ness. 2 Some ancient authorities read our if in any thing I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also, which I made before Titus, was found to be truth. And his inward affec- 15 tion is more abundantly toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. I rejoice that in every 16 thing I am of good courage concerning you. Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the 8 grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia; how that in much proof of affliction 2 the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty 1 Gr. single- abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For 3 according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this 4 grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints and this, not as we had hoped, but first they 5 gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God. Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that 6 as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also. But as ye abound in 7 every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that abound in this grace also. I speak not by 8 ye way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, 9 though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich. And herein I give my judgement: for this is expedient 10 for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. But now com- 11 plete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable 12 according as a man hath, not according as he hath not. For I say not this, that others may be eased, and ye 13 distressed but by equality; your abundance being a 14 supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; love to you. : 15 that there may be equality: as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack. 16 But thanks be to God, which putteth the same ear17 nest care for you into the heart of Titus. For indeed he accepted our exhortation; but being himself very carnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches; 19 and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, 20 and to shew our readiness: avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty 21 which is ministered by us: for we take thought for 23 you. 2 2 Or, Shew them. things honourable, not only in the sight of the Lord, 22 but also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he hath in Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, they are the 'messengers of the churches, they are1 Gr. 24 the glory of Christ. Shew ye therefore unto them in apostles. the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf. 9 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is behalf unto 2 superfluous for me to write to you: for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of Or, cmula3 them. But I have sent the brethren, that our glory- Gr. the ing on your behalf may not be made void in this more part. respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared : 4 lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence. 5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up Gr.. beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same 6 Or, covetmight be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not of ousness. 6 extortion. tion of you. 4 blessing. 1 Gr. with blessings. 2 Gr. of sorrow. But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap 6 also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Let each man do according as 7 he hath purposed in his heart; not 'grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God 8 is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in every thing, may abound unto every good work as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever. 9 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for 10 food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: ye being 11 3 Gr. single- enriched in every thing unto all liberality, which work ness. 4 Or, reasonings. eth through us thanksgiving to God. For the minis- 12 15 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and 10 gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you yea, I beseech you, that I may not when 2 present shew courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, which count of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we 3 walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, 4 but mighty before God to the casting down of strong holds); casting down imaginations, and every high 5 thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to avenge all 6 disobedience, when your obedience shall be fulfilled. look face? 7 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If Or, Do ye any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he' 8 is Christ's, so also are we. For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting 9 you down), I shall not be put to shame: that I may 10 not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. 11 Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word selves by letters when we are absent, such are we also in 12 deed when we are present. For we are not bold 2 to 2 Gr. to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that judge ourcommend themselves: but they themselves, measuring among, or to judge themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves. ourselves 13 with themselves, are without understanding. But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned 3 Or, limit. 14 to us as a measure, to reach even unto you. For we ing-rod. stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached 3 4 3 with. Gr. measur come. not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you 4 Or, were 15 in the gospel of Christ: not glorying beyond our the first to measure, that is, in other men's labours; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto further 16 abundance, so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another's prov17 ince in regard of things ready to our hand. But he 18 that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. 11 3 deed 6 do ye Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolish2 ness: 5 nay indeed bear with me. For I am jealous Or, but inover you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you bear with to one husband, that I might present you as a pure me. 3 virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the Gr. a jealousy of God. serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds Gr. should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity thoughts. 4 that is toward Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye preeminent apostles. receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him. For I reckon that I am not a whit 5 1 Or, those behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be 6 rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every thing we have made it manifest among all men to you-ward. Or did I commit a sin in abasing 7 myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought? I robbed other 8 churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you; and when I was present with you and was 9 in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in every thing I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man 10 shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 11 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off 12 2 occasion from them which desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, 13 fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And 14 no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his 15 ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 2 Gr. the occasion of them. I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if 16 ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little. That which I speak, I speak not after 17 the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I 18 will glory also. For ye bear with the foolish gladly, 19 being wise yourselves. For ye bear with a man, if he 20 bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. I speak by way of disparage- 21 ment, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Is- 22 raelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? |