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THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL

TO THE CORINTHIANS

II CORINTHIANS III, IV

I Corinthians iv

Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

For if the ministration of death, written and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to pass away: how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory! For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. Yea, that which was counted glorious is now seen to have less glory, by reason of the glory that surpasseth. For if that was glorious which was to pass away, much more is that glorious which abideth for ever. And having such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. And we all, with unveiled face reflecting as a

mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not: but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them whose mind the god of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ should dawn upon them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for his sake. Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

II CORINTHIANS IV, V
I Corinthians iv, xv

Now if in this life only we have hope, then are we of all men most pitiable. For unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place. Yea, we have within us as it were sentence of death; that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead. We are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet

not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, knowing that he that raised up Jesus shall raise up us also.

For this cause we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day. And I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. For our light afflicttion, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; 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.

For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed, we shall not be found naked! For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life. Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore we are always of good courage, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for we walk by faith, not by appearance); we are of good

courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.

II CORINTHIANS V, VI

I Corinthians iv

Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. For all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. And working together with him, we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain: giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit; in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour

and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

II CORINTHIANS VIII, IX

Now concerning the collection for the brethren, it is superfluous for me to write to you: for I know your readiness, whereof I glory. But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, see that ye abound in this grace also. For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of their wants, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God: seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel. I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving the sincerity of your love. For this is fitting for you, not only to do, but continually to be willing to do. Wherefore shew ye unto all the churches the proof of your love.

And this I say, brethren, not that others may be eased, and ye burdened: but for the sake of equality; your present abundance being a supply for their pressing want, that their abundance also may become a supply for that wherein ye may want; that there may be equality, even as it is written, He that gathered much had noth

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