It contains,

I.		The Inscription,	C. i.	I, 2.
II.		The Treatise itself.
	I.	In Asia I was greatly prest; but God comforted me; as I acted uprightly; even in this, that I have not yet come to you; who ought to obey me:		3.
			C. ii.	II.
	2.	From Troas I hastened to Macedonia, spreading the Gospel every where, the glorious Charge of which I execute, according to its Importance,		12.
			C. viii.	I.
	3.	In Macedonia I received a joyful Message concerning you,		2—16.
	4.	In this Journey I had a Proof of the Liberality of the Macedonians, whose Example ye ought to follow,	C. viii.	1—
			C. ix.	15.
	5.	I am now on my way to you, armed with the Power of Christ. Therefore obey,	C. x.	I—
			C. xiii.	10.
III.		The Conclusion,		11—13.

II. CORINTHIANS. Chap. I.

1   Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, ^note to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia: 2   Grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our17Q0335 Lord Jesus Christ.

3   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^note the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, 4   Who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any affliction, ^note by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5   For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, ^note so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ. 6   And whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; ^note or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effectual in the patient enduring the same sufferings which we also

suffer. 7   And our hope concerning you ^note is stedfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the comfort. 8   For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the trouble which befell us in Asia, ^note that we were exceedingly pressed, above our strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9   Yea, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, ^note that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raiseth the dead: 10   Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust, that he will still deliver: ^note 11   You likewise ^note helping together with us by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

12   For ^note this is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more especially toward you. 13   For we write no other things to you, but what ye know and acknowledge, and I trust will acknowledge even to the end. 14   As also ye have acknowledged us in part, ^note that we are your rejoicing, as ye also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus. 15   And in this confidence ^note I was minded to come to you before, that ye might have had a second benefit, And to pass by you into Macedonia, 16   and to come to you again from Macedonia, and to be brought forward by you in my way toward Judea. 17   Now when I was thus minded, did I use levity? ^note or the things which I

purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that there should be with me yea and nay? 18   As God is faithful, our word to you ^note hath not been yea and nay. 19   For Jesus Christ the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, ^note by me, and Silvanus, and Timotheus was not yea and nay; but was yea in him. 20   For all the promises of God are yea in him, ^note and amen in him, to the glory of God by us. ^note 21   For he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us is God: 22   Who hath also sealed us, ^note and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23   But I call God for a record on my soul, ^note that to spare you, I came not as yet to Corinth. 24   Not that we have dominion over your faith, ^note but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye have stood.

1   But I determined this with myself not to come to you again in grief. ^note 2   For if I grieve you,

who is he that cheareth me, but he that is grieved by me? ^note 3   And I wrote thus to you, ^note that I might not when I come have grief from those for whom I ought to rejoice; being persuaded concerning you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4   For from much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not ^note that ye might be grieved, but that ye might know the abundant love which I have toward you.

5   And if any have caused grief, he hath grieved me but in part, ^note that I may not overburden you all. 6   Sufficient for such an one ^note is this punishment inflicted by many. 7   So that on the contrary ye should rather forgive and comfort him, lest such an one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8   I beseech you therefore to confirm your love toward him. 9   For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye were obedient in all things. 10   To whom ye forgive ^note any thing, I forgive also: and if I forgive any thing, to whom I forgive it, it is for your sakes, in the person of Christ. 11   Lest Satan ^note get an advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12   Now when I came to Troas, ^note to preach the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord, 13   I had no rest in my spirit, ^note because I did not find Titus my brother; so taking leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia. 14   Now thanks be to God, who causeth us always to triumph ^note through Christ, and manifesteth by us in every place the odour

of his knowledge. 15   For we ^note are to God a sweet odour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16   To these an odour of death unto death, but to those an odour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? ^note 17   For we are not as many, who adulterate the word of God; ^note but as of sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

1   Do we again begin to recommend ourselves? ^note Unless we need, as some do, recommendatory letters to you, or recommendatory letters from you? 2   Ye are our ^note letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all men: 3   Manifestly declared to be the letter of Christ ^note ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart. 4   Such trust have we in God ^note through Christ. 5   Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, ^note to think any thing as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God: 6   Who also hath made us able ministers of the new covenant, ^note not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth

life. 7   And if the ministration of death ^note engraven in letters on stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly on the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face, which was to be abolished: Shall not rather the ministration of the Spirit ^note be glorious? 8   For if the ministration of condemnation ^note was glory, 9   much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10   For even that which was made glorious, had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excelleth. ^note 11   For if that which is abolished was glorious, much more that which remaineth ^note is glorious. 12   Having therefore this hope, ^note we use great plainness of speech. 13   And ^note not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly to the end of that which is abolished. 14   But their understandings were blinded: and until this day the same veil remaineth ^note unremoved on the reading of the old testament, which is taken away in Christ. 15   But the veil lieth on their heart when Moses is read until this day. 16   Nevertheless when it ^note shall turn to the

Lord, the veil shall be taken away. 17   Now the Lord ^note is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18   And ^note we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

1   Therefore having this ministry, ^note as we have received mercy, we faint not: But have renounced ^note the hidden things of shame, 2   not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully corrupting the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3   But if our gospel also ^note is veiled, it is veiled to them that perish; 4   Whose unbelieving minds the god of this world ^note hath blinded, lest the illumination of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them. 5   For ^note we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6   For God, ^note who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to inlighten us with the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.

7   But we ^note have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8   We are troubled ^note on every side, yet not crushed; 9   perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; thrown down, but not destroyed; 10   Always ^note bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. 11   We who ^note live are always delivered unto death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body. 12   So then death worketh in us, but life in you. ^note Yet having the same spirit of faith, ^note 13   according to what is written, ^note I believed, and therefore have I spoken, we also believe, and therefore speak: 14   Knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus, will also raise us up by Jesus, and present us with you. 15   For all things ^note are for your sakes, that the overflowing grace might through the thanksgiving of many abound to the glory of God. 16   Therefore ^note we faint not, but even though the outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17   For our light affliction, ^note

which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: 18   While we aim not at the things that are seen, ^note but the things that are not seen: for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.

1   For we know that if our earthly house ^note of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2   For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon, ^note with our house which is from heaven: 3   If being clothed, ^note we shall not be found naked. 4   For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened; ^note not that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life. 5   Now he that hath wrought us to this very thing ^note is God, who hath also given us the earnest of the Spirit. 6   Therefore we always behave undauntedly; ^note knowing that while we are sojourning in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7   (For ^note we walk by faith, not by sight.) 8   We behave undauntedly, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord.

9   Therefore we are ambitious, ^note whether present, or absent, to be well-pleasing to him. 10   For we must all ^note appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive according to what he hath done in

the body, whether good or evil. 11   Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we ^note persuade men: but we are made manifest to God, and I trust we are made manifest in your consciences also. 12   We do not ^note again recommend ourselves to you; but we give you an occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have something to answer them, who glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13   For if we are transported beyond ourselves, ^note it is to God; if we are sober, it is for your sakes. 14   For the love of Christ ^note constraineth us, while we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15   And that he died for all, ^note that they who live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him who died for them, and rose again. 16   So that we from this time ^note know no one after the flesh; yea, if we have known even Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17   Therefore if any one be in Christ, ^note there is a new creation: the old things are passed way; behold, all things are become

new: 18   And all ^note things are from God, who hath reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: Namely, ^note 19   that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their traspasses to them, and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20   Therefore we are embassadors for Christ, ^note as though God were intreating by us: we beseech you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21   For he hath made him, who knew no sin, ^note a sin-offering for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God through him.

1   We then, ^note as fellow-labourers, do also exhort you, not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2   (For he saith, ^{note note} I have heard thee in an acceptable time, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3   Giving ^note no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed, But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, ^note 4   in much patience,

in afflictions, 5   in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, ^note in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6   By purity, by prudence, ^note by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7   By the ^note word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right-hand and the left: 8   Through honour and dishonour, ^note through evil report and good report; as deceivers, yet true, As unknown, ^note yet well-known; 9   as dying, yet behold we live; as chastened, yet not killed; 10   As sorrowing, ^note yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.

11   O ye Corinthians, our mouth is opened toward you, our heart is inlarged. ^note 12   Ye are not straitened in us; ^note but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13   Now for a recompence of the same, ^note (I speak as to my children) be ye also inlarged. 14   Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers; ^note for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? or what

communion hath light with darkness? 15   And what concord hath Christ ^note with Belial? or what part hath a believer with an infidel? 16   And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? ^note Now ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, ^note I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. 17   Therefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean person, ^note saith the Lord, and I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, and ye shall be to me sons and daughters, ^note saith the Lord Almighty.

1   Having therefore, beloved, these promises, let us cleanse ourselves ^note from all pollution of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2   Receive us. ^note We have hurt no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 3   I speak not, to condemn you; ^note for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts, to live and to die with you. 4   Great is my freedom of speech toward you; great is my glorying17Q0336 of you: I am filled with comfort, ^note I exceedingly abound with joy, over all our affliction. 5   For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh ^note had no

rest, but we were troubled on every side: from without were fightings, from within were fears. 6   But God who comforteth them that are brought low, comforted us by the coming of Titus. 7   And not only by his coming, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted over you, when he told us your earnest desire, ^note your grief, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more. 8   For I do not repent that I grieved you by the letter, though I did repent: ^note (for I see that letter grieved you, though but for a season.) 9   Now I rejoice, not that ye grieved, but that ye grieved to repentance; for ye grieved in a godly manner, so that ye received damage by us in nothing. 10   For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of, whereas the sorrow of the world ^note worketh death. 11   For behold, this very thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly manner, what diligence it wrought in you, ^note 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 pure in this matter. 12   And though I wrote to you, it was not ^note for his sake who had done the wrong, nor for his sake who had suffered it, but for the sake of manifesting to you in the sight of God our diligent care over you. 13   Therefore we were comforted in your comfort, and we rejoiced the more exceedingly in the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14   So that if I had boasted any thing of you to him, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so also our boasting to Titus is found a truth. 15   And his tender affection is more abundant toward you, calling to mind the

obedience of you all, how ye received him with fear and trembling. 16   I rejoice therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things.

1   Moreover, brethren, we declare to you the grace of God, ^note bestowed on the churches in Macedonia, 2   That in a great trial of affliction, ^note their overflowing joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality: 3   That to their power, I testify, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves, 4   Praying us with much intreaty, ^note to receive the gift and take a part in ministring it to the saints. 5   And this they did, not as we hoped; ^note but first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God: 6   So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, ^note so he would also compleat this gift among you. 7   Therefore as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and 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 that by the diligence of others, I may prove the sincerity of your love. 9   For ye know ^note the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake 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 a year ago, not only to do, but also to do it willingly. 11   Now therefore compleat the work, that as there was a ready will, so there may be also a performance, in proportion to what ye have. 12   For if there be first a ready mind, a man ^note is accepted, according to what he hath, not according to what he hath not. 13   For I do not mean, that others should be eased, and you burthened; But by an equality, 14   let your abundance be at this time a supply to their want; that their abundance ^note also may be a supply to your want, that

there may be an equality, 15   As it is written, ^note He that had gathered the most, had nothing over; and he that had gathered the least, did not lack. ^note

16   But thanks be to God, who put the same diligent care for you in the heart of Titus. 17   For he accepted indeed the exhortation, but being more forward, ^note he went to you of his own accord. 18   And we ^note have sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is through all the churches: (And not only so, 19   but he was also appointed by the churches ^note to be a fellow-traveller with us, with this gift, which is administred by us, to the glory of the Lord himself, 20   and for the declaration of our ready mind) Avoiding this, lest any one should blame us in this abundance, which is administred by us. 21   For we provide things honest, not only before the Lord, but also before men. 22   And we have sent with them ^note our brother, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, through his great confidence in you. 23   If any inquire concerning Titus, he is my partner, ^note and fellow-labourer with respect to you; or concerning our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24   Shew therefore to them before the churches ^note the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

1   For concerning the ministring to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you. ^note 2   For I know your readiness, which I boast concerning you to the Macedonians, ^note that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3   Yet I have sent the ^note brethren, lest our boasting of you on this head should be made vain, that, as I said, ye may be ready; 4   Lest if any of the Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we (not to say, you) be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5   Therefore I thought it

necessary, to desire the brethren to go before to you, and compleat this your bounty, which had been spoken of before, ^note that it may be ready as a bounty, and not as ^note a matter of covetousness. 6   And this I say, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully: ^note 7   Let every man do as he chuseth in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity: ^note for ^note God loveth a chearful giver. ^note 8   And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that having always all sufficiency in all things, ye may abound to every good work: 9   (As it is written, ^note He hath scattered abroad, ^note he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10   And may he who supplieth seed ^note to the sower, and bread for your food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:) 11   Being inriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which worketh by us thanksgiving to God. ^note 12   For the administration of this service, doth not only supply the necessities of the saints, but likewise aboundeth by the thanksgivings of many to God: 13   (Who, by experiment of this administration, glorify God for your avowed subjection ^note to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal communication to them and to all men.) 14   And by their prayer for you, who long after you, for the exceeding grace of God, which is in you. 15   Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. ^note

1   Now I Paul myself, ^note who when present am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you, intreat you, by the meekness and gentleness

of Christ, ^note 2   I beseech, that I may not when I am present be bold with that confidence wherewith I think to be bold toward some, who think of us as walking after the flesh: 3   For though we walk in the flesh, ^note we do not war after the flesh: 4   (For the weapons of our warfare ^note are not carnal, but mighty through God to the throwing down of strong-holds.) 5   Destroying ^note reasonings, and every high thing which exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6   And being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, ^note now your obedience is fulfilled.

7   Do ye look at the outward appearance of things? ^note If any man be confident, that he is Christ's, let him again think this of himself, that as he is Christ's, so we also are Christ's. 8   Yea, if I should boast something more also of the authority which the Lord hath given us, for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: ^note 9   That I may not seem to terrify you by letters. ^note 10   For his letters indeed, say they, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, ^note 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 are we also in deed, when we are present.

12   For we presume not ^note to equal or to compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves: but they among themselves limiting themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise. 13   But we will not ^note boastingly extend ourselves beyond our measure; but according to the measure of the providence,17Q0337 which God hath allotted us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14   For we do not extend ourselves excessively, as not reaching to you; for we are come even to you, ^note in the gospel of Christ: 15   Not boastingly extending ourselves beyond our measure, in the labours of others; but having hope, now your faith is increased, ^note to be inlarged by you, 16   yet still within our province, abundantly, So as to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, ^note not to boast in another's province 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.

1   I wish ye would bear ^note a little with my folly; yea, bear with me. 2   For ^note I am jealous over you with a 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 ^note lest as the serpent deceived Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from simplicity toward Christ. 4   If indeed ^note he that cometh preach 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   But I suppose that I fall nothing short of the very chief apostles. 6   For if I am unskilful in speech, ^note yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly manifest to you in all things. 7   Have I committed an offence ^note in humbling myself, that ye might be exalted, because I have preached the gospel of God to you at free cost? 8   I spoiled other churches, ^note taking wages of them, to serve you: and when I was present with you and wanted, I was chargeable to no man. 9   For ^note the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied my want; and I have in all things kept myself from being burdensom, and will keep myself. 10   As the truth of Christ is in me, this my boasting shall not be stopped ^note in the regions of Achaia. 11   Wherefore? ^note 12   Because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, I will do, that I may cut off the occasion from them who desire ^note occasion, that wherein they boast, they may be found even as we. 13   For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14   And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed ^note into an angel of light. 15   Therefore it is no great ^note thing, if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose ends shall be according to their works. 16   I say again, ^note Let no man think me a fool; but if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I also may boast a little. 17   What I speak, I speak not after the Lord; ^note but as it were foolishly, in

this confidence of boasting. 18   Seeing many glory after the flesh, ^note I will glory also. 19   For ye, being wise, ^note suffer fools willingly. For ye suffer, ^note if a man inslave you, 20   if he devour you, if he take from you, if he exalt himself, if he smite you on the face. 21   I speak with regard to reproach, as though we had been weak: ^note whereas in whatever any is confident, (I speak as a fool) I am confident also. 22   Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? ^note so am I. 23   Are they ministers of Christ? 23   (I ^note speak foolishly) I more: in labours more abundantly, in stripes more exceedingly, in prisons more abundantly, in deaths often. 24   Five times I received from the Jews forty stripes save one. ^note 25   Thrice I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I have been shipwrecked, ^note a day and a night I passed in the deep: In journeyings often, 26   in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from the heathen; in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brethren: 27   In labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. ^note 28   Beside the things which are from without, ^note that which rusheth upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29   Who ^note is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? 30   Since I must glory, I will glory of the things

that concern my infirmities. ^note 31   The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not. 32   In Damascus the governor under king Aretas, ^note kept the city of the Damascenes with a guard, being determined to apprehend me. 33   But I was let down through a window ^note in a basket by the wall, and escaped from his hands.

1   Surely it is not expedient ^note for me to boast: yet I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2   I knew a man in Christ, ^note above fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not, or out of the body I know not; God knoweth) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3   Yea, I knew such a man ^note (whether in the body or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) That he was caught up into paradise, ^note 4   and heard unspeakable things, which it is not possible for man to utter. 5   Of such an one I will ^note glory; ^note but I will not glory of myself, unless in my infirmities. 6   For if I should resolve to boast, I should not be a fool; for I speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me, or heareth from me.

7   And lest I should be lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, there was given me ^note a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet

me, lest I should be lifted up. 8   Concerning this, ^note I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9   But he said to me, ^note My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me. 10   Therefore I am well pleased in weaknesses, ^note in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 11   I am become a fool in boasting; but ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing have I fallen short of the very chief apostles, though I am nothing. ^note

12   Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13   For wherein were ye inferior to the other churches, unless that I myself was not burdensom to you. 14   Forgive me this wrong. Behold the third time ^note I am ready to come to you: yet I will not be burdensom to you; for I seek not yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15   And I will most gladly spend, ^note and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 16   But ^note be it so: I did not burden you: but being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17   Did I make a gain of you by any of them

whom I sent to you? ^note 18   I desired Titus, ^note and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? In the same steps?

19   Think ye ^note that we again excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all things, beloved, for your edification. 20   For I fear lest when I come, I should not find you such as I would, and lest I should be found by you such as ye would not: lest there should be contentions, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults, Lest my God should humble me when I come to you again, 21   and I should mourn over many of them who had sinned before, ^note and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.

1   I am coming to you this third time: ^note every word shall be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. 2   I told you before, and do tell before-hand (though now absent, as if I were present the second time) those who had sinned before, and all the rest, ^note that, if I come again, I will not spare: 3   Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. 4   For though he was crucified through weakness, ^note yet he liveth by the power of God: and we also are weak with him; but we shall live with him, by the power of God in you. 5   Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith: prove yourselves. ^note Do ye not know yourselves?17Q0340 That Jesus Christ is in you? unless ye are reprobates. 6   And I trust, ye shall know, ^note that we are not reprobates. 7   Now I pray God, that ye may do no evil: ^note not

that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is good, though we should be as reprobates. 8   For we can do nothing against the truth, ^note but for the truth. 9   For we rejoice, when we are weak, ^note and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. 10   Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use severity, according to the power which the Lord hath given me, for edification, and not for destruction.

11   Finally, brethren, farewel: be perfect, ^note be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 12   Salute one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. 13   The grace ^note of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.

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