Book of 2nd Corinthians |
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Apostle Paul, (v 1:1), written from Philippi (v 13:14), Paul visited Corinth on his second and third missionary journeys, (between 50-55ad). |
The early Greek city of Corinth had two seaports and was later re-founded by Julius
Caesar as a Roman colony, famed for its Commerce. Being right next to Athens it
took on much of that culture and was the home of Gallio the philosopher, later, he
became proconsul and acquitted Paul, Acts 18:12-17.
The city was known for the worship of the goddess Venus and for temple prostitution.
The letter addresses concerns of: suffering for Christ, warnings to offenders of
sexual immorally and lawlessness, encouraging the church to take part in the
collection for the saints. Paul writes this letter from Philippi, a city of Macedonia
verse 13:14 preceding his third trip to Corinth,
verse 13:1 to set in order certain behaviors
and that the church of Corinth might be reconciled back to him.
thirteen chapters |
After Paul's second missionary journey, verse 13:1, around 56 ad |
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and
Timothy our brother,
To the church at Corinth and the saints in Greece.
2Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
3Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 4Who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we can also comfort those who are in trouble, with the same comfort that we ourselves receive and are comforted by God. 5For just as sufferings and persecutions of Christ abound to us, likewise, through Christ our comfort and assurance also abounds. 6Whether we are afflicted or comforted, it works towards your comfort and salvation. The comfort that we have is worked out through enduring sufferings, and this is for your salvation. 7For our hope of you is certain, knowing that as you are partakers of the persecutions of Christ, so also will you be of His comfort.
8Now we do not wish for you to be ignorant brothers, of the trouble that came to us in Asia. Our burden there was beyond measure, above strength and at times we questioned even our own life. 9Feeling that we had received the sentence of death in ourselves, but that only made it clear, not to trust in ourselves but rather in God, who raises the dead. 10Who has delivered us from such great a death and in Him is our trust that He does deliver and will still deliver us. 11You also are helping together in prayer, on our behalf, that the gift given to us, may be given to many on our behalf.
12Our boasting is that we have a clear conscience, for when we were with you, we conducted ourselves in a simple and godly lifestyle, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, towards you. 13For we are not writing to you a new thing, but what you have read and acknowledged, and I trust that you will comprehend all of it. 14Even as you have understood in part. That we are your glory, as you are our glory, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15In this confidence, I intended to come to you before I went to Macedonia, that you might have a second benefit. 16And also on my return trip, so that you could help me on my way to Judea. 17When I had purposed this, do you think I did it lightly or planning according to the flesh as worldly men do? For there is no contradiction in my words, my yes is yes and my no is no. 18But as God is faithful to His Word, our plans were not in contradiction. 19For the Word we preached to you was Jesus and this truth was not conditioned upon our yes or no, but upon the promise of God's Word. 20For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21Now it is God, who has established us with you in Christ and He whom has anointed us. 22Who has also given us the Spirit, sealing it within our hearts as a guarantee of His promise.
23With God as my witness, so as to spare you further rebuke, I have not yet come to Corinth. 24Not that we have authority over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, however, by faith you must stand.
1I determined that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2For if I came and made you sad, who would there be to make me glad? But, the one whom was made sorrowful by me.
3That is why I wrote to you, least when I come, I would have had sorrow over those who should bring me joy. 4I wrote to you out of great sorrow and deep distress, not that you should be grieved, but that you should know the abundant love that I have towards you. 5If anyone among you has caused grief in your church, it has not sorrowed me but to some measure, this person has distressed all of you. 6As for the man who caused this grief, the punishment that was inflicted by the people is sufficient. 7So, on the contrary, you should forgive and comfort him, least he becomes engulfed in too much sorrow. 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9For I also wrote you for this purpose, to see if you are obedient in what I say. 10Now whoever you forgive, I also forgive that one for your sakes, in the presents of Christ, 11least Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12Furthermore when I had come to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, a door was opened to me by the Lord. 13However, I had no rest in my spirit, since I did not find Titus, my brother there, so I took my leave of them and departed for Macedonia. 14Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in the victory in Christ and through us reveals His knowledge everywhere. 15For we are to God and all people, the sweet fragrance of Christ. 16To them that are perishing, we are the aroma of death leading to death, but to those who are being saved, we are the aroma of life leading to life. Is anyone in himself sufficient for such a task? 17I say not! For we are not as the majority of ministers that you have seen, compromising the Word of God so as to please men, for we speak in sincerity and in the sight of God we speak Christ.
1Do you think that we commend ourselves coming to you with letters of recommendation or asking of you for letters of reference, as false teachers do to tell of their great works? 2Rather you are our letter of recommendation that we carry in our hearts, to be known and observed by all men. 3For you are a living epistle of Christ, ministered by us and written not with pen and ink, but by the Spirit of the living God on our hearts.
4We have such trust through Christ towards God. 5Not to think that we are sufficient of ourselves but our sufficiency in everything is from God. 6Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant, not of the letter but of His Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7For if the ministry of death, the 10 commandments written on stone, was glorious, that Moses face shone with glory so that the children of Israel could not look upon it, however, this glory soon faded away. 8Shall not the ministry of the Spirit be more glorious? 9For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, we know the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10For what was made glorious under the ministry of the law, has no glory when compared to the superior glory of righteousness. 11For if that which is passing away was glorious, that which remains is much more glorious.
12Therefore, since we have such hope, we can be bold and use plain speech. 13Unlike Moses who veiled his face, so the children of Israel could not see the fading glory of the end of the law, that has now been abolished. 14For the righteous requirements of the old testament law has been done away with in Christ. 15However, even to this day, when the old covenant law is read, their hearts and minds remain blinded. 16But when one turns to Christ, this veil is taken away. 17For the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit is there is liberty. 18But we all now, having unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into His very own image, from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.
1Since we have this ministry, having received the mercy to perform it, we do not lose heart. 2But we have denounced the hidden things of shame, nether do we walk in craftiness or treat the Word of God deceitfully. And we do this by proclaiming the truth, which we bring to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3If our gospel is veiled to some, it is only veiled to those who are perishing. 4For their minds have been blinded by the god of this world and they do not believe, least the light of the gospel, the glory of Christ should shine upon them. 5For we do not preach of ourselves but of Christ Jesus the Lord, for we ourselves are but mere bondservants of Jesus. 6For the same God who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, has shone light into our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God, through the face of Jesus Christ.
7We possess this treasure in frail human vessels, that the greatness of the power may be of God and not of ourselves. 8On every side we are troubled and oppressed, yet not crushed, perplexed and not in despair. 9Persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed. 10Always bearing in the body the death of the Lord Jesus, that His resurrection life might also be revealed in our body. 11For the life that we live, we are delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that His life may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12Whereby we have death working in us, yet, you say, life works in you.
13According to what is written; I believe and therefore I speak, Psalm 116:10, we have the same spirit of faith, therefore we also believe and speak. 14Knowing that God who raised up Jesus, will also raise us up and will present us with you. 15For all things are for your benefit, that grace having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not lose heart, even though the outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction that we carry, is for but a moment and is working in us a far greater and eternal measure of glory. 18Not looking at the things seen, but at the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but things that are unseen are eternal.
1For we know that if our earthy body, (this temporary house), is destroyed, we have a body made by God, not made by hands, but a body that is eternal in the heavens. 2For in this life we earnestly grown desiring to be clothed in our new habitation, which is of heaven. 3And if we are so clothed, we will not be found to be naked. 4In this current life we groan with burdens, longing to be further clothed that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5For God has fashioned us for this very thing, also given us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the fulfillment of His promise. 6And we know, that as long as we are at home in the physical body, we are absent from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith of the promise and not by sight. 8Therefore we are confident and well pleased, to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9Therefore we aim to be well pleasing to Him, whether present or absent from the body. 10For each one, will be judged, before the judgment seat of Christ, for the things we have done in the body, whether good or bad. 11Knowing the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade men, for we are known to God and I trust that we are also recognized by you.
12For we do not promote ourselves again to you, but rather we give you occasion to stand in the Word of God that we have given you. That you may Know and have a reply for those who boast in their appearance and charisma rather than in their hearts. 13For if we were beside ourselves, as some say, we are crazy, it is to God and His concern only, but if we are of sound mind it is for your sakes. 14For the love of Christ compels us, for we know that if one died for all, then all died. 15And Christ died for all, so that those who live, should live no longer for themselves but, rather for Him who died for them and rose again.
16Thus, we regard no one according to the flesh, even though we once knew Christ according to the flesh, for we now know Him no longer in terms of the flesh. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away and all things have become new. 18All things are of God, whom has reconciled us to Himself, through Jesus Christ and has given us a ministry of reconciliation. 19For God was in Christ and has reconciled the world to Himself, not imputing our trespasses to us and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. 20Thus, we are ambassadors for Christ. And as God is speaking through us, we implore you for the sake of Christ, to be reconciled to God. 21For God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ.
1Then as workers together with Him, we also plead with you, not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For the Lord has said and it is written; In the accepted time I have heard you and in the day of salvation, I will help you, Isaiah 49:8. For this is the accepted time and today is the day of salvation! 3We do not cause any offense least our ministry be blamed. 4But in all things we commend ourselves as true ministers of God, in much patience, undergoing tribulations, needs and distress, 5In stripes, imprisonment, in much anguish, labors, sleepless nights and in fasting. 6By longsuffering, knowledge, purity, kindness and love, through the Holy Spirit. 7Speaking the Word of truth, by the power of God, using the armor of His righteousness. 8Through honor and dishonor, evil reports that label us as impostors or good reports even though they be written by deceivers, yet they remain true. 9As unknown to the world, yet known as dying, we live a chastened and suffering life and yet not killed. 10Always sorrowful yet ever rejoicing, poor yet we make many rich, having little yet we possess all things.
11Corinthians, We have spoken openly from our hearts. 12We are not the one restricting you, for you are being restricted by your own desires and the affections you are reaping is what you have sown. 13So now as you have spoken to us, I also speak to you as children, that you may be open to our words. 14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for righteousness has no fellowship with lawlessness, nor does light with darkness, 15For Christ has no fellowship with the devil, likewise, a believer should not walk in agreement with an unbeliever. 16The temple of God has no part with idols. For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said and is written; I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God and they shall be My people, Exodus 29:45. 17Therefore, separate yourselves from the unbelievers and do not defile yourself with the unclean thing and the Lord will receive you. 18And He shall be a Father to you and you shall be His sons and daughters, says the Lord.
1Since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of the flesh and the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2Open your hearts to us, for we have neither, wronged, cheated nor corrupted anyone. 3I do not say this to condemn anyone, for you are with us in our hearts and you shall remain with us whether we live or die. 4Great is my boldness of speech towards you and great is my boasting on your behalf and in spite of our tribulations, I am filled with comfort overflowing with joy.
5For when we arrived at Macedonia, we had little rest and were troubled on every side. On the outside were conflicts that produced inward fears. 6Nevertheless God whom comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus. 7Not only was his coming a blessing, but also the good report that he brought back, that you received him with gladness and that you were looking forward to my visit, hearing that, inspired me to rejoice even more.
8Even if I have distressed you with my letter, I do not regret it. For I perceived that the letter saddened you only for a moment. 9But now I rejoice, not that the letter has grieved you but that your sorrow has led to godly repentance. For you were grieved in a godly manor so that by us, you might not suffer loss. 10For Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but worldly sorrow produces death. 11Having observed that your sorrow was in a godly manor, diligence and zeal within you has produced a cleansing of yourself and has proven yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12Though I did write to you, it was not on account of the one who did you wrong or those who suffered because of it, but rather that you might know of our care for you.
13Thus you have comforted us, but we rejoice even more for Titus, because you have refreshed his spirit. 14For I am not ashamed of my boasting to Titus about you, as we spoke to you in truth, my boasting about you was also in truth. 15His heart goes out to you more than ever as he recalls your submission to his guidance and how you respectfully received him. 16Therefore, I rejoice that I have confidence in you, in all things.
1Let us make known to you the grace of God, that He bestowed upon the churches of Macedonia. 2That in their great trials and afflictions, even though they had deep poverty, they had an abundance of joy, for they abounded in the riches of their freedom within Christ. 3And I bear witness that according to their ability and even beyond it at times, they gave of themselves. 4Urging us to receive their gifts alone with their fellowship for the ministering to the saints. 5More than we had hoped, they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. 6We then urged Titus, for he had begun works of grace in other churches, that he should also complete this grace in you as well. 7For just as you abound in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence and in love see that you also abound in grace.
8I share this with you of the Macedonian's, not to order you to do the same, but rather to test the sincerity of your love. 9For you yourself know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, He became poor for our sakes, that we through His poverty, we might become rich. 10With this said, I suggest that you continue and complete doing what you had begun and desired to do a year ago. 11The desire is there, finish what you have begun, so as to bring it to completion. 12For if the willingness to give is there, the gift is accepted as to what one has and not according to what one does not have. 13I do not say this to burden you, so that others may be eased. 14But that your abundance may fulfill others who lack in times of need and that their abundance may supply your lack in times of your need, so there may be equality. 15Even as it was with the Israelites gathering their manna in the wilderness, there was no lack, whether they gathered much or little, Exodus 16:8.
16Thanks be to God, who has given Titus an earnest desire for you. For indeed he accepted the entreaty. But, being more earnest, of his own accord he went to you. 17For he not only accepted our words and esteemed you and it was his desire to come to you of his own accord. 18Also with Titus we have sent a well known and gifted brother, (most likely Luke the author of the gospel of Luke), whose praise is in all the churches. 19This gifted brother was also named by the churches to travel with us, to help in the administration of these gifts. 20This should defuse any blame of us, when we administer this lavish gift. 21As we provide them with honorable things not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of men. 22The brother we are sending you has proven diligent, yet now much more is his desire to come to you, for we have told him of the confidence that we have in you. 23If anyone inquires of Titus, tell them he is my partner and fellow worker. If they inquire about the other brothers, tell them they are messages of the gospel for the glory of Christ. 24Therefore, before the churches, show them the proof of your love and the reason of our boasting on you.
1Concerning the ministry to the saints, (God's people in Jerusalem), there is no need for me to write to you. 2For I know of your eagerness in this area and have boasted about you to the Macedonians. Also, most of Greece has been in preparation for a year now, for your enthusiasm has simulated the majority of them. 3Yet, I am sending the brethren out to you, least our boasting should be in vain, if you are not prepared. 4Least if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we both would be humiliated. 5Therefore, I thought it necessary that the brethren go before me and help you prepare this generous gift. For you have previous promised this gift and I do this so that it may be ready, so that you may give, not out of duty or obligation but willingly.
6But, I also say this to you, he who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, but he who sows bountifully shall reap bountifully. 7So let everyone give of a cheerful heart and not grudgingly or of necessary, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you may be capable in all things, having an abundance for every good work. 9For it is written; God will find a way to disperse to the poor, for His righteousness endures forever, Psalm 112:9.
10Now may God who provides our entire substance, provide both seed to sow and bread to eat, multiply the gifts that you have given and the fruits of your righteousness. 11And may you be enriched in all things, so that you may be generous, thus bringing forth thanksgiving to God. 12For the service of giving not only supplies the needs of the saints, it also abounds in sending much thanks to God. 13That through your obedience in giving, God is glorified and the gospel of Christ is heard by all men. 14Also through the receiving of their prayers, knowing that they long for you, because they see the grace of God that works in you. 15Thanks be to God, for His precious and indescribable gift.
1I, Paul now pled with you in the meekness and gentleness of Christ, yet being absent from you, I speak boldly to you. 2It is my hope that when I am present with you, I will not need to be bold with you. But for now I intend to be bold with some who think of us as having worldly motivations operating only in the flesh. 3For even though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh. 4The weapons of warfare are not of this physical earth, but are mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds. 5Disregarding arguments and theories of high and worldly things that set themselves up against the truth and knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 6And with your obedience fulfilled, you shall be ready to avenge all acts of disobedience.
7You look at things according to the outward appearances, yet you are confidant that you are in Christ. But, consider this, that as you are in Christ so are we. 8Even if I should boast more about our authority that the Lord has given us, for your edification rather than your destruction, I am not ashamed. Though you may think I terrify you with my letters. 10For I have heard it said, that my letters are weighty and powerful but my bodily presence is weak and my speech is contemptible. 11Let that person consider our letters while we are absent, for this is how we shall be towards him when we are present.
12For we do not compare ourselves with others, for those who measure themselves and commend themselves through comparing themselves with others, are not wise. 13Our boasting is not beyond measure, but within the limits that God has appointed to us and this sphere also includes you. 14Know that, we are not overstepping our authority by coming to you, for we were the first to come to you with the gospel of Christ. 15Therefore we do not boast in other men's work but in the hope that as your faith grows, we would gain honor through you in our sphere. 16Enabling us to preach the gospel in regions beyond you and not boasting in other men's accomplishments.
17He who glories, let him glory in the Lord! 18For it is not he who praises and approves himself in the Lord, but rather he whom the Lord approves.
1Bear with me as I indulge in a little foolishness. 2For I have a godly passion for you, for I have brought you to Christ, as a pure virgin to her husband. 3But my fear is that, just as the Serpent deceived Eve, your minds also will be corrupted from the simplicity of the gospel of Christ. 4For if a different doctrine or spirit is preached to you, then the true gospel that we have preached to you, I fear that you will receive and accept it.
5I do not consider myself to be inferior to those wonderful worldly apostles that you entertain, 6For though I may be untrained in speech, I am trained in knowledge and have made this evident to you in all things. 7I preached the gospel of God to you without charge, exalting you yet humbling myself, was this of sin? 8I even took wages from other churches to come and minister unto you. 9And in my time of need, I still was not a burden to you, for my lack was met by the brethren from Macedonia. In all things, I have kept from being a burden to you and in that way I will continue to keep myself. 10As the truth of Christ is within me, no one shall stop me from this boast within your regions. 11Why do I do this, because my love for you is true, God knows this. 12But I will continue to do as such, so that I may cut off those who wish to be regarded as doing the same work as we do. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful men, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14This is not surprising, for Satan himself also masquerades as an angel of light. 15Therefore, it is to be expected that his ministers also masquerade as ministers of righteousness, however, their end will be according to their works.
16Let no one think of me as a fool, but, even if you do, then receive me as a fool, allowing me to boast a little. 17What I speak is not according to the Lord, but foolish confident boasting. 18But knowing that many other boast according to their flesh, so I also boast. 19For you readily put up with fools, since you believe yourselves to be so wise. 20For you put up with those who put you into bondage, harming you or taking from you as they exalt themselves. 21We however, seemed to be too weak to gain your approval, but those who come to you bold in the flesh you foolishly approve, but we are bold in the spirit.
22They are Hebrews and Israelites, the seed of Abraham, just as I am. 23Do they count themselves to be ministers of Christ? I am more, having more labors and more tribulations. 24Five times I received from the Jews thirty nine stripes. 25Three times beaten with rods, one time I was stoned, three times shipwrecked and a night and a day I spent adrift in the waters. 26Many journeys have I traveled, crossed over rivers, in danger of robbers, of false brethren and even of my own brethren. 27I have suffered, weariness, sleeplessness nights often, hunger and thirst, often in fasting, in cold and nakedness. 28And besides those things, my daily concern is for all the churches. 29They are weak but I do not have this weakness, they become offended and stumble, yet I do not.
30If I do boast, I boast in the things associated with my weaknesses. 31My God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ knows that I am not lying. 32For example, of how the Lord has provided for me: In Damascus, the governor was guarding the whole city with an entire squadron in hope to arrest me. 33But I was let down in a basket, through a window in the city wall and escaped, Acts 9:23.
1There is nothing to be gained by boasting, but yet still let me talk of visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I have known a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago was taken up to the third heaven, (whether in the physical body or in the spirit, I do not know, but God knows). 3Whether I knew this man in the body or in the spirit, I do not know, but God knows. 4How he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words that a man is not able to speak. 5I will boast of this mans experiences, yet of myself personally, I only boast in my weaknesses. 6Though I may desire to boast, yet I shall not be such a fool, I shall speak the truth lest anyone should think greater of me than what I am.
7So as not to become puffed up with pride with the abundance of revelation, a thorn in the flesh, (a messenger from Satan) was given to me, to continually harass me, least I become exalted beyond measure. 8Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might be taken away from me. 9But the answer came to me, the Lord's grace is sufficient for me, for His strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions and in distress, all for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak then I am strong.
11Boasting like this has made me act like a fool, but you have compelled me to do so, rather you should have commended me as an apostle. 12Surely you must have noticed, that the signs and wonders of an apostle were done among you. 13For do you feel less than other churches, because I did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong.
14Now for the third time I am ready to come to you and I shall not be a burden to you, for I do not seek your material goods but rather your hearts. For the children do not provide for the parents, but rather the parents provide for the children. 15And I will gladly give of my time and efforts for your spiritual good, though the more I love you, it seems the less you love me. 16Even so I did not burden you, some of you still said I was crafty and caught you by trickery. 17Did any of the brethren that I sent to you, take advantage of you? 18I actually urged Titus to go to you, did he take advantage of you? Do we not walk and agree in the same spirit?
19I am not apologizing nor defending ourselves to you, but we wish to build you up for your own edification, speaking before God in Christ. 20I fear that when I come to you, I shall not find you as I wish and hence neither will you find me as you wish. Least there be, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbiting, whispering and secrets, conceits and disorder among you. 21Yes, when I come, I fear that my God will humble me among you and I shall mourn for many who have and are sinning without repentance, sins of uncleanness, fornication and lewdness.
1This will be my third visit to you and by two or three witnesses every word shall be established. 2I have warned you of this the last time I was with you and I have perceived, as if being present, that you have not headed my instructions. I write this to those who have sinned and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not have sympathy on them. 3Since you seek proof of Christ speaking through me, know that Christ is not weak in dealing with you, but is mighty within you. 4For though He was crucified in weakness, He lives by the power of God. We also are weak in Him, but we shall also live with Him by the same power of God that can work in you also. 5Therefore examine and test yourselves, whether you are in the faith, Do you not know that Christ is within you, unless you are reprobates? 6I trust you know that we are not reprobates.
7Now I pray that you do no evil, not that we should appear to be approved by our actions, but that we should do what is honorable, even though we may appear in your eyes to be disqualified. 8For we do not serve men contrary to the truth, but we serve the truth of the gospel. 9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong and to this, we also pray, that you may be made complete. 10I write these things to you that I might not need to deal sharply with you when I come. Using the authority the Lord has given me to build you up rather than to tear you down.
11Lastly, brethren, be made complete, of good comfort and of one mind. Live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13All the saints here greet you. 14May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.