1 Corinthians 7:17 - 2 Corinthians 11:14

Legacy Standard Bible

¹⁷ Only, ^(A)as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And ^(B)so I direct in ^(C)all the churches. ¹⁸ Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? ^(D)He is not to be circumcised. ^19 (E)Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is ^(F)the keeping of the commandments of God. ^20 (G)Each man must remain in that ^[a]condition in which he was called.

²¹ Were you called while a slave? ^[b]Do not worry about it. But if you are able also to become free, rather ^[c]do that. ²² For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is ^(H)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who was called while free, is ^(I)Christ’s slave. ^23 (J)You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brothers, ^(K)each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

²⁵ Now concerning virgins I have ^(L)no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who ^[d](M)by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. ²⁶ I think then that this is good because of the ^[e]present ^(N)distress, that ^(O)it is good for a man ^[f]to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have ^[g]trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. ²⁹ But this I say, brothers, ^(P)the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; ³⁰ and those who cry, as though they did not cry; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; ³¹ and those who use the world, as though they did not ^(Q)make full use of it. For ^(R)the form of this world is passing away.

³² But I want you to be free from concern. One who is ^(S)unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. ³³ But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴ and his interests have been divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit. But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵ Now this I say for your own benefit, not to put a restraint upon you, but ^[h]to promote propriety and undistracted devotion to the Lord.

³⁶ But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let ^[i]her marry. ³⁷ But he who stands firm in his heart, ^[j]being under no compulsion, but has authority ^[k]over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. ³⁸ So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

^39 (T)A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband has ^[l]fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only ^(U)in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But ^(V)in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Take Care with Your Liberty

8 Now concerning ^(W)things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have ^(X)knowledge. Knowledge ^(Y)puffs up, but love ^(Z)builds up. ^2 (AA)If anyone thinks that he has known anything, he has not yet ^(AB)known as he ought to know; ³ but if anyone loves God, he ^(AC)has been known by Him.

⁴ Therefore, concerning the eating of ^(AD)things sacrificed to idols, we know that ^[m]an idol is ^(AE)nothing in the world, and that ^(AF)there is no God but one. ⁵ For even if ^(AG)there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, ⁶ yet for us ^(AH)there is one God, ^(AI)the Father, ^(AJ)from whom are all things and we exist for Him, and ^(AK)one Lord, Jesus Christ, ^(AL)by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

⁷ However, not all men ^(AM)have this knowledge; but ^(AN)some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸ But ^(AO)food will not ^[n]commend us to God. We neither lack if we do not eat, nor abound if we do eat. ⁹ But ^(AP)see to it that this ^[o]authority of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the ^(AQ)weak. ¹⁰ For if someone sees you, who have ^(AR)knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be built up to eat ^(AS)things sacrificed to idols? ¹¹ For through ^(AT)your knowledge he who is weak ^(AU)is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. ^12 (AV)And in that way, by sinning against the brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin ^(AW)against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, ^(AX)if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again—ever, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

Paul Gives Up His Rights

9 Am I not ^(AY)free? Am I not an ^(AZ)apostle? Have I not ^(BA)seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not ^(BB)my work in the Lord? ² If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the ^(BC)seal of my ^(BD)apostleship in the Lord.

³ My defense to those who examine me is this: ^4 (BE)Do we not have authority to eat and drink? ^5 (BF)Do we not have authority to take along a ^[p]believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the ^(BG)brothers of the Lord and ^(BH)Cephas? ⁶ Or do only ^[q](BI)Barnabas and I not have authority to refrain from working? ⁷ Who at any time serves ^(BJ)as a soldier at his own expense? Who ^(BK)plants a vineyard and does not ^[r]consume the fruit of it? Or who shepherds a flock and does not ^[s]consume the milk of the flock?

⁸ Am I speaking these things ^(BL)according to ^[t]human judgment? Or does not the Law also say these things? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses, “^(BM)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing.” Is God merely concerned about ^(BN)oxen? ¹⁰ Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, ^(BO)for our sake it was written, because ^(BP)the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. ^11 (BQ)If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? ¹² If others share this authority over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we ^(BR)did not use this authority, but we endure all things ^(BS)so that we will cause no hindrance to the ^(BT)gospel of Christ. ^13 (BU)Do you not know that those who ^(BV)perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share ^[u]from the altar? ¹⁴ So also ^(BW)the Lord directed those who proclaim the ^(BX)gospel to ^(BY)get their living from the gospel.

¹⁵ But I have ^(BZ)used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case, for it would be better for me to die than have anyone make ^(CA)my boast an empty one. ¹⁶ For if I proclaim the gospel, I have nothing to boast, for ^(CB)I am under compulsion. For woe is me if I do not proclaim ^(CC)the gospel. ¹⁷ For if I do this voluntarily, I have a ^(CD)reward; but if against my will, I have a ^(CE)stewardship entrusted to me. ¹⁸ What then is my ^(CF)reward? That, when I proclaim the gospel, I may offer the gospel ^(CG)without charge, so as ^(CH)not to make full use of my authority in the gospel.

¹⁹ For though I am ^(CI)free from all, I have made myself ^(CJ)a slave to all, so that I may ^(CK)win more. ^20 (CL)And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews. To those who are under ^[v]the Law, as under ^[w]the Law though ^(CM)not being myself under ^[x]the Law, so that I might win those who are under ^[y]the Law. ²¹ To those who are ^(CN)without law, ^(CO)as without law, though not being without the law of God but ^(CP)under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. ²² To the ^(CQ)weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become ^(CR)all things to all men, ^(CS)so that I may by all means save some. ²³ So I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

^24 (CT)Do you not know that those who run in a ^[z]race all run, but only one receives ^(CU)the prize? ^(CV)Run in such a way that you may win. ²⁵ Now everyone who ^(CW)competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a corruptible ^(CX)crown, but we an incorruptible. ²⁶ Therefore I ^(CY)run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not ^(CZ)beating the air; ²⁷ but I ^[aa]discipline ^(DA)my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Temptation and God’s Faithfulness

10 For ^(DB)I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all ^(DC)under the cloud and all ^(DD)passed through the sea; ² and all were ^(DE)baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³ and all ^(DF)ate the same spiritual food; ⁴ and all ^(DG)drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was ^[ab]Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased. For ^(DH)they were ^[ac]struck down in the wilderness. ⁶ Now these things happened as ^(DI)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^(DJ)they also craved.

⁷ Do not be ^(DK)idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “^(DL)The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to ^(DM)play.” ⁸ Nor let us act in sexual immorality, as ^(DN)some of them ^[ad]did, and ^(DO)twenty-three thousand fell in one day. ⁹ Nor let us put Christ to the test, as ^(DP)some of them ^[ae]did, and were destroyed by the serpents. ¹⁰ Nor ^(DQ)grumble, as some of them ^[af]did, and ^(DR)were destroyed by the ^(DS)destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an ^(DT)example, and ^(DU)they were written for our instruction, upon whom ^(DV)the ends of the ages have arrived. ¹² Therefore let him who ^(DW)thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but ^(DX)God is faithful, who will not allow you to be ^(DY)tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

¹⁴ Therefore, my ^(DZ)beloved, flee from ^(EA)idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to prudent people. You judge what I say. ¹⁶ Is not the ^(EB)cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the ^[ag](EC)bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Since there is one ^[ah]bread, we ^(ED)who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one ^[ai]bread. ¹⁸ Look at ^[aj]the nation ^(EE)Israel. Are not those who ^(EF)eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? ¹⁹ What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^(EG)that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^(EH)sacrifice to demons and not to God. And I do not want you to become sharers in demons. ^21 (EI)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^(EJ)the table of demons. ²² Or do we ^(EK)provoke the ^[ak]Lord to jealousy? Are we ^(EL)stronger than He?

^23 (EM)All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things ^(EN)build up. ²⁴ Let no one ^(EO)seek his own good, but that of the other person. ^25 (EP)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake. ^26 (EQ)For the earth is the ^[al]Lord’s, as well as its fullness. ²⁷ If ^(ER)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^(ES)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. ²⁸ But ^(ET)if anyone says to you, “This is meat consecrated to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake. ²⁹ I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For ^(EU)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with gratefulness, ^(EV)why am I slandered concerning that for which I ^(EW)give thanks?

³¹ Whether, then, you eat or drink or ^(EX)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ^32 (EY)Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to ^(EZ)the church of God; ³³ just as I also ^(FA)please all men in all things, ^(FB)not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, ^(FC)so that they may be saved.

11 ^(FD)Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Head Coverings

² Now ^(FE)I praise you because you ^(FF)remember me in everything and ^(FG)hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to understand that ^[am]Christ is the ^(FH)head of every man, and ^(FI)the man is the head of a woman, and God is the ^(FJ)head of ^[an]Christ. ⁴ Every man who has something on his head while praying or ^(FK)prophesying, shames his head. ⁵ But every ^(FL)woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, shames her head, for she is one and the same as the woman ^[ao]whose head is ^(FM)shaved. ⁶ For if a woman does not cover ^[ap]her head, let her also ^[aq]have her hair cut short. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to ^[ar]have her hair cut short or ^[as]her head shaved, let her cover ^[at]her head. ⁷ For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the ^(FN)image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For ^(FO)man ^[au]does not originate from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ For indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but ^(FP)woman for the man’s sake. ¹⁰ Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, in the Lord, neither is woman ^[av]independent of man, nor is man ^[aw]independent of woman. ¹² For as the woman ^[ax]originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman, but ^(FQ)all things ^[ay]originate ^(FR)from God. ^13 (FS)Judge ^[az]for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, ¹⁵ but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. ¹⁶ But if one is inclined to be contentious, ^(FT)we have no ^[ba]other practice, nor have ^(FU)the churches of God.

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ But in giving this instruction, ^(FV)I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For, in the first place, when you come together ^[bb]as a church, I hear that ^[bc](FW)divisions exist among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For there ^(FX)must also be factions among you, ^(FY)so that those who are approved may become ^[bd]evident among you. ²⁰ Therefore when you meet together in the same place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, ²¹ for in your eating each one takes his own supper first, and one is hungry and ^(FZ)another is drunk. ²² For do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the ^(GA)church of God and ^(GB)shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall ^(GC)I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

²³ For ^(GD)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that ^(GE)the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was being betrayed took bread, ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way He took ^(GF)the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the ^(GG)new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord ^(GH)until He comes.

²⁷ Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be ^(GI)guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But a man must ^(GJ)test himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. ³⁰ For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number ^[be](GK)sleep. ³¹ But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are ^(GL)disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with ^(GM)the world.

³³ So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ If anyone is ^(GN)hungry, let him eat ^(GO)at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will ^(GP)direct ^(GQ)when I come.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning ^(GR)spiritual gifts, brothers, ^(GS)I do not want you to be ignorant. ^2 (GT)You know that when you were pagans, you were ^(GU)being led astray to the ^(GV)mute idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking ^[bf](GW)by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is ^[bg](GX)accursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is ^(GY)Lord,” except ^[bh](GZ)by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are ^(HA)varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ And there are varieties of workings, but the same ^(HB)God who works everything in everyone. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit ^(HC)for what is profitable. ⁸ For to one is given the word of ^(HD)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of ^(HE)knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to someone else ^(HF)faith ^[bi]by the same Spirit, and to another ^(HG)gifts of ^[bj]healing ^[bk]by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the workings of ^(HH)miracles, and to another ^(HI)prophecy, and to another the ^[bl](HJ)distinguishing of spirits, to someone else various ^(HK)kinds of tongues, and to another the ^[bm](HL)translation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(HM)distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

¹² For even ^(HN)as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, ^(HO)so also is Christ. ¹³ For also ^[bn](HP)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether ^(HQ)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to ^(HR)drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For also ^(HS)the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason ^[bo]any the less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason ^[bp]any the less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has ^(HT)appointed the members, each one of them, in the body, ^(HU)just as He desired. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now ^(HV)there are many members, but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, how much more is it that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary, ²³ and those members of the body which we think as less honorable, ^[bq]on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable members have no such need. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no ^[br]division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is ^[bs]honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are ^(HW)Christ’s body, and ^(HX)individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has ^[bt](HY)appointed in ^(HZ)the church, first ^(IA)apostles, second ^(IB)prophets, third ^(IC)teachers, then ^[bu](ID)miracles, then ^(IE)gifts of healings, helps, ^(IF)administrations, various ^(IG)kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of ^[bv]miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all ^[bw](IH)translate? ³¹ But ^[bx]you ^(II)earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I will yet show you a more excellent way.

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the ^(IJ)tongues of men and of ^(IK)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ^(IL)clanging cymbal. ² And if I have the gift of ^(IM)prophecy, and know all ^(IN)mysteries and all ^(IO)knowledge; and if I have ^(IP)all faith, so as to ^(IQ)remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I ^(IR)give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I ^(IS)surrender my body ^[by]to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love ^(IT)is patient, love is kind, ^(IU)is not jealous, does not brag, is not ^(IV)puffed up; ⁵ it does not act unbecomingly, ^(IW)does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^(IX)does not take into account a wrong suffered; ^6 (IY)it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but ^(IZ)rejoices with the truth; ^7 [bz](JA)it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails, but if there are gifts of ^[ca](JB)prophecy, they will be done away; if there are ^(JC)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. ⁹ For we ^(JD)know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the ^[cb]perfect comes, the partial will be done away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I ^[cc]became a man, I did away with childish things. ¹² For now we ^(JE)see in a mirror ^[cd]dimly, but then ^(JF)face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also ^(JG)have been fully known. ¹³ But now abide faith, hope, love—these three; but the ^[ce]greatest of these is ^(JH)love.

Prophecy and Tongues

14 ^(JI)Pursue love, yet ^(JJ)earnestly desire ^(JK)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^(JL)prophesy. ² For one who ^(JM)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one ^[cf]understands, but ^[cg]in his spirit he speaks ^(JN)mysteries. ³ But one who prophesies speaks to men for ^(JO)edification and ^(JP)exhortation and encouragement. ⁴ One who ^(JQ)speaks in a tongue ^(JR)edifies himself; but one who ^(JS)prophesies ^(JT)edifies the church. ⁵ But I wish that you all ^(JU)spoke in tongues, but ^(JV)even more that you would prophesy. And greater is one who prophesies than one who ^(JW)speaks in tongues, unless he ^[ch]translates, so that the church may receive ^(JX)edification.

⁶ But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(JY)revelation or of ^(JZ)knowledge or of ^(KA)prophecy or of ^(KB)teaching? ⁷ Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? ⁸ For if ^(KC)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So also you, unless you utter by the tongue a word that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be ^(KD)speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of sounds in the world, and none is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not know the meaning of the sound, I will be to the one who speaks a ^[ci](KE)barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a ^[cj]barbarian ^[ck]to me. ¹² So also you, since you are zealous for ^[cl]spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the ^(KF)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may ^[cm]translate. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ^15 (KG)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(KH)sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. ¹⁶ Otherwise if you bless ^[cn]in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ^[co]uninformed say ^(KI)the “Amen” at your ^(KJ)giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(KK)edified. ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

^20 (KL)Brothers, ^(KM)do not be children in your thinking; rather in evil ^(KN)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In ^(KO)the Law it is written, “^(KP)By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the ^[cp]Lord. ²² So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ^(KQ)prophecy is for a sign not to unbelievers but to those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ^[cq]uninformed men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(KR)you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all ^(KS)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^[cr]uninformed man enters, he is ^(KT)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; ^25 (KU)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(KV)fall on his face and worship God, declaring that ^(KW)surely God is among you.

Orderly Worship

^26 (KX)What is the outcome then, ^(KY)brothers? When you assemble, ^(KZ)each one has a ^(LA)psalm, has a ^(LB)teaching, has a ^(LC)revelation, has a ^(LD)tongue, has a ^[cs](LE)translation. Let ^(LF)all things be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(LG)tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must ^[ct](LH)translate; ²⁸ but if there is no ^[cu]translator, he must keep silent in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ And let two or three ^(LI)prophets speak, and let the others ^(LJ)pass judgment. ³⁰ But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted. ³² And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; ³³ for God is not a God of ^(LK)confusion but of ^[cv]peace, as in ^(LL)all the churches of the ^(LM)saints.

³⁴ The women are to ^(LN)keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but ^(LO)are to subject themselves, just as ^(LP)the Law also says. ³⁵ But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. ^36 [cw]Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it arrived to you only?

^37 (LQ)If anyone thinks he is a prophet or ^(LR)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ^(LS)are the Lord’s commandment. ³⁸ But if anyone remains ignorant about this, he ^[cx]is ignored by God.

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers, ^(LT)earnestly desire to ^(LU)prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. ⁴⁰ But ^(LV)all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now ^(LW)I make known to you, brothers, the ^(LX)gospel which I proclaimed as good news to you, which also you received, ^(LY)in which also you stand, ² by which also you are saved, ^(LZ)if you hold fast ^[cy]the word which I proclaimed to you as good news, ^(MA)unless you believed for nothing.

³ For ^(MB)I delivered to you ^[cz]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died ^(MC)for our sins ^(MD)according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was ^(ME)raised on the third day ^(MF)according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that ^(MG)He appeared to ^(MH)Cephas, then ^(MI)to the twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some ^(MJ)have fallen asleep. ⁷ After that, He appeared to ^[da](MK)James, then to ^(ML)all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all, as ^[db]to one untimely born, ^(MM)He appeared to me also. ⁹ For I am ^(MN)the least of the apostles, ^[dc]and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I ^(MO)persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by ^(MP)the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I ^(MQ)labored even more than all of them, yet ^(MR)not I, but the grace of God with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there ^(MS)is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And ^(MT)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. ¹⁵ Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we bore witness ^[dd]against God that He ^(MU)raised ^[de]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ^(MV)you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who ^(MW)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are ^(MX)of all men most to be pitied.

²⁰ But now Christ ^(MY)has been raised from the dead, the ^(MZ)first fruits of those who have ^(NA)fallen asleep. ²¹ For since ^(NB)by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For ^(NC)as in Adam all die, so also in ^[df]Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ ^(ND)the first fruits, after that ^(NE)those who are Christ’s at ^(NF)His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He hands over ^(NG)the kingdom to the ^(NH)God and Father, when He has abolished ^(NI)all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign ^(NJ)until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be ^(NK)abolished is death. ²⁷ For ^(NL)He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “^(NM)All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. ²⁸ And when ^(NN)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that ^(NO)God may be all in all.

²⁹ Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized ^[dg]for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? ³⁰ Why are we also ^(NP)in danger every hour? ³¹ I affirm, brothers, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, ^(NQ)I die daily. ³² If ^[dh]from human motives I ^(NR)fought with wild beasts at ^(NS)Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, ^(NT)let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ^33 (NU)Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ^34 (NV)Become righteously sober-minded, and stop sinning; for some have ^(NW)no knowledge of God. ^(NX)I speak this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But ^(NY)someone will say, “How are ^(NZ)the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” ^36 (OA)You fool! That which you ^(OB)sow does not come to life unless it dies; ³⁷ and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of ^[di]something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body just as He wished, and ^(OC)to each of the seeds a body of its own. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. ⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

^42 (OD)So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown ^[dj](OE)a corruptible body, it is raised ^[dk](OF)an incorruptible body; ⁴³ it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in ^(OG)glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a ^(OH)natural body, it is raised a ^(OI)spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So also it is written, “The first ^(OJ)man, Adam, became a living soul.” The ^(OK)last Adam became a ^(OL)life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is ^(OM)from the earth, ^[dl](ON)earthy; the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, ^(OO)so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And just as we have ^(OP)borne the image of the earthy, ^[dm]we ^(OQ)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

⁵⁰ Now I say this, brothers, that ^(OR)flesh and blood cannot ^(OS)inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the corruptible inherit ^(OT)the incorruptible. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a ^(OU)mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(OV)changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For ^(OW)the trumpet will sound, and ^(OX)the dead will be raised incorruptible, and ^(OY)we will be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on ^(OZ)the incorruptible, and this ^(PA)mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this corruptible puts on the incorruptible, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the word that is written, “^(PB)Death is swallowed up in victory. ^55 (PC)O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ⁵⁶ Now the sting of ^(PD)death is sin, and ^(PE)the power of sin is the law; ⁵⁷ but ^(PF)thanks be to God, who gives us the ^(PG)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

^58 (PH)Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in ^(PI)the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

The Collection of Gifts

16 Now concerning ^(PJ)the collection for ^(PK)the saints, as ^(PL)I directed the churches of ^(PM)Galatia, so do you also. ² On ^(PN)the first day of every week each one of you is to ^[dn]set something aside, saving whatever he has prospered, so that ^(PO)no collections be made when I come. ³ And when I arrive, ^(PP)whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem, ⁴ and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵ But I ^(PQ)will come to you after I go through ^(PR)Macedonia, for I ^(PS)am going through Macedonia; ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(PT)send me on my way wherever I may go. ⁷ For I do not wish to see you now ^(PU)just in passing, for I hope to remain with you for some time, ^(PV)if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will remain in ^(PW)Ephesus until ^(PX)Pentecost, ⁹ for a ^(PY)wide and effective door has opened to me, and ^(PZ)there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ Now if ^(QA)Timothy comes, take care that he is with you without fear, for he is doing ^(QB)the Lord’s work, as I also am. ^11 (QC)So let no one despise him. But ^(QD)send him on his way ^(QE)in peace, so that he may come to me, for I expect him with the brothers.

¹² Now concerning ^(QF)Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brothers, and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity.

Final Instructions and Greetings

^13 (QG)Be watchful, ^(QH)stand firm in the faith, ^(QI)act like men, ^(QJ)be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done ^(QK)in love.

¹⁵ Now I exhort you, brothers (you know the ^(QL)household of Stephanas, that ^[do]they were the ^(QM)first fruits of ^(QN)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ^(QO)service to ^(QP)the saints), ¹⁶ that ^(QQ)you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. ¹⁷ And I rejoice over the ^[dp](QR)coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have ^[dq]supplied ^(QS)what was lacking on your part. ¹⁸ For they ^(QT)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^(QU)recognize such men.

¹⁹ The churches of ^(QV)Asia greet you. ^(QW)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ^(QX)the church that is in their house. ²⁰ All the brothers greet you. ^(QY)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ The greeting is in ^(QZ)my own hand—^[dr]Paul. ²² If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be ^[ds](RA)accursed. ^[dt](RB)Maranatha. ^23 (RC)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

God of All Comfort

1 Paul, ^(RD)an apostle of ^(RE)Christ Jesus ^(RF)by the will of God, and ^(RG)Timothy our brother,

To ^(RH)the church of God which is at ^(RI)Corinth with all the ^[du]saints who are throughout ^(RJ)Achaia:

^2 (RK)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (RL)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and ^(RM)God of all comfort, ⁴ who ^(RN)comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in ^[dv]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For just ^(RO)as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ But whether we are afflicted, it is ^(RP)for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is working in your perseverance in the same sufferings which we also suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that ^(RQ)as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

⁸ For ^(RR)we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of our ^(RS)affliction which came to us in ^[dw](RT)Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even to live. ^9 [dx]Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not have confidence in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; ¹⁰ who ^(RU)rescued us from so great a peril of death, and will rescue us, ^[dy]He ^(RV)on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet rescue us, ¹¹ you also joining in ^(RW)helping us through your prayers on our behalf, so that thanks may be given on our behalf by ^(RX)many persons for the gracious gift bestowed on us through the prayers of many.

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹² For our boasting is this: the testimony of ^(RY)our conscience, that in ^[dz]holiness and ^(RZ)godly sincerity, ^(SA)not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. ¹³ For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand ^(SB)until the end, ¹⁴ just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason for boasting as you also are ours, in ^(SC)the day of our Lord Jesus.

¹⁵ And in this confidence I intended at first to ^(SD)come to you, so that you might receive ^[ea](SE)grace twice; ^16 [eb]that is, to ^(SF)pass ^[ec]your way into ^(SG)Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be ^(SH)helped on my journey to Judea. ¹⁷ Therefore, was I vacillating when I intended to do this? Or what I purpose, do I purpose ^(SI)according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? ¹⁸ But as ^(SJ)God is faithful, ^(SK)our word to you is not yes and no. ¹⁹ For ^(SL)the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and ^(SM)Silvanus and ^(SN)Timothy—was not yes and no, but has become yes ^(SO)in Him. ²⁰ For ^(SP)as many as are the promises of God, ^(SQ)in Him they are yes. Therefore also through Him is ^(SR)our Amen to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who ^(SS)establishes us with you in Christ and ^(ST)anointed us is God, ²² who also ^(SU)sealed us and ^(SV)gave the ^[ed]pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.

²³ But ^(SW)I call God as witness ^[ee]to my soul, that ^(SX)to spare you I did not come again to ^(SY)Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we ^(SZ)lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are ^(TA)standing firm.

2 But I determined this ^[ef]for my own sake, that I ^(TB)would not come to you again in sorrow. ² For if I ^(TC)cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? ³ And this is the very thing I ^(TD)wrote you, so that ^(TE)when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having ^(TF)confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all. ⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I ^(TG)wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have abundantly for you.

Forgive and Love the Sinner

⁵ But ^(TH)if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—^[eg]in order not to say too much—to all of you. ⁶ Sufficient for such a one is ^(TI)this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, ⁷ so that on the contrary you should rather ^(TJ)graciously forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow. ⁸ Therefore I encourage you to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ For to this end also ^(TK)I wrote, so that I might ^(TL)know your proven character, whether you are ^(TM)obedient in all things. ¹⁰ But one whom you graciously forgive anything, I graciously forgive also. For indeed what I have graciously forgiven, if I have graciously forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes ^(TN)in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that no advantage would be taken of us by ^(TO)Satan, for ^(TP)we are not ignorant of his schemes.

¹² Now when I came to ^(TQ)Troas for the ^(TR)gospel of Christ and when a ^(TS)door was opened for me in the Lord, ¹³ I ^(TT)had no rest for my spirit, not finding ^(TU)Titus my brother. But ^(TV)saying farewell to them, I went on to ^(TW)Macedonia.

^14 (TX)But thanks be to God, who always ^(TY)leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and manifests through us the ^(TZ)aroma of the ^(UA)knowledge of Him in every place. ¹⁵ For we are a ^(UB)fragrance of Christ to God among ^(UC)those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; ^16 (UD)to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is ^(UE)sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like many, ^[eh](UF)peddling the word of God, but ^(UG)as from sincerity, but as from God, ^(UH)in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

Ministers of a New Covenant

3 Are we beginning to ^(UI)commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, ^(UJ)letters of commendation to you or from you? ^2 (UK)You are our letter, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men, ³ being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, ^(UL)ministered to by us, having been written not with ink but with the Spirit of ^(UM)the living God, not on ^(UN)tablets of stone but on ^(UO)tablets of hearts of ^(UP)flesh.

⁴ And such ^(UQ)confidence we have through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but ^(UR)our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who also made us sufficient as ^(US)ministers of a ^(UT)new covenant, not of ^(UU)the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but ^(UV)the Spirit gives life.

⁷ But if the ^(UW)ministry of death, ^(UX)in letters having been engraved on stones, came ^[ei]with glory, ^(UY)so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, which was being brought to an end, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit not be even more in glory? ⁹ For if ^(UZ)the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ^(VA)ministry of righteousness abound in glory. ¹⁰ For indeed what had been glorious, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹ For if that which was being brought to an end was ^[ej]with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

^12 (VB)Therefore having such a hope, ^(VC)we use great boldness, ¹³ and are not like Moses, ^(VD)who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the consequence of what was being brought to an end. ¹⁴ But their minds were ^(VE)hardened; for until this very day at the ^(VF)reading of ^(VG)the old covenant the same veil ^[ek]remains unlifted, because it is brought to an end in Christ. ¹⁵ But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart, ¹⁶ but ^(VH)whenever a person turns to the ^[el]Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where ^(VI)the Spirit of the Lord is, ^(VJ)there is freedom. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, ^(VK)beholding as in a mirror the ^(VL)glory of the Lord, are being ^(VM)transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from ^(VN)the Lord, the Spirit.

The Gospel of the Glory of Christ

4 Therefore, since we have this ^(VO)ministry, as we ^(VP)received mercy, we ^(VQ)do not lose heart, ² but we have renounced the ^(VR)hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness or ^(VS)adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth ^(VT)commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our ^(VU)gospel is ^(VV)veiled, it is veiled ^[em]to ^(VW)those who are perishing, ⁴ in whose case ^(VX)the god of ^(VY)this age has ^(VZ)blinded the minds of the unbelieving ^[en]so that they might not see the ^(WA)light of the gospel of the ^(WB)glory of Christ, who is the ^(WC)image of God. ⁵ For we ^(WD)do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves ^[eo]for the sake of Jesus. ⁶ For God, who said, “^(WE)Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has ^(WF)shone in our hearts to give the ^(WG)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in ^(WH)earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of ^(WI)the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ^8 (WJ)in every way afflicted, but not ^(WK)crushed; ^(WL)perplexed, but not despairing; ^9 (WM)persecuted, but not ^(WN)forsaken; ^(WO)struck down, but not destroyed; ^10 (WP)always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^(WQ)the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So death works in us, but life in you.

¹³ But having the same ^(WR)spirit of faith, according to what is written, “^(WS)I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who ^(WT)raised the Lord Jesus ^(WU)will raise us also with Jesus and will ^(WV)present us with you. ¹⁵ For all things are ^(WW)for your sakes, so that the grace which is ^[ep](WX)spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we ^(WY)do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our ^(WZ)inner man is ^(XA)being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary, ^(XB)light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we ^(XC)look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The Temporal and Eternal

5 For we know that if ^[eq]the ^(XD)earthly ^(XE)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house ^(XF)not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For indeed in this we ^(XG)groan, longing to be ^(XH)clothed with our dwelling from heaven, ³ inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. ⁴ For indeed while we are in this tent, we ^(XI)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be ^(XJ)clothed, so that what is ^(XK)mortal will be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who ^(XL)gave to us the Spirit as a ^[er]pledge.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(XM)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for ^(XN)we walk by faith, not by ^[es]sight— ⁸ we are of good courage and ^(XO)prefer rather to be absent from the body and ^(XP)to be at home with the Lord. ⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be ^(XQ)pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before ^(XR)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for ^[et]his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

¹¹ So then, knowing the ^(XS)fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we ^[eu]have been made manifest to God; and I hope that we ^[ev]have been ^(XT)made manifest also in your consciences. ¹² We are not ^(XU)again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an ^(XV)opportunity to boast of us, so that you will have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we ^[ew]are ^(XW)out of our mind, it is for God, or if we are of right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(XX)controls us, having concluded this, that ^(XY)one died for all, therefore all died. ¹⁵ And He died for all, so that they who live would no longer ^(XZ)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

¹⁶ Therefore from now on we recognize no one ^[ex](YA)according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ ^[ey]according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is ^(YB)in Christ, he is ^(YC)a new creation; ^(YD)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ¹⁸ Now ^(YE)all these things are from God, ^(YF)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(YG)ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that ^(YH)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(YI)not counting their transgressions against them, and ^[ez]He has ^[fa]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ So then, we are ^(YJ)ambassadors for Christ, ^(YK)as God is pleading through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(YL)reconciled to God. ²¹ He made Him who ^(YM)knew no sin to be ^(YN)sin on our behalf, so that we might become the ^(YO)righteousness of God in Him.

Commendable Ministers of God

6 And ^(YP)working together with Him, ^(YQ)we also plead with you not to receive ^(YR)the grace of God in vain— ² for He says,

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— ^3 (YT)giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, ⁴ but in everything ^(YU)commending ourselves as ^(YV)ministers of God, ^(YW)in much perseverance, in afflictions, in distresses, in hardships, ⁵ in ^(YX)beatings, in imprisonments, in ^(YY)disturbances, in labors, in sleeplessness, in ^(YZ)hunger, ⁶ in purity, in ^(ZA)knowledge, in ^(ZB)patience, in kindness, in the ^(ZC)Holy Spirit, in ^(ZD)unhypocritical love, ⁷ in ^(ZE)the word of truth, in ^(ZF)the power of God; by ^(ZG)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, ⁸ by glory and ^(ZH)dishonor, by ^(ZI)evil report and good report; regarded as ^(ZJ)deceivers and yet ^(ZK)true; ⁹ as unknown and yet well-known, as ^(ZL)dying and yet behold, ^(ZM)we live; as ^[fb]punished and yet not put to death, ¹⁰ as ^(ZN)sorrowful but always ^(ZO)rejoicing, as ^(ZP)poor but making many rich, as ^(ZQ)having nothing and yet possessing ^(ZR)all things.

^11 (ZS)Our mouth ^[fc]has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our ^(ZT)heart is opened wide. ¹² You are not restrained ^[fd]by us, but ^(ZU)you are restrained in your own ^[fe]affections. ¹³ Now in a like ^(ZV)exchange—I speak as to ^(ZW)children—open wide to us also.

^14 (ZX)Do not be unequally yoked with ^(ZY)unbelievers; for what ^(ZZ)partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵ Or what ^(AAA)harmony has Christ with ^[ff]Belial, or ^[fg]what has a ^(AAB)believer in common with an ^(AAC)unbeliever? ¹⁶ Or ^(AAD)what agreement has a ^[fh]sanctuary of God with idols? For we are ^(AAE)a sanctuary of ^(AAF)the living God; just as God said,

7 Therefore, having these promises, ^(AAN)beloved, ^(AAO)let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance

^2 (AAP)Make room for us in your hearts. We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. ³ I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said ^(AAQ)before that you are ^(AAR)in our hearts to die together and to live together. ⁴ Great is my ^(AAS)boldness toward you; great is my ^(AAT)boasting on your behalf. I have been filled with ^(AAU)comfort; I am overflowing with ^(AAV)joy in all our affliction.

⁵ For even when we came into ^(AAW)Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were ^(AAX)afflicted on every side—^(AAY)conflicts without, fears within. ⁶ But ^(AAZ)God, who comforts the humbled, ^(ABA)comforted us by the coming of ^(ABB)Titus; ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. ⁸ For though I ^(ABC)caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— ⁹ I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to repentance. For you were made to have ^[fk]godly sorrow, so that you might not suffer loss in anything ^[fl]through us. ¹⁰ For ^[fm]godly sorrow produces a ^(ABD)repentance ^[fn]without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world brings about death. ¹¹ For behold what earnestness this very thing—this ^[fo]godly sorrow—has brought about in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what ^(ABE)longing, what zeal, what ^(ABF)avenging of wrong! In everything you ^(ABG)demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. ¹² So although ^(ABH)I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of ^(ABI)the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be manifested to you in the sight of God. ¹³ For this reason we have been ^(ABJ)comforted.

And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of ^(ABK)Titus, because his ^(ABL)spirit has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴ For if in anything I have ^(ABM)boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame, but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before ^(ABN)Titus proved to be the truth. ¹⁵ And his ^[fp]affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the ^(ABO)obedience of you all, how you received him with ^(ABP)fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I rejoice that in everything ^(ABQ)I am encouraged about you.

Generosity and Grace

8 Now brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been ^(ABR)given in the churches of ^(ABS)Macedonia, ² that in a great testing by affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the ^(ABT)richness of their ^[fq]generosity. ³ For I testify that ^(ABU)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, ⁴ begging us with much urging for the ^(ABV)grace ^[fr]of sharing in the ^(ABW)ministry to the saints, ⁵ and this, not as we had ^[fs]expected, but they first ^(ABX)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by ^(ABY)the will of God. ⁶ So we ^(ABZ)encouraged ^(ACA)Titus that as he had previously ^(ACB)made a beginning, so he would also complete in you ^(ACC)this gracious work as well.

⁷ But just as you ^(ACD)abound ^(ACE)in everything, in faith and word and knowledge and in all earnestness and in ^[ft]the love we inspired in you, see that you ^(ACF)abound in this gracious work also. ⁸ I ^(ACG)am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. ⁹ For you know ^(ACH)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(ACI)though being rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ And I ^(ACJ)give my opinion in this matter, for this is profitable for you, who were the first to begin ^(ACK)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. ¹¹ But now complete ^[fu]doing it also, so that just as there was the ^(ACL)readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it from what you have. ¹² For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable ^(ACM)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ For this is not for the relief of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— ¹⁴ at this present time your abundance being a supply for ^(ACN)their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for ^(ACO)your need, that there may be equality. ¹⁵ As it is written, “^(ACP)He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

¹⁶ But ^[fv](ACQ)thanks be to God who ^(ACR)puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of ^(ACS)Titus. ¹⁷ For he not only accepted our ^(ACT)plea, but being himself very earnest, he has gone out to you of his own accord. ¹⁸ And we have sent along with him ^(ACU)the brother whose praise in the things of the ^(ACV)gospel is throughout ^(ACW)all the churches. ^19 (ACX)And not only this, but he has also been ^(ACY)appointed by the churches to travel with us in ^(ACZ)this gracious work that is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our ^(ADA)readiness, ^20 [fw]taking precaution lest anyone discredits us in our ministering of this generous gift, ²¹ for we ^(ADB)respect what is good, not only in ^(ADC)the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. ²² And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things, but now even more earnest because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for ^(ADD)Titus, he is my ^(ADE)partner and fellow worker ^[fx]among you; as for our ^(ADF)brothers, they are ^[fy](ADG)messengers of the churches, ^(ADH)a glory to Christ. ²⁴ Therefore ^[fz]openly before the churches, ^[ga]show them the proof of your love and of our ^(ADI)reason for boasting about you.

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

9 For ^(ADJ)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ^(ADK)ministry to the ^[gb]saints; ² for I know your readiness, of which I ^(ADL)boast about you to the ^(ADM)Macedonians, that ^(ADN)Achaia has been prepared since ^(ADO)last year, and your zeal stirred up most of them. ³ But I have sent the brothers, in order that our ^(ADP)boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, ^(ADQ)as I was saying, you may be prepared; ⁴ lest if any ^(ADR)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—be put to shame in this certainty of ours. ⁵ So I regarded it necessary to encourage the ^(ADS)brothers that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised ^(ADT)blessing, so that the same would be ready as a ^(ADU)blessing and not as a ^[gc](ADV)begrudging obligation.

⁶ Now this I say, ^(ADW)he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows with blessing will also reap with blessing. ⁷ Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not ^(ADX)grudgingly or under compulsion, for ^(ADY)God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And ^(ADZ)God is able to make every grace abound to you, so that in everything at every time having every sufficiency, you may have an abundance for every good deed; ⁹ as it is written,

¹⁰ Now He who supplies ^(AEB)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and ^(AEC)increase the harvest of your righteousness; ¹¹ you will be ^(AED)enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us is bringing about ^(AEE)thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying ^(AEF)the needs of the ^[ge]saints, but is also abounding ^(AEG)through many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ Because of the proven character given by this ^(AEH)ministry, they will ^(AEI)glorify God for your obedience to your ^(AEJ)confession of the ^(AEK)gospel of Christ and for the ^[gf]generosity of your ^[gg]fellowship toward them and toward all, ¹⁴ while they also, by prayer on your behalf, long for you because of the surpassing grace of God on you. ^{15 [gh](AEL)}Thanks be to God for His indescribable ^(AEM)gift!

Paul Defends His Authority

10 Now ^(AEN)I, Paul, myself ^(AEO)plead with you by the ^(AEP)gentleness and forbearance of Christ—I who ^(AEQ)am humble when face-to-face with you, but courageous toward you when absent! ² But I beg that ^(AER)when I am present I need not act so courageously with the confidence that I consider to daringly use against ^(AES)some, who consider us as if we walked ^(AET)according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war ^(AEU)according to the flesh, ⁴ for the ^(AEV)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but ^[gi]divinely powerful ^(AEW)for the tearing down of strongholds, ⁵ as we tear down speculations and every ^(AEX)lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the ^(AEY)obedience of Christ, ⁶ and are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever ^(AEZ)your obedience is fulfilled.

^7 [gj](AFA)You are looking at ^[gk]things as they are outwardly. ^(AFB)If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, ^(AFC)so also are we. ⁸ For even if ^(AFD)I boast somewhat ^[gl]further about our ^(AFE)authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame, ^9 [gm]for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. ¹⁰ For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his ^[gn]personal presence is ^(AFF)weak and ^(AFG)his ^[go]words contemptible.” ¹¹ Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

¹² For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with ^[gp]some of those who ^(AFH)commend themselves, but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. ¹³ But we will not boast ^(AFI)beyond our measure, but ^[gq](AFJ)within the measure of the area of influence which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach you, (for ^(AFK)we were the first to come even as far as you in the ^(AFL)gospel of Christ), ¹⁵ not boasting ^(AFM)beyond our measure in ^(AFN)other men’s labors, but having the hope—that as ^(AFO)your faith grows—to be ^(AFP)enlarged even more by you ^[gr]within our area of influence, ¹⁶ so as to ^(AFQ)proclaim the gospel even to ^(AFR)the regions beyond you, and not to boast ^[gs](AFS)in what has been accomplished in the area of influence of another. ¹⁷ But ^(AFT)he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. ¹⁸ For it is not the one who ^(AFU)commends himself that is approved, but the one ^(AFV)whom the Lord commends.

Paul Defends His Apostleship

11 I wish that you would ^(AFW)bear with me in a little ^(AFX)foolishness, but ^[gt]indeed you are bearing with me. ² For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, for I ^(AFY)betrothed you to one husband, so that I might ^(AFZ)present you as a pure virgin to Christ. ³ But I fear that, as the ^(AGA)serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be corrupted from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if ^[gu]one comes and preaches ^(AGB)another Jesus whom we did not preach, or you receive a ^(AGC)different spirit which you did not receive, or a ^(AGD)different gospel which you did not accept, you ^(AGE)bear this ^(AGF)beautifully. ⁵ For I consider myself ^(AGG)in no way inferior to the ^[gv]most-eminent apostles. ⁶ But even if I am ^(AGH)unskilled in word, yet I am not so in ^(AGI)knowledge; in fact, in every way we have ^(AGJ)made this evident to you in all things.

⁷ Or ^(AGK)did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed the ^(AGL)gospel of God to you ^(AGM)without charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by ^(AGN)taking wages from them to minister to you. ⁹ And when I was present with you and was in need, I was ^(AGO)not a burden to anyone; for when ^(AGP)the brothers came from ^(AGQ)Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept and will keep myself from ^(AGR)being a burden to you. ^10 (AGS)As the truth of Christ is in me, ^(AGT)this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of ^(AGU)Achaia. ¹¹ Why? ^(AGV)Because I do not love you? ^(AGW)God knows I do!

¹² But what I am doing I will continue to do, ^(AGX)so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be found just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. ¹³ For such men are ^(AGY)false apostles, ^(AGZ)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even ^(AHA)Satan disguises himself as an ^(AHB)angel of light.