Of the spirit and letter.

CHAP. III. IV.

Paul's conduct under tribulation.

of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. | away in the reading of the old testament; 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always which vail is done away in Christ. causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is mauifest the savour of his knowledge by us read, the vail is upon their heart. in every place. 16 Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

CHAP. III.

CHAP. IV.

1 He declareth how he hath used all sincerity and faithful diligence in preaching the gospel, 7 and how the troubles and persecutions which he daily endured for the same did redound to the praise of God's power, 12 to the benefit of the church, 16 and to the apostle's own eternal glory.

1 Lest their false teachers should charge him with vain glory, he sheweth the faith and graces of the Corinthians to be a sufficient commendation of his ministry. 6 Whereupon en-HEREFORE, seeing we have this tering a comparison between the ministers of ministry, as we have received mercy, the law and of the gospel, 12 he proveth that his ministry is so far the more excellent, as we faint not; the gospel of life and liberty is more glorious than the law of condemnation.

Do
we begin again to commend

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty; not walking in craftiness, nor our-handling the word of God deceitfully; but, by

epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.

4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done

away:

8 How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken

selves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Kuowing, that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanks giving of many redound to the glory of Goa.

Paul's hope of eternal glory.

His faithfulnes. after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

II. CORINTHIANS. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceed ing and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

CHAP. V.

1 That in his assured hope of immortal glory, 9 and in expectance of it, and of the general judgment, he laboureth to keep a good conscience, 12 not that he may herein boast of himself, 14 but as one that, having received life from Christ, endeavoureth to live as a new creature to Christ only, 18 and by his ministry of reconciliation to reconcile others also in Christ to God.

FOR We know tacle were dissolved, we

NOR we know that if our earthly house

have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we

would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5 Now, he that hath wrought us for the self same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight :) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, heis a new creature: old things are passed away behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconcila tion;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, recoaciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath com mitted unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for t who knew no sin; that we might be mads the righteousness of God in him.

CHAP. VI.

1 That he hath approved himself a faithful m ister of Christ, both by his exhortations, 3 and by integrity of life, 4 and by patient e during all kinds of affliction and disgramı for the gospel. 10 Of which he speaketh the more boldly amongst them, because his dear is open to them, 13 and he expreteth the liki affection from them again : 14erkorting to fin the society and pollutions of idolaters, as being themselves temples of the living God.

W beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

TE then, as workers together with hin,

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have! succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether pre- 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumaks, sent or absent, we may be accepted of him. in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 10 For we must all appear before the judg- 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suf ment-seat of Christ; that every one may re-fering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by ceive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil repon and good report; as deceivers, and yet true: 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dy 12 For we commend not ourselves again un-ing, and behold, we live; as chastened, and to you, but give you occasion to glory on our not killed; behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in

heart.

13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for

your cause.

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man

10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; a poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 110 ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unt you, our heart is enlarged.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

13 Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also ea larged.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Exhortations to purity,

CHAP. VII, VIII.

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive

you;

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. CHAP. VII.

and liberality to the saints. wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong. but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

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 al! 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.

1 He proceedeth in exhorting them to purity of
life, 2 and to bear him like affection as he doth
to them. 3 Whereof lest he might seem to doubt,
he declareth what comfort he took in his af-1
fictions, by the report which Titus gave of
their godly sorrow, which his former epistle
had wrought in them, 13 and of their loving-
kindness and obedience towards Titus, an-
swerable to his former boastings of them.

HAVING therefore these promises, dear

ly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Receive us; we have wronged no man,

16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

CHAP. VIII.

He stirreth them up to a liberal contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem, by the example of the Macedonians, 7 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 commending to them the integrity and willingness of Titus, and those other brethren, who upon his request, exhortation, and commendation, were purposely come to them for this business.

we have corrupted no man, we have defraud-Mit of the grace of God bestowed on [OREOVER, brethren, we do you to

ed no man.

3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11 For behold this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the

the churches of Macedonia;

2 How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves;

4 Praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 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, sce 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 have. ye

12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 795

II. CORINTHIANS. The apostle's spiritual power. 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparing. ly, shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all suf ficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

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 bro- 14 And by their prayer for you, which lon ther, whom we have oftentimes proved dili-after you, for the exceeding grace of God i gent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

He commendeth himself,

CHAP. XI.

8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

9 That I may not seem as if I would 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 an 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.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves 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.

CHAP. XI.

1 Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, who seemed to make more account of the false aposules than of him, he entereth into a forced commendation of himself, 5of 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 preroga tive, 23 and in the service of Christ, and in all kind of sufferings for his ministry, far supe

rior.

Wa little in my folly, and indeed bear

TOULD to God ye could bear with me

with me.

2 For I am jealous over you with godly Jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we 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.

and glorieth in affliction.

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 that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being кеср burdensome unto you, and so will myself.

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of 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 ininisters 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 Í may boast myself a little.

17 That which I speak, speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18 Seeing that many glory after 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 if a man take bondage, if a man devour you, of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly) I am bold also.

22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of

Abraham? so am 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 watch6 But though I be rude in speech, yet notings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Besides those things that are without, made manifest among you in all things. 797