2 Corinthians

For our boasting is this: The testimony of our conscience, that in the simplicity and sincerity of God, and not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world and more abundantly toward you⁺.

For we write no other [things] to you⁺ but what you⁺ read or also understand. And I hope that you⁺ will understand to the end,

Therefore, purposing this, then, did I use lightness? Or do I purpose what I purpose according to flesh, so that with me it may be “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

But faithful [is] God, that our word to you⁺ is not “Yes” and “No.”

For as many as [are] the promises of God, in Him [is] the “Yes.” Therefore also through Him the “Amen” through us [is] for glory to God.

Now the One establishing us with you⁺ into Christ, and having anointed us, [is] God,

the One also having sealed us and having given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.

But I call God as witness upon my soul, that sparing you⁺ I did not yet come to Corinth.

Not that we lord it over your⁺ faith, but we are fellow workers with you⁺ of joy; for in the faith you⁺ stand firm.

For out of much tribulation and anguish of heart, I wrote to you⁺ through many tears, not that you⁺ might be grieved, but that you⁺ might know the love that I have more abundantly toward you⁺.

Sufficient to such a one [is] the punishment that [is] by the majority,

so that on the contrary, [it is] rather for you⁺ to forgive and to comfort [him], lest somehow such a one might be overwhelmed by more abundant grief.

Therefore I exhort you⁺ to confirm love toward him.

For this indeed also I wrote, so that I might know the proof of you⁺, whether you⁺ are obedient to everything.

Now to whomever you⁺ forgive anything, I also do; and indeed to whom I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, [it is] on account of you⁺ in the face of Christ,

so that we should not be exploited by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

But thanks [be] to God, the One always leading us in triumph in Christ and making manifest the fragrance of the knowledge of Him through us in every place.

For we are a sweet smell of Christ to God among those being saved and among those perishing:

to one indeed a smell from death to death, but to one a smell from life to life. And who [is] sufficient for these things?

For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity—but as from God—we speak before God in Christ.

being revealed that you⁺ are a letter of Christ, having been ministered to by us, having been inscribed not in ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tablets of stone but in tablets of fleshly hearts.

Not that we are sufficient from ourselves to reckon anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency [is] of God,

who also made us sufficient [as] ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, having been engraved in letters on stones, came into being in glory so as for the sons of Israel not to be able to look intently into the face of Moses on account of the glory of his face that is fading away,

how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more in glory?

For if in the ministry of condemnation [was] glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound [in] glory!

For even that having been glorious has no glory in this respect, on account of the glory surpassing [it].

For if that which is fading away [was] through glory, much more [is] that remaining in glory!

and not as Moses would put a veil over his face for the sons of Israel not to look intently into the end of what [was] fading away.

But their minds were hardened; for until the present day, the same veil remains upon the reading of the old covenant, not being unveiled, which is removed in Christ.

But until today when Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart.

But whenever one may turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], freedom [is].

And we all, having been unveiled in face, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

But we renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor distorting the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God.

in whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so as not to shine forth the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For God [is] the One having said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who shone in our hearts for the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

being pressed in every [way] but not being crushed, being perplexed but not despairing,

being persecuted but not being forsaken, being struck down but not being destroyed,

always carrying around the death [of] Jesus in the body, so that the life of Jesus also may be revealed in our body.

But having the same spirit of faith according to that having been written: “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, and therefore we speak,

For all things [are] on account of you⁺, so that the grace having increased on account of more [people] may make abundant the thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not grow fainthearted; but if also our outer man decays, yet our inner one is renewed day and day.

For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, from supereminence to supereminence,

in [our] not looking at the things being seen, but the things not being seen. For the things being seen [are] temporary, but the things not being seen [are] eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house, the tent, should be torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Now the One having prepared us for this very [thing] [is] God, the One having given to us the pledge of the Spirit,

being confident, then, always, and knowing that being at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

Now we are confident and we are well pleased rather to be away, out of the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

For it is necessary for us all to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive back the things [done] through the body according to what he did, whether good or evil.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. And we have been made manifest to God, and I hope to have been made manifest in your⁺ consciences also.

For if we were beside ourselves, [it is] to God; and if we are sound-minded, [it is] for you⁺.

For the love of Christ compels us, having judged this, that One died for all, therefore all died.

And He died for all, that those living no longer should live to themselves, but to the One having died for them and having been raised again.

Therefore if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation. The old things passed away; behold, the new things have come into being!

Now all things [are] of God, the One having reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and having given to us the ministry of reconciliation:

how that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having put into us the word of reconciliation.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God is appealing through us. We implore on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

He made the One not having known sin [to be] sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

And working together, we also exhort you⁺ not to receive the grace of God in vain.

For He says: “In the acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now [is] the favorable time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.

Do not become unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what partnership [have] righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship [has] light with darkness?

And what harmony [has] Christ with Beliar? Or what part to a believer [is] with an unbeliever?

And what agreement [has] the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them, and I will walk among [them], and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

“Therefore come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord, and touch no unclean [thing], and I will receive you⁺.”

And: “I will be for a Father to you⁺, and you⁺ will be for sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Therefore having these promises, beloved, we should cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

For grief according to God works repentance unto salvation without regret; but the grief of the world produces death.

For behold how much earnestness this same thing—to have been grieved according to God—produced in you⁺: but defense, but indignation, but fear, but longing, but zeal, but avenging! In everything, you⁺ commended yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

For you⁺ know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich, on account of you⁺ He became poor, so that you⁺ by that poverty might be enriched.

For if the readiness is present, [it is] acceptable as if he may have, not as he does not have.

For I know your⁺ readiness, which I boast of to Macedonians on behalf of you⁺, that Achaia has been prepared from a year ago, and your⁺ zeal provoked the greater part.

through the proof of this ministry, glorifying God upon your⁺ submission of confession to the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of the fellowship to them and to all.

For the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly, but powerful before God toward the tearing down of strongholds,

tearing down arguments and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ,

and having readiness within to avenge all disobedience, when your⁺ obedience shall have been fulfilled.

For even if I should boast somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave [us] for building up and not for tearing you⁺ down, I will not be ashamed,

For they say, “The letters indeed [are] weighty and strong, but the presence of the body [is] weak, and the word is of no account.”

I wish you⁺ were bearing with me in a little foolishness, but you⁺ also bear with me.

For I am jealous [as to] you⁺ with the jealousy of God. For I betrothed you⁺ to one husband, to present a pure virgin to Christ.

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, your⁺ minds might be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that [is] to Christ.

For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, the One being blessed to the ages, knows that I am not lying.

and the surpassingness of the revelations. Therefore, so that I should not be over-exalted, a thorn in [my] flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, so that I should not be over-exalted.

Three times I entreated the Lord for this, that it might depart from me.

And He has said to me, “My grace suffices for you, for the power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, rather, I will boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For [in] what is it that you⁺ were inferior beyond the rest [of] the churches, except that I myself did not burden you⁺? Forgive me this wrong!

Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you⁺, and I will not be a burden. For I do not seek what [is] yours⁺, but you⁺. For the children ought not to treasure up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Now I will spend most gladly, and will be utterly spent for your⁺ souls. If loving you⁺ more abundantly, am I loved less?

I exhorted Titus [to go], and I sent with [him] the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you⁺? Did we not walk in the same Spirit? Not in the same footsteps?

Do you⁺ think all along that we are making a defense to you⁺? We speak in Christ before God, and all things, beloved, for your⁺ edification.

lest [on] my having come again, my God should humble me as to you⁺, and I should mourn many of those having before sinned and not having repented of the impurity and sexual immorality and sensuality that they have practiced.

Test yourselves, whether you⁺ are in the faith; examine yourselves. Or do you⁺ not recognize yourselves that Jesus Christ [is] in you⁺?—unless you⁺ are unapproved.

Now we pray to God [for] you⁺ to do nothing wrong, not that we might appear approved, but that you⁺ may do what [is] right, though we might appear as unapproved.

For we rejoice when we may be weak but you⁺ may be powerful. This also we pray for: your⁺ perfection.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit [be] with all of you⁺.