord. 18. And we have sent with him the brother (Luke), whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches; 19. And not only so, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us for the glory of the same Lord, and the declaration of your ready mind. 20. Being careful that no man blame us in this abundance which is administered by us; 21. Providing things which are good, not only before the Lord, but also before men. 22. And we have sent with them (Luke and Titus), and our brother (Apollos), whom we have often found diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, on account of the great confidence I have in you. 23. If any enquire of our brethren, or of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-labourer with respect to you; and they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ (in the world). 24. Therefore shew ye to them, before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your

account.

CHAP. IX.

PAUL SHEWETH WHY HE SENT TITUS.

Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it

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is superfluous for me to write to you: 2. For I know your readinesss, for which I glory of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal provoked very many. 3. Yet I sent the brethren, lest our glorying of you, in saying ye were ready, should be in vain: 4. Lest, if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we, that we say not, you, should be ashamed of this same confidence of glorying.

5. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, to go before to you, and make up beforehand your blessing, which was so much spoken of before, that it might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not as extorted.

6. But this I say, He who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7. Let every

man give as he purposeth in his heart; not grudg ingly, or by constraint; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, having always an all-sufficiency in all things, ye may abound to every good work. 9. As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his charity remaineth for ever. 10. Now may he that supplies seed to the sower, both supply bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your goodness. 11. Ye being enriched in every thing to all liberality, which causeth thanksgiving to God by us. 12. For the ministration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but abounds also, by the thanksgivings of many to God; 13. Who by the experience of this ministration are glorifying God, for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal contribution to them, and to all men; 14. And in their prayers for you, who long after you, on account of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15. Thanks be to God for (Christ) his unspeakable gift.

CHAP. X.

AGAINST THE FALSE APOSTLES.

Now, I Paul, beseech you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you; 2. Now, I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence wherewith I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh, (or self-interest). 3. For tho' we walk in the flesh, (living in the body), we war not after the flesh: 4. For (our graces) the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, (or weak), but mighty thro' God to the pulling down of strong-holds (of Satan and sin); 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every device captive to the obedience of Christ; 6. And being ready to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is complete.

7. Do ye look according to appearance? If any man trust concerning himself that he is Christ's, let him think again, that, even so are we Christ's. 8. For tho' I should glory somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed; 9. But I would not seem to terrify you by letters. 10. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

11. Let such think, that what we are absent, in words by letters, such will we be in deed, when present. 12. For we dare not rank or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; for they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not

wise.

13. But we will not glory of things beyond our bounds, but according to the measure of the rule

which God hath allotted us, to reach even to you. 14. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as if we reached not at all to you; for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ; 15. Not glorying of things beyond our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but we hope, as your faith increases, to be magnified by you abundantly, according to our line, 16. To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you; and not to glory 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.

CHAP. XI.

PAUL'S GODLY BOASTING.

I WISH ye would bear with me a little in my boasting; and indeed bear with me. 2. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; having espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3. For I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve thro' his subtilty, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity of the gospel of Christ. 4. For if one come preaching another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, or another gospel, which ye have not received, yet, ye might bear well with me. 5. For I suppose I am nothing behind the very chief apostles. 6. For tho' I be unskilful 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 humbling myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8. I did not so spare other churches, taking wages of them to do you service. 9. Yea, when I was with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no