8 But we are confident and have not imputing to them their sins, a good will to be absent rather from and he hath placed in us the word the body, and to be present with of reconciliation.

the Lord.

20 For Christ therefore we are

9 And therefore we labour, whe-ambassadors, God as it were exther absent or present, to please him. horting by us. For Christ, we be10 For we must all be manifested seech you, be reconciled to God. before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or

evil.

11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we use persuasion to

21 Him, that knew no sin, for us he hath made sin: that we might be made the justice of God in him. CHAP. VI.

He exhorts them to a correspondence with God's grace.

men: but to God we are manifest AND we helping do exhort you,

And I trust also that in your consciences we are manifest.

12 We commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory in our behalf: that you may have somewhat to answer them who glory in face, and not in heart.

that you receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 For he saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee; and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time: behold now is the day of salvation. 3 Giving no offence to any man, 13 For whether we be trans- that our ministry be not blamed: ported in mind, it is to God: or 4 But in all things let us exhibit whether we be sober, it is for you. ourselves as the ministers of God, 14 For the charity of Christ in much patience, in tribulation, in presseth us: judging this, that if necessities, in distresses, one died for all, then all were dead. 15 And Christ died for all; that they also, who live, may not now live to themselves, but unto him 6 In chastity, in knowledge, in who died for them and rose again. long-suffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned,

16 Wherefore henceforth we know no man according to the flesh. And if we have known Christ according to the flesh but now we know him so no longer.

17 If then any be in Christ a new creature: the old things are passed away, behold all things are made

new.

18 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

19 For God indeed was in Christ reconciling the world to himself,

5 In stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

7 In the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true: as unknown, and yet known:

9 As dying, and behold we live : as chastised, and not killed.

10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many as having nothing, and possessing all things.

Chap. 5. Ver. 8. Absent from the body, and present with the Lord. This demonstrates that the beatitude of the saints is not deferred till the general resurrection: but that in the meantime, and whilst they are absent from the body, they are present with the Lord.

Chap. 5. Ver. 10. The proper things of the body. In the particular judgment, immediately after death, the soul is rewarded or punished according to what she has done in the body.

11 Our mouth is open to you, O ye rest, but we suffered all tribulation: Corinthians, our heart is enlarged. combats without, fears within. 12 You are not straitened in us: 6 But God who comforteth the but in your own bowels you are humble, comforted us by the costraitened. ming of Titus.

13 But having the same recompense (I speak as to my children) be you also enlarged.

7 And not by his coming only, but also by the consolation, wherewith he was comforted in you, relating to us your desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I re

14 Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fel-joiced the more. lowship hath light with darkness ?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God: as God saith: I will dwell in them, and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore, Go out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.

18 And I will receive you: and I will be a father to you and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. CHAP. VII.

The apostle's affection for the

8 For although 1 made you sorrowful by my epistle, I do not repent: and if I did repent, seeing that the same epistle (although but for a time) did make you sorrowful:

9 Now I am glad: not because you were made sorrowful; but because you were made sorrowful unto penance. For you were made sorrowful according to God, that you might suffer damage by us in nothing.

10 For the sorrow that is according to God worketh penance steadfast unto salvation: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11 Forbehold this self same thing, that you were made sorrowful according to God, how great carefulCorin-ness it worketh in you: yea defence, yea indignation, yea fear,yea desire, yea zeal, yea revenge: in all things

thians.
AVING therefore these pro-

cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God.

2 Receive us. We have injured no man, we have corrupted no man, we have overreached no man.

undefiled in the matter.

12 Wherefore although I wrote to you, it was not for his sake that did the wrong, not for him that suffered it: but to manifest our carefulness that we have for you,

13 Before God: therefore we were comforted. But in our consolation we did the more abundantly rejoice for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

31 speak not this to your condemnation. For we have said before, that you are in our hearts, to die together, and to live together. 4 Great is my confidence with 14 And if I have boasted any you, great is my glorying for you. thing to him of you, I have not been I am filled with comfort; I exceed-put to shame,but as we have spoken ingly abound with joy in all our all things to you in truth, so also tribulation. our boasting that was made to Titus, is found truth.

5 For also when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no

15 And his bowels are more abun

dantly towards you: remembering forward to be willing, so it may be the obedience of you all, how with also to perform, out of that which fear and trembling you received you have. him.

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

NOW

CHAP. VII.

He exhorts them to relieve the poor. TOW we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia,

2 That in much experience of tribulation they have had abundance of joy, and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity.

3 For according to their power (I bear them witness) and beyond their power, they were willing.

4 With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward

the saints.

5 And not as we hoped, but they gave their own selves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God:

6 Insomuch, that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so also he would finish among you this same grace.

7 That as in all things you abound in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all carefulness; moreover also in your charity towards us,so in this grace also you may abound.

I speak not as commanding: but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, that being rich he became poor, for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich.

10 And herein I give my advice: for this is profitable for you, who have begun not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago:

11 Now therefore perform ye it also in deed; that, as your mind is

12 For if the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath, not according to that which he hath not.

13 For I mean not that others should be eased, and you burthened: but by an equality.

14 In this present time let your abundance supply their want: that their abundance also may supply your want, that there may be an equality,

15 As it is written: He that had much, had nothing over: and he that had little had no want.

16 And thanks be to God, who hath given the same carefulness for you in the heart of Titus.

17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation: but being more careful, of his own will, he went unto you.

18 We have sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel through all the churches :

19 And not that only, but he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord, and our determined will:

20 Avoiding this, lest any man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us.

21 For we forecast what may be good not only before God, but also before men.

22 And we have sent with them our brother also, whom we have often proved diligent in many things: but now much more diligent, with much confidence in you,

23 Either for Titus, who is my companion and fellow-labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the churches the glory of Christ.

24 Wherefore shew ye to them in the sight of the churches, the

evidence of your charity, and of 11 That being enriched in all our boasting on your behalf.

CHAP. IX.

3 Now I have sent the brethren, that the thing, which we boast of concerning you, be not made void in this behalf, that (as I have said) you may be ready:

things you may abound unto all simplicity, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.

12 Because the administration of this office doth not only supply the want of the saints, but aboundeth also by many thanksgivings in the Lord."

13 By the proof of this ministry, glorifying God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the simplicity of your communicating unto them, and unto all.

14 And in their praying for you, being desirous of you because of the excellent grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for his un

4 Lest, when the Macedonians speakable gift. shall come with me, and find you

CHAP. X.

unprepared, we (not to say ye) He sets forth the power of his aposshould be ashamed in this matter.

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to desire the brethren that they would go to you before, and prepare this blessing before promised, to be ready, so as a blessing,

not as covetousness.

NOW

tleship.

OW I Paul myself beseech you, by the mildness and modesty of Christ, who in presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent am bold towards you.

2 But I beseech you, that I may 6 Now this I say: He who sow- not be bold when I am present, eth sparingly, shall also reap spa- with that confidence wherewith I ringly: and he who soweth in bles- am thought to be bold, against sings, shall also reap of blessings. some, who reckon us as if we walk7 Every one as he hath deter-ed according to the flesh. mined in his heart, not with sadness or of necessity. For God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound in you: that ye always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work,

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of fortifications, destroying counsels,

5 And every height that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ,

9 As it is written: He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever. 10 And he that ministereth seed to the sower, will both give you 6 And having in readiness to rebread to eat, and will multiply your venge all disobedience, when your seed, and increase the growth of obedience shall be fulfilled,

the fruits of your justice:

7 See the things that are accord

Ver. 11, 13. Simplicity, sincere bounty and charity.

ing to outward appearance. If any man trust to himself, that he is Christ's: let him think this again

with himself that as he is Christ's so are we also.

8 For if also I should boast somewhat more of our power, which the Lord hath given us unto edification, and not for your destruction; I should not be ashamed.

9 But that I may not be thought as it were to terrify you by epistles, 10 (For his epistles indeed, say they, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.)

11 Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by epistles, when absent; such also we will be indeed, when present.

12 For we dare not match, or compare ourselves with some, that commend themselves: but we measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves with ourselves.

13 But we will not glory beyond our measure: but according to the measure of the rule, which God hath measured to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not out ourselves beyond our measure, as if we reached not unto you. For we are come as far as to you in the gospel of Christ.

15 Not glorying beyond measure in other men's labours : but having hope of your increasing faith, to be magnified in you according to our rule abundantly,

16 Yea unto those places that are beyond you, to preach the gospel, not to glory in another man's rule in those things that are made ready to our hand.

17 But he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord.

18 For not he, who commendeth himself, is approved, but he whom God commendeth.

CHAP. XI.

He is forced to commend himself. bear with some little of my OULD to God you could

folly: but do, bear with me.

2 For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God. For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted, and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4 For if he that cometh, preacheth another Christ, whom we have not preached; or if you receive another Spirit, whom you have not received; or another gospel, which you have not received; you might well bear with him.

5 For I suppose that I have done nothing less than the great apostles. 6 For although I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge: but in all things we have been made manifest to you,

7 Or did I commit a fault humbling myself, that you might be exalted? Because I preached unto you the gospel of God freely?

8 I have taken from other churches, receiving wages of them for your ministry.

9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that, which was wanting to me, the brethren supplied who came from Macedonia: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

10 The truth of Christ is in me, that this glorying shall not be broken off in me in the regions of Achaia.

11 Wherefore? Because I love you not? God knoweth it.

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off the occasion from