1 Corinthians 7:17 - 2 Corinthians 11:14

Disciples’ Literal New Testament

¹⁷ Except that^[a] as the Lord apportioned^[b] to each one, as God has called each one, in this manner let him be walking. And thus I am directing^[c] in all the churches.

In General, Remain With God In The Life Context In Which You Were Saved

¹⁸ Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not conceal^[d] it. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰ Each in the calling in which he was called— in this let him remain. ²¹ Were you called as a slave? Do not let it be a concern to you. But if also^[e] you are able to become free, rather make-use-of the opportunity. ²² For the one having been called in the Lord as a slave is a freedperson of the Lord. Likewise the one having been called as a free one is a slave of Christ. ²³ You were bought with a price; do not become slaves^[f] of people. ²⁴ Each in what he was called, brothers— in this let him remain with God.

Concerning The Unmarried: In General, It Is Good To Remain As You Are In Life

²⁵ Now concerning virgins, I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one having been shown-mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. ²⁶ I think then that this^[g] is good because of the present necessity^[h], that it is good for a person to be so^[i]. ²⁷ Have you been bound^[j] to a woman? Do not be seeking a release^[k]. Have you been released^[l] from a woman? Do not be seeking a wife. ²⁸ But even if you marry, you did not sin. And if the virgin marries, she did not sin. But such ones will have affliction in the flesh, and I am sparing^[m] you.

We All Must Keep Our Earthly Life In Eternal Perspective

²⁹ And this I say, brothers— the time^[n] is shortened, so that henceforth even the ones having wives should be as-though not having, ³⁰ and the ones weeping as-though not weeping, and the ones rejoicing as-though not rejoicing, and the ones buying as-though not holding-on-to^[o], ³¹ and the ones making-use-of the world as-though not making-full-use-of it. For the form^[p] of this world is passing away.

Single People Can Be Solely Devoted To God; The Married Have a Dual Concern

³² Now I want you to be free-from-concern. The unmarried man is concerned-about the things of the Lord— how he may please the Lord. ³³ But the man having married is concerned-about the things of the world— how he may please his wife, ³⁴ and he has been divided^[q]. And the unmarried woman^[r], and the virgin, is concerned-about the things of the Lord— that she may be holy both in the body and in the spirit. But the woman having married is concerned-about the things of the world— how she may please her husband.

Do What You Think Is Honorable For Your Virgin Daughter

³⁵ Now I am saying this^[s] for the benefit of you yourselves— not that I may throw a noose^[t] on you, but toward good-order and devotion^[u] to the Lord, undistractedly. ³⁶ But if one^[v] thinks that he is behaving-dishonorably^[w] toward his virgin daughter— if she is beyond-the-bloom-of-youth^[x], and it ought^[y] to be so— let him do what he wants. He is not sinning. Let them marry. ³⁷ But he who stands steadfast^[z] in his heart, not having a necessity^[aa], and has authority^[ab] concerning^[ac] his own will, and has determined this in his own heart, to keep^[ad] his virgin daughter— he will do well^[ae]. ³⁸ So then, both the one giving his virgin daughter in marriage is doing well, and the one not giving-in-marriage will do better.

Widows Are Free To Remarry, But May Be Happier Remaining As They Are

³⁹ A wife has been bound for as much time as her husband lives. But if her husband falls-asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wishes— only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains thus^[af], according to my opinion; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.

Concerning Food Sacrificed To Idols: Let Love Guide Your Exercise of “Rights”

8 Now concerning the foods-sacrificed-to-idols, we know that we all have knowledge^[ag]. Knowledge puffs-up, but love builds-up. ² If anyone thinks that he has come-to-know anything, he did not-yet know as he ought-to know. ³ But if one loves^[ah] God, this one has been known by Him. ⁴ Therefore concerning the eating of the foods-sacrificed-to-idols— we know that an idol is nothing^[ai] in the world, and that there is no God except one. ⁵ For even if-indeed there are ones being called gods, whether in heaven or on earth— as-indeed there are many^[aj] gods and many lords— ⁶ yet for us there is One God the Father, from Whom are all things, and we are^[ak] for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we are through Him. ⁷ But this knowledge is not in all people. But some, by the accustomed-habit^[al] of the idol until now, eat this food as^[am] food-sacrificed-to-an-idol. And their conscience, being weak, is stained^[an]. ⁸ But food will not bring us^[ao] near^[ap] to God— neither if we do not eat are we lacking, nor if we eat are we abounding. ⁹ But be watching-out that this right^[aq] of yours does not somehow become an opportunity-for-stumbling to the weak ones. ¹⁰ For if someone sees you, the one having knowledge, reclining [to eat] in an idol-temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built-up so as to eat the foods-sacrificed-to-idols? ¹¹ For the one being weak is being destroyed^[ar] by your knowledge— the brother for the sake of whom Christ died! ¹² And in this manner sinning against the brothers and striking^[as] their conscience while being weak, you are sinning against Christ.

On The One Hand, I Will Not Do Anything That Hinders People’s Spiritual Advance

¹³ For-this-very-reason, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never eat meats, ever— in-order-that I may not cause my brother to fall.

For Example, I Have The Right To Be Paid As God’s Workman

9 Am^[at] I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? ² If to others I am not an apostle, yet indeed I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord— ³ this^[au] is my defense to the ones examining me! ⁴ We do not fail to have the right to eat^[av] and drink, do we? ⁵ We do not fail to have the right to take along^[aw] a sister who is a wife, do we?— as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas. ⁶ Or I alone and Barnabas— do not we have the right not to be working^[ax]?

Workers Always Partake of The Fruit of Their Labors

⁷ Who ever serves-as-a-soldier with his own rations? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who shepherds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock?

Does Not The Law Say This Very Thing?

⁸ I am not speaking these things according to [mere] human thinking^[ay], am I ? Or does not the Law also say these things? ⁹ For in the Law of Moses it has been written [in Deut 25:4], “You shall not muzzle a threshing ox”. God is not concerned about the oxen^[az], is He? ¹⁰ Or is He surely speaking for our sake? Indeed it was written for our sake— because^[ba] the one plowing ought to plow on the basis of hope, and the one threshing to thresh on the basis of hope that he might partake.

I Do Have This Right Over You

¹¹ If we sowed spiritual things to you, is it a great thing if we shall reap fleshly^[bb] things from you? ¹² If others partake of this right over you, should we not more?

But I Chose Not To Make Use Of This Right So As Not To Hinder The Gospel

Nevertheless, we did not make-use-of ^[bc] this right. But we are bearing^[bd] all things, in order that we might not give any hindrance to the good-news of Christ.

The Lord Even Commanded That Gospel Workers Live By Their Work

¹³ Do you not know that the ones working the temple-duties eat the things from the temple, that the ones serving at the altar divide-a-share with the altar? ¹⁴ So also the Lord directed^[be] the ones proclaiming the good-news to be living from the good-news.

But My Boast Is That I Do Not Make Use of This Right

¹⁵ But I have not made-use-of any of these things. And I did not write these things in order that it might become so in my case, for it would be better for me to die rather than— no one shall empty my boast^[bf]! ¹⁶ For if I am announcing-the-good-news, it is not^[bg] a boast for me, for a necessity^[bh] is lying-upon^[bi] me; for woe is to me if I do not announce-the-good-news. ¹⁷ For if I am practicing this of-my-own-will, I have a reward; but if not-of-my-own-will, I have been entrusted a stewardship^[bj]. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? That while announcing-the-good-news, I might place the good-news free-of-charge, so as not to make-full-use-of my right in^[bk] the good-news.

For I Have Chosen To Enslave Myself To All For The Advance of The Gospel

¹⁹ For^[bl] while being free from all people, I enslaved myself to all in order that I might gain the more. ²⁰ Indeed I became to the Jews as a Jew, in order that I might gain Jews; to the ones under the Law, as under the Law— not being myself under the Law— in order that I might gain the ones under the Law; ²¹ to the ones without-the-Law, as without-the-Law— not being without-the-law of God, but within-the-law of Christ— in order that I might gain the ones without-the-Law. ²² I became weak to the weak, in order that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, in order that I might by all means save some. ²³ And I am doing all things for the sake of the good-news, in order that I might become a co-partner of it.

On The Other Hand, I Will Do Everything Needed To Win My Race And Keep My Prize

²⁴ Do^[bm] you not know that the ones running in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Be running in this manner: that you may take-hold-of the prize. ²⁵ And everyone competing exercises-self-control as to all things. So those do it in order that they might receive a decayable crown, but we an undecayable one. ²⁶ So-indeed I run in this manner, as not aimlessly^[bn]. I box in this manner, as not beating the air. ²⁷ But I bruise my body and make it my slave, that having proclaimed to others, I myself should not somehow become disapproved^[bo].

For Loss of The Prize Is Possible: Remember What Happened To Israel

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers^[bp] were all under the cloud, and all went through the sea, ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and all ate the same spiritual^[bq] food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were drinking from a spiritual^[br] rock following them. And the rock was Christ. ⁵ But God was not well-pleased with the majority of them, for they were strewn in the wilderness.

Do Not Follow Their Example

⁶ Now these things took place as our examples, so that we might not be desirers of evil things, as those also desired. ⁷ And do not be idolaters, as some of them, as-indeed it has been written [in Ex 32:6], “The people sat-down to eat and drink, and stood up to play”. ⁸ And let us not be committing-sexual-immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty three thousand fell in one day [Num 25:1-9]. ⁹ And let us not be putting Christ to the test, as some of them tested, and were being destroyed by the serpents [Num 21:5-6]. ¹⁰ And do not be grumbling, like some of them grumbled, and perished by the destroyer [Num 16:41-49]. ¹¹ Now these^[bs] things were happening to those ones as-an-example. And it was written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come^[bt].

So Watch Out That You Do Not Fall

¹² So then let the one thinking that he stands be watching-out that he may not fall. ¹³ A temptation has not seized you except what is common-to-humanity. And God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but also with the temptation will make the way-out, that you may be able to endure.

For This Very Reason, Flee From The Eating Connected With Idol Worship

¹⁴ For-this-very-reason, my beloved, be fleeing from idolatry^[bu]. ¹⁵ I speak as to wise ones; you judge what I say: ¹⁶ the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing^[bv] of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a sharing of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we the many are one body^[bw], for we all partake from the one bread. ¹⁸ Look-at Israel according to the flesh— are not the ones eating the sacrifices sharers of the altar? ¹⁹ Therefore what am I saying? That^[bx] food-sacrificed-to-an-idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ On the contrary, that the things which they are sacrificing, they are sacrificing to demons, and not^[by] to God. And I do not want you to be sharers of the demons. ²¹ You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’ cup. You cannot^[bz] partake of the Lord’s table and the demons’ table. ²² Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?

So As To The Eating of Meat, Do What Is Beneficial And Edifying To Those Eating

²³ All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial. All things are lawful, but not all things build-up. ²⁴ Let no one be seeking his own thing, but the thing of the other. ²⁵ Be eating anything being sold in the meat-market, examining nothing for the sake of conscience. ²⁶ For “The earth and the fullness of it are the Lord’s” [Ps 24:1]. ²⁷ If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you want to go, eat anything being set-before you, examining nothing for the sake of conscience. ²⁸ But if one should say to you “This is offered-in-sacrifice”, do not eat^[ca]— for the sake of that one having disclosed it, and the conscience. ²⁹ Now the conscience I mean is not the one of oneself, but the one of the other. For why^[cb] is my freedom being judged^[cc] by another’s conscience? ³⁰ If I am partaking with thanks, why am I being blasphemed for that which I am giving-thanks?

In Summary, Do All For God’s Glory. Be Blameless To All And Seek Their Benefit

³¹ Therefore, whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything, be doing all for the glory of God. ³² Be blameless^[cd] both to Jews and Greeks, and to the church of God— ³³ just as I also am pleasing all people as to all things, not seeking the benefit of myself, but the benefit of the many, in order that they might be saved. 11 ¹ Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Concerning The Wearing of Veils In Public: God Has Established Heads of Authority

² Now I praise you because^[ce] you have remembered^[cf] me as to everything, and you are holding-on-to the traditions, just as I delivered to you. ³ And^[cg] I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man^[ch], and the husband is the head of a wife, and God is the head of Christ.

Do Not Shame Your Head By How You Dress

⁴ Every^[ci] man praying or prophesying while having a covering down over his head is shaming^[cj] his head^[ck]. ⁵ And every woman praying or prophesying with the head unveiled^[cl] is shaming her head, for she is one and the same^[cm] with the one having been shaved. ⁶ For if a woman is not veiling-herself , let her also^[cn] have-herself-sheared. But if it is shameful for a woman to have-herself-sheared or shaved, let her be veiling-herself. ⁷ For a man ought not to be veiling the head, being the image and glory of God— but the woman^[co] is the glory of man. ⁸ For man is not from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ For indeed man was not created for the sake of the woman, but woman for the sake^[cp] of the man. ¹⁰ For this reason, the woman ought to be having authority^[cq] on her head because of the angels^[cr]. ¹¹ Nevertheless^[cs] there is neither woman without man, nor man without woman in the Lord. ¹² For just as the woman is from the man, so also the man is through the woman. And all things are from God.

Judge Among Yourselves Whether It Is Fitting To Ignore The Customs of The Churches

¹³ Judge among^[ct] you yourselves— is it fitting^[cu] that an unveiled woman should pray to God? ¹⁴ Does not even nature^[cv] 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? Because^[cw] the long hair has been given to her for^[cx] a covering^[cy]. ¹⁶ But if anyone seems^[cz] to be contentious, we do not have such a custom^[da], nor do the churches of God.

Concerning The Lord’s Supper: Your Supper Is Unworthy of The Name

¹⁷ But while commanding this, I do not praise^[db]— because you are coming-together not for the better, but for the worse. ¹⁸ For first, while you are coming-together in church^[dc], I am hearing that there are divisions among you. And a certain part of it I believe— ¹⁹ for there indeed have-to^[dd] be factions among you in order that the approved ones may also^[de] become known among you. ²⁰ So while you are coming-together at the same place, it is not that you may eat the Lord’s Supper! ²¹ For at the eating^[df], each one is taking his own dinner before others. And one is hungry, and another is drunk. ²² You do not indeed fail to have houses for eating and drinking, do you? Or are you treating the church of God with contempt, and humiliating the ones not having? What should I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I do not praise.

The Lord’s Supper Is a Remembrance of What He Did For Us

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also handed-over^[dg] to you— that the Lord Jesus, in the night on which He was being handed-over, took bread. ²⁴ And having given-thanks, He broke it and said “This is My body, the one being given^[dh] for you. Be doing this for My remembrance”. ²⁵ Similarly also the cup after the dining^[di], saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Be doing this, as-often-as you drink it, for My remembrance”. ²⁶ For as-often-as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord, until which time He comes.

So Don’t Partake of It In a Manner Unworthy of What He Did: Examine Yourselves

²⁷ So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily^[dj] shall be guilty^[dk] of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But let a person examine himself, and in this manner let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For the one eating and drinking while not rightly-judging the body^[dl] is eating and drinking judgment^[dm] on himself. ³⁰ For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and many sleep. ³¹ But if we were rightly-judging ourselves, we would not be being^[dn] judged. ³² But while being judged, we are being disciplined^[do] by the Lord in-order-that we might not be condemned with the world.

Partake of It Together With Proper Respect For One Another

³³ So then, my brothers, while coming-together so as to eat, be waiting-for one another. ³⁴ If one is hungry, let him eat at home, in-order-that you might not come-together for^[dp] judgment. And I will set-in-order the remaining things whenever I come.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts: God Distributes a Variety of Gifts For Our Mutual Benefit

12 Now concerning the spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were Gentiles^[dq], you were being led-away^[dr] to the speechless idols, however^[ds] you were being led. ³ Therefore I make-known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God is saying “Jesus is^[dt] accursed”. And no one is able to say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ Now there are differences^[du] of gifts^[dv], but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are differences of ministries^[dw], and the same Lord. ⁶ And there are differences of things-worked^[dx], but the same God working all things in all persons. ⁷ And the manifestation^[dy] of ^[dz] the Spirit is given to each one for our benefit. ⁸ For to one a word^[ea] of ^[eb] wisdom is given through the Spirit; and to another, a word of knowledge according-to^[ec] the same Spirit; ⁹ to a different one, faith by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of ^[ed] healings by the one Spirit; ¹⁰ and to another, things-worked^[ee] by miracles; and to another, prophecy^[ef]; and to another, discernments^[eg] of spirits; to a different one, kinds of tongues^[eh]; and to another, interpretation^[ei] of tongues. ¹¹ But the one and the same Spirit works^[ej] all these things, distributing to each one individually^[ek], just as He wills^[el].

For The Body of Christ Is Like The Human Body

¹² For just as the [human] body is one [body]; and it has many body-parts; and all the body-parts of the [human] body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.^[em]

It Is One Body With One Spirit

¹³ For indeed with^[en] one Spirit, we all were baptized into one body^[eo]— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free. And we all were given one Spirit to drink.

It Has Many Body Parts Placed By God

¹⁴ For indeed the body is not one body-part, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body”, it is not for this reason not a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body”, it is not for this reason not a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were an ear, where would the smelling be? ¹⁸ But now^[ep], God placed the body-parts— each one of them— in the body, just as He wanted. ¹⁹ And if all were one body-part, where would the body be?

All Body Parts Are Needed For The Healthy Functioning of The One Body

²⁰ But now, there are many body-parts— but one body! ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not have need of you”. Or again the head to the feet, “I do not have need of you”. ²² On the contrary, much rather the body-parts of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And the things of the body which we are thinking to be more-without-honor, on these we are putting-on^[eq] more honor. Indeed our private^[er] parts have more^[es] presentability^[et], ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need^[eu]. But God blended-together the body, having given more honor to the body-part lacking, ²⁵ in order that there should not be division in the body, but that the body-parts should be having the same concern for one another. ²⁶ And if one body-part is suffering, all the body-parts are suffering-with it. If one body-part is being glorified, all the body-parts are rejoicing-with it.

You Are The Parts of Christ’s Body, Placed Where You Are By God

²⁷ And you are the body of Christ, and body-parts in part^[ev]. ²⁸ And God placed some^[ew] in the church as first, apostles^[ex]; second, prophets; third, teachers; then miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are^[ey] they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All do not do miracles, do they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak in tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? ³¹ But be zealous-for^[ez] the greater gifts.

The Value of Your God-Given Gift Is Measured By Your Love

And^[fa] I show you a way still^[fb] beyond measure^[fc]: 13 ¹ If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels, but I do not have love, I have become a sounding brass [gong] or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but I do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I dole-out^[fd] all my possessions, and if I hand-over^[fe] my body so that I may boast^[ff], but I do not have love, I am profited nothing.

The Way Love Behaves

⁴ Love is patient. Love shows-kindness. Love does not envy^[fg], does not brag, is not puffed-up, ⁵ does not behave-dishonorably^[fh], does not seek its own things, is not provoked^[fi], does not count^[fj] the bad, ⁶ does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices-with the truth, ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love Is Permanent; Gifts Are Temporary. Be Pursuing Love

⁸ Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be set-aside^[fk]. If there are tongues, they will cease^[fl]. If there is knowledge, it will be set-aside. ⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part— ¹⁰ but when the complete^[fm] thing comes, the thing in part will be set-aside. ¹¹ When I was a child, I was speaking like a child, thinking like a child, counting^[fn] like^[fo] a child— when I have become^[fp] a man, I have set-aside the things of the child. ¹² For now we are seeing through^[fq] a mirror, in an enigma^[fr]— but then face to face. Now I know in part— but then I will know-fully, just as I also was fully-known. ¹³ But now^[fs] these three are remaining— faith, hope, love. But love is the greater of these. 14 ¹ Be pursuing^[ft] love.

Be Zealous For Spiritual Gifts, But Especially To Prophesy And Edify The Church

Now be zealous-for the spiritual gifts, but even-more^[fu] that you might be prophesying. ² For the one speaking in a tongue is not speaking^[fv] to people, but to God— for no one hears^[fw], but he speaks mysteries^[fx] with his spirit^[fy]. ³ But the one prophesying is speaking edification and exhortation and consolation^[fz] to people. ⁴ The one speaking in a tongue is edifying himself ^[ga], but the one prophesying is edifying the church. ⁵ And I wish^[gb] that you all were speaking in tongues, but even-more^[gc] that you might be prophesying. But^[gd] the one prophesying is greater^[ge] than one speaking in tongues— unless^[gf] he interprets in order that the church may receive edification.

Speaking In Tongues Is Just Speaking Into The Air Unless It Is Understood

⁶ But now^[gg], brothers, if I come to you speaking^[gh] in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either^[gi] by^[gj] a revelation or by knowledge or by a prophecy or by a teaching? ⁷ Likewise the lifeless things giving a sound— whether a flute or harp— if it does not give a distinction in the tones, how will the thing being fluted or the thing being harped be known? ⁸ For indeed, if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So also you with the tongue— if you do not give a clear word, how will the thing being spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air! ¹⁰ There are perhaps so-many kinds of spoken sounds^[gk] in the world, and none is meaningless. ¹¹ If then I do not know the force of the spoken sound, I will be a barbarian to the one speaking, and the one speaking a barbarian with me. ¹² So also^[gl] you— since you are zealots^[gm] for spiritual gifts, be seeking that you may abound for the edification of the church.

So In Church, Tongues Must Be Interpreted If The Hearers Are To Be Edified

¹³ Therefore let the one speaking in a tongue pray in order that he might interpret. ¹⁴ For if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit^[gn] is praying, but my mind^[go] is unfruitful^[gp]. ¹⁵ What then^[gq] is to be done? I will pray with the spirit, and^[gr] I will also pray with the mind. I will sing-praise with the spirit, and I will also sing-praise with the mind. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you are blessing^[gs] with your spirit^[gt] [only], how will the one filling the place of the uninstructed^[gu] say the “Amen” at your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you are giving-thanks well^[gv]— but the other person is not being edified. ¹⁸ I give-thanks to God I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in church^[gw], I want to speak five words with my mind in order that I might also instruct others, rather than ten-thousand words in a tongue.

Tongues Are a Sign For Unbelievers; Prophecy Is For Believers

²⁰ Brothers, do not be children in your understanding. But be childlike in evilness, and be mature in your understanding. ²¹ It has been written in the Law [in Isa 28:11-12] that “I will speak to this people by people of other-tongues, and by the lips of others. And not even in this manner will they listen-to Me, says the Lord”. ²² So then the tongues are for a sign^[gx]— not for the ones believing, but for the unbelievers. But the prophecy is not for the unbelievers, but for the ones believing.

So In Church, Tongues Not Understood Breed Confusion. Prophecy Edifies

²³ Therefore, if the whole church comes-together at the same place, and they all speak in tongues^[gy], and uninstructed ones or unbelievers come-in, will they not say that you are mad^[gz]? ²⁴ But if they all prophesy^[ha], and some unbeliever or an uninstructed one comes in, he is convicted^[hb] by all. He is examined by all. ²⁵ The hidden things of his heart become evident^[hc]. And thus, having fallen on his face, he will give-worship to God, declaring that God is really among you.

Brothers, Organize Your Church Service For Edification

²⁶ What then^[hd] is to be done, brothers? Whenever you come-together, each^[he] one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be done by two or at the most three, and in turn, and let one^[hf] person interpret. ²⁸ But if ^[hg] there is no interpreter, let him be silent in church. And let him speak to himself ^[hh] and to God. ²⁹ And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others^[hi] discern^[hj]. ³⁰ But if a prophecy is revealed to another being seated, let the first be silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy individually^[hk], in order that all may learn, and all may be exhorted^[hl]. ³² And the spirits^[hm] of prophets are subject^[hn] to prophets. ³³ For God is not the God of disorder^[ho], but of peace.

This Also Includes Women Being Quiet During The Church Service

As^[hp] in all the churches^[hq] of the saints, ³⁴ let the women be silent^[hr] in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak^[hs]. But let them be subject, just as the Law also says^[ht]. ³⁵ And if they want to learn anything, let them question their own husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

These Instructions Are The Lord’s Commandments

³⁶ Or did the word of God go-forth from you? Or did it reach to you only? ³⁷ If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or a spiritual person, let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you— that they are a commandment of the Lord. ³⁸ But if anyone does not-know this, he is not-known^[hu].

Summary

³⁹ So then, my brothers, be zealous-for the prophesying. And do not be forbidding^[hv] the speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But let all things be done properly, and in accordance with order.

Concerning The Resurrection: Christ Was Raised From The Dead And Seen By Many

15 Now I make-known to you, brothers, the good-news which I announced-as-good-news to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, ² through which you also are being saved— if ^[hw] you are holding-on in that message I announced-as-good-news to you, unless^[hx] you believed in-vain. ³ For I delivered to you among the first^[hy] things what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He has been raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to over five-hundred brothers at-one-time, of whom the majority are remaining until now. But some fell-asleep. ⁷ After that He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ And last of all, as-if-indeed^[hz] to the untimely-born^[ia] one, He appeared to me also. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles— who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am. And His grace toward me did not become^[ib] empty^[ic]. But I labored even more than them all— yet not I, but the grace of God with me. ¹¹ So whether it was I or those, thus we are proclaiming, and thus you believed.

So If Christ Was Raised, Why Do Some of You Say There Is No Resurrection?

¹² But if Christ is being proclaimed^[id] that He has been raised from the dead, how is it some are saying among you that there is no resurrection of dead^[ie] ones?

If The Dead Are Not Raised, Christ Was Not Raised, And Your Faith Is Futile

¹³ Now if there is no resurrection of dead ones, neither has Christ been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is also empty; your faith is also empty; ¹⁵ and we are even found to be false-witnesses of ^[if] God, because we testified against^[ig] God that He did raise Christ— Whom He did not raise if-indeed then dead ones are not raised. ¹⁶ For if dead ones are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then also the ones having fallen-asleep in Christ perished^[ih]. ¹⁹ If we are ones having hoped in Christ in this life only, we are more pitiable^[ii] than all people.

But Christ Has Been Raised As The Firstfruit of Those Yet To Be Raised

²⁰ But now, Christ has been raised from the dead— the firstfruit^[ij] of the ones having fallen-asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of dead ones also came through a man. ²² For just as in^[ik] Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be given-life^[il], ²³ but each in his own order^[im]: Christ the firstfruit; after-that^[in] the ones of ^[io] Christ at His coming. ²⁴ Then^[ip] comes the end— when He hands-over the kingdom to His God and Father, when He^[iq] has abolished all^[ir] rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He^[is] must reign until which time He^[it] has put all the enemies under His feet. ²⁶ Death, the last enemy, is abolished^[iu]— ²⁷ for “He^[iv] subjected all things under His^[iw] feet” [Ps 8:6]. But when He says^[ix] that “All things have been subjected”, it is clear that this is except the One^[iy] having subjected all things to Him. ²⁸ But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One^[iz] having subjected all things to Him, in order that God may be all things in all.

Otherwise, Why Be Concerned About The Dead Or Risk Our Lives?

²⁹ Otherwise^[ja], what will the ones being baptized for^[jb] the dead do? If dead ones are not raised at-all, why indeed are they baptized for them? ³⁰ Why indeed^[jc] are we in danger every hour? ³¹ I die^[jd] daily— by^[je] your boasting, brothers, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³² If in accordance with human^[jf] thinking I fought-wild-animals^[jg] at Ephesus, what is the profit to me? If dead ones are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” [Isa 22:13].

Don’t Be Deceived. Sober Up

³³ Do not be deceived: bad companionships^[jh] corrupt good habits^[ji]. ³⁴ Sober-up^[jj] righteously^[jk] and do not be^[jl] sinning, for some have an ignorance of God. I speak to your shame.

How Are The Dead Raised, And With What Kind of Body?

³⁵ But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”

What You Sow Must Die, And Then God Gives It New Life In a Different Body

³⁶ Foolish one! What you sow is not given-life unless it dies. ³⁷ And as to what you sow— you do not sow the body which will come, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some of the rest. ³⁸ And God gives it a body just as He willed— indeed, to each of the seeds its own body^[jm]. ³⁹ Not all flesh is the same flesh. But there is one of humans, and another flesh of livestock, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. ⁴⁰ And there are heavenly^[jn] bodies and earthly bodies. But the glory of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is different. 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.

So Also Is The Resurrection of The Dead. We Are Raised In a Heavenly Body

⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in decay^[jo]; it is raised in undecayability^[jp]. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural^[jq] body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is^[jr] a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So also it has been written [in Gen 2:7], “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”. The Last Adam^[js] became a life-giving^[jt] spirit. ⁴⁶ But the spiritual body is not first— but the natural body, then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man was from earth, made-of-dust. The second Man is from heaven^[ju]. ⁴⁸ Such^[jv] as was the one made-of-dust— such ones also are the ones made-of-dust. And such as is the heavenly One— such ones also are the heavenly ones. ⁴⁹ And just as we bore^[jw] the image^[jx] of the one made of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly One.

Behold, I Tell You a Mystery: We Will Not All Die, But We Will All Conquer Death

⁵⁰ Now I say this, brothers: that flesh and blood are not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor does decay inherit undecayability. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery^[jy]: we will not all fall-asleep. But we will all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For it will trumpet, and the dead will be raised undecayable^[jz], and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this decayable body must put-on undecayability, and this mortal body must put on immortality^[ka]. ⁵⁴ And when this decayable body puts-on undecayability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying having been written will come-about^[kb]: “Death was swallowed-up in victory” [Isa 25:8]. ⁵⁵ “Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your stinger?” [Hos 13:14]. ⁵⁶ Now the stinger^[kc] of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law^[kd]. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, the One giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So Abound In The Work of The Lord; Your Labor Is Not In Vain

⁵⁸ So then my beloved brothers, be^[ke] steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not empty^[kf] in the Lord.

Concerning The Collection For Jerusalem: Store Up Your Gift And Be Ready When I Come

16 Now concerning the collection for the saints^[kg], just as I directed in the churches of Galatia, so you do also. ² Every first day of the week^[kh], let each of you put-aside^[ki] beside^[kj] himself, storing-up^[kk] whatever thing he may be prospered, in-order-that when I come, collections might not be taking place at-that-time. ³ And when I arrive, whomever you approve, I will send these ones with letters^[kl] to carry-forth your grace-gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ And if it is fitting^[km] that I also go, they will go with me.

I Will Stay In Ephesus For Now, And Come To You Before Winter

⁵ Now I will come to you whenever^[kn] I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia. ⁶ And perhaps I will continue with you, or even spend-the-winter, in order that you may send me forward wherever I may go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now in passing, for I am hoping to stay with you for some time, if the Lord permits^[ko]. ⁸ But I will stay-on in Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹ for a great and effective^[kp] door has opened to me, and there are many opposing.

Timothy May Come Before Me: Take Care of Him

¹⁰ But if Timothy comes, see that he may come-to-be with you fearlessly^[kq]. For he is working the work of the Lord as I also. ¹¹ Therefore let no one treat him with contempt. And send him forward in peace in order that he may come to me, for I am waiting-for him with the brothers.

Concerning Apollos: He Will Come When He Can

¹² Now concerning Apollos our brother, I strongly urged him that he come to you with the brothers. And it was not at all his will that he come now, but he will come whenever he finds-an-opportunity.

Closing Exhortations And Greetings

¹³ Keep-watching, be standing-firm in the faith, be acting-like-men^[kr], be growing-strong, ¹⁴ let all your things be done in love.

¹⁵ And I exhort you, brothers— you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruit of Achaia^[ks], and they appointed^[kt] themselves for ministry to the saints— ¹⁶ that you also be subject to such ones, and to everyone helping^[ku] and laboring. ¹⁷ Now I am rejoicing over the coming^[kv] of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because these ones filled-up your lack^[kw]. ¹⁸ For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore be acknowledging such ones.

¹⁹ The churches of Asia^[kx] greet you. Aquila and Prisca^[ky] greet you earnestly in the Lord, along with the church at their house. ²⁰ All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ The greeting of Paul by my own hand— ²² if anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. Marana tha^[kz]. ²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.

1 Paul^[la], an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God being in Corinth, together-with all the saints being in all Achaia^[lb]: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed Be God For Comforting Us In All Our Sufferings

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions^[lc] and God of all comfort^[ld], ⁴ the One comforting us concerning^[le] all our affliction so that we might be able to comfort the ones in every affliction with the comfort by which we ourselves are being comforted by God. ⁵ Because just as the sufferings of Christ are abounding in us, so our comfort also is abounding through Christ. ⁶ And if we are being afflicted— it is for the sake of your comfort and salvation. If we are being comforted— it is for the sake of your comfort, the comfort being at-work^[lf] in your endurance of the same sufferings which we also are suffering. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm^[lg], knowing that as you are sharers of the sufferings, so also of the comfort.

For We Despaired Even of Living, But God Delivered Us, And Will Deliver Us

⁸ For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, with-reference-to our affliction having taken place in Asia^[lh], that we were burdened^[li] extremely beyond our power, so that we despaired^[lj] even of living. ⁹ But we had^[lk] the sentence of death in ourselves in order that we should not be trusting in ourselves, but in God, the One raising the dead, ¹⁰ Who delivered us from so great a death^[ll], and will deliver us; in Whom we have put our hope that He will indeed^[lm] still deliver us— ¹¹ you also joining-in-helping in your prayer for us— in-order-that thanks might be given on our behalf by many faces^[ln] as to the gift granted to us through many prayers.

Our Boast As We Endure Our Suffering Is Our Blameless And Forthright Behavior Toward You

¹² For our boasting is this: the testimony of ^[lo] our conscience that we conducted-ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in simplicity^[lp] and purity^[lq] from God^[lr]; and not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God. ¹³ For we are writing no other things to you other than the things which you read or indeed understand. And I hope that you will understand until the end^[ls]— ¹⁴ just as you also did understand us in part— that we are your boast, even as you also are ours, on the day of our Lord Jesus.

And In This Confidence I Was Intending To Come To You First, Then Go To Macedonia

¹⁵ And in this confidence, I was intending first^[lt] to come to you in order that you might have a second^[lu] benefit^[lv], ¹⁶ and^[lw] to go through you to Macedonia, and from Macedonia to come again to you, and to be sent-forward by you to Judea.

I Do Not Make My Plans Lightly, But I Changed My Plans In Order To Spare You

¹⁷ Therefore, while intending this, I did not then act with lightness, did I ? Or do I plan^[lx] the things which I plan according-to the flesh— so that^[ly] there is with me the yes, yes, and the no, no? ¹⁸ But as God is faithful^[lz], our message to you is not yes and no. ¹⁹ For God’s Son Jesus Christ, the One having been proclaimed among you by us— by me and Silvanus and Timothy— did not become^[ma] yes and no, but has become yes in Him. ²⁰ For as many as there are promises of God, in Him is the yes^[mb]! Therefore also through Him is [spoken] the amen^[mc] to God for His glory, through^[md] us. ²¹ And the One establishing us with you for^[me] Christ and having anointed us is God— ²² the One also having sealed us and given the pledge^[mf] of the Spirit in our hearts. ²³ And I call-upon God as witness for my soul that sparing^[mg] you I no longer came to Corinth— ²⁴ not that we are lording-over your faith, but we are fellow-workers of ^[mh] your joy. For you stand in^[mi] your faith^[mj].

For I Did Not Want My Coming To Cause You Grief, So I Wrote To You Instead

2 For I determined this for myself: not to come to you again^[mk] in grief. ² For if I grieve you, who indeed is the one cheering me except the one being grieved by me? ³ And I wrote this very^[ml] thing in order that having come, I should not have grief from the ones of whom I ought-to-have rejoicing— having confidence in you all that my joy^[mm] is the joy of you all.

I Wrote To You In Anguish Not To Grieve You, But Out of Love For You

⁴ For I wrote to you through many tears, out of much affliction and anguish of heart— not that you might be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. ⁵ But^[mn] if anyone has caused-grief, he has grieved not me, but in part^[mo] (that I not be a burden^[mp]), you all. ⁶ This^[mq] punishment by the majority is sufficient^[mr] for such a one, ⁷ so that on-the-contrary^[ms], instead you should forgive and comfort him, that such a one should not somehow be swallowed-up by more grief. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to confirm^[mt] your love for him.

I Also Wrote To Test Your Obedience To God

⁹ For I also wrote for this purpose: that I might know your approvedness, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰ And to whom you are forgiving anything, I also. For indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, is for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ in order that we may not be exploited by Satan. For we are not unaware as to his schemes.

So Instead I Went To Macedonia First To Find Titus

¹² Now^[mu] having come to Troas for the good-news of Christ, and a door having been opened for me by the Lord, ¹³ I had no rest in my spirit at my not finding Titus my brother. But having said-goodbye to them, I went forth to Macedonia.

I Praise God That He Is Always Spreading The Aroma of Christ Through Us Everywhere

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, the One always leading us in triumph^[mv] in Christ, and making the aroma of ^[mw] the knowledge of Him known through us in every place. ¹⁵ Because we are the fragrance of Christ for^[mx] God among the ones being saved, and among the ones perishing— ¹⁶ to the ones an aroma from death to^[my] death, but to the others an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like the many peddling^[mz] the word of God. But as from purity, but as from God, we are speaking in Christ before God.

You Yourselves Are Proof To Everyone That God Is Working Through Us

3 Are we^[na] beginning to commend ourselves again? Or we do not have-need of letters of recommendation^[nb] to you or from you, like some, do we? ² You are our letter— it having been inscribed in our hearts, it being known and being read by all people, ³ you being made-known^[nc] that you are a letter from^[nd] Christ having been served by us, having been inscribed not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tablets made-of-stone but in tablets^[ne] which are hearts made-of-flesh.

It Is God Who Makes Us Sufficient As Ministers of His New Covenant

⁴ And we have such^[nf] a confidence through Christ toward God— ⁵ not that we are sufficient^[ng] from ourselves to count anything as out of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ Who indeed 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.

And This Ministry Is More Glorious Than That of The Old Covenant

⁷ And if the ministry of death having been engraved in letters on stones came in glory (so that the sons of Israel could not look-intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face^[nh]— the glory passing-away), ⁸ how shall the ministry of the Spirit not be more in glory! ⁹ For if in the ministry of condemnation there was glory, by much more the ministry of righteousness is abounding in glory. ¹⁰ For indeed the [ministry of the letter]^[ni] having been glorified has not^[nj] been glorified in this respect— because of the surpassing glory! ¹¹ For if the [ministry of the letter] passing-away was with glory, by much more the [ministry of the Spirit] remaining is in glory.

We Don’t Veil The Glory Like Moses. We Reflect It And Are Transformed By It

¹² Therefore, having such a hope, we are using great boldness, ¹³ and are not like Moses. He was putting a veil on his face so that the sons of Israel might not look-intently at the end^[nk] of the [face of glory]^[nl] passing-away. ¹⁴ But^[nm] their minds were hardened^[nn], for until this very day the same^[no] veil remains on the reading of the old covenant— it not being unveiled because^[np] it passes-away^[nq] in Christ. ¹⁵ Indeed^[nr], until today whenever Moses is being read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ But whenever it^[ns] turns to the Lord, the veil is taken-away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord^[nt] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom! ¹⁸ But^[nu] we all with a face having been unveiled, while reflecting^[nv] the glory of the Lord as a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from glory^[nw] to glory, just-as^[nx] from the Lord^[ny], the Spirit.

So We Don’t Lose Heart In This Ministry Or Its Reception; God Is Shining Through Us

4 For this reason, having this ministry even-as^[nz] we received-mercy, we do not lose-heart. ² But we renounced the hidden things of ^[oa] shame, not walking in craftiness^[ob], nor handling-deceitfully^[oc] the word of God, but by the open-disclosure of the truth, commending^[od] ourselves to every conscience of mankind^[oe] in the sight of God. ³ And if indeed our good-news is veiled, it is veiled in the ones perishing, ⁴ in whose case the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that they might not see^[of] the illumination of the good-news of the glory of Christ— Who is the image of God. ⁵ For we are not proclaiming ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus, ⁶ because God, the One having said “Light will shine out of darkness”, is He Who shined in our hearts for^[og] the illumination of ^[oh] the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

God Is Making Life Known Through Clay Vessels Handed Over To Death

⁷ But^[oi] we have this treasure in vessels made-of-clay, in order that the excess^[oj] of the power may be God’s and not from us— ⁸ in every way being afflicted^[ok] but not restrained^[ol], being perplexed but not utterly-perplexed, ⁹ being persecuted but not forsaken, being struck down but not perishing; ¹⁰ at-all-times carrying-around in our body the dying^[om] of Jesus in order that the life of Jesus may also be made-evident^[on] in our body. ¹¹ For we the ones living are always being handed-over to death for the sake of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be made-evident in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then, death is at-work in us, but life in you.

But We Believe And Speak Because We Know God Will Raise Us Up With Jesus

¹³ But having the same spirit^[oo] of faith in accordance with the thing having been written, “I believed, therefore I spoke” [Ps 116:10]— we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that the One having raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will present us with you. ¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes— in order that grace, having increased through the more people, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

And Our Affliction Is Producing an Eternal Weight of Glory For Us In Heaven

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose-heart. But even though our outer person is being destroyed^[op], nevertheless our inner person is being renewed day in and day out. ¹⁷ For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory extremely beyond measure, ¹⁸ while we are not looking-for^[oq] 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. 5 ¹ For we know that if our earthly house— our tent^[or]— is torn-down^[os], we have a building^[ot] from God, a house not-made-by-human-hands, eternal, in the heavens.

We Do Indeed Groan In This Body And Would Prefer To Get Home To The Lord

² For indeed in this tent we are groaning, yearning to put-on-over^[ou] ourselves our dwelling from heaven— ³ inasmuch^[ov] as we, having taken-off ^[ow] this tent, shall not be found naked^[ox]. ⁴ For indeed we, the ones being in the tent^[oy], are groaning, being burdened, because we do not want to take-off ^[oz] our earthly tent, but to put on our heavenly dwelling over it, in order that the mortal may be swallowed-up by the life. ⁵ And the One having made us for this very thing is God, the One having given us His pledge: the Spirit. ⁶ So while always being confident^[pa], and knowing that while being-at-home in the body we are away-from-home, from the Lord ⁷ (for we walk by faith, not by appearance^[pb])— ⁸ yet we are confident^[pc] and prefer rather to get-away-from-home, out of the body, and to get-at-home with the Lord.

Therefore We Are Ambitious To Please Him By Persuading People

⁹ Therefore^[pd] we indeed are ambitious^[pe] to be pleasing to Him— whether being at-home or being away-from-home. ¹⁰ For we all must appear^[pf] before the judgment-seat of Christ in order that each one might receive-back^[pg] the things done in^[ph] the body, in-accordance-with the things which he practiced, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Therefore knowing the fear^[pi] of the Lord, we are persuading^[pj] people.

Now Our Heart Has Been Made Known To God, And I Hope To You. Boast In Us

Now^[pk] we have been made known to God. And I hope that we also have been made known in your consciences. ¹² We are not again commending ourselves to you, but are giving you an opportunity for a boast about us, in order that you may have an answer for the ones boasting in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we lost-our-senses, it is for God! If we are sound-minded, it is for you!

For The Love of Christ Controls Us As We Live a New Life For Him

¹⁴ For the love of ^[pl] Christ controls^[pm] us, we having determined this— that One died for all, therefore all died. ¹⁵ And He died for all so that the ones living might no longer be living for themselves, but for the One having died and been raised for them. ¹⁶ So then from now on, we regard^[pn] no one based-on^[po] the flesh^[pp]. Even though we have known Christ based on the flesh, nevertheless now we no longer are knowing Him thus. ¹⁷ So then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation^[pq]. The old things passed-away; behold, new things have come-into-being^[pr].

And God Gave Us This Ministry of Reconciliation As His Ambassadors

¹⁸ And all things are from God, the One having reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and having given us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ how that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself— not counting their trespasses against them, and^[ps] having placed the message of reconciliation in us. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, since^[pt] God is appealing through us.

We Are Begging People To Be Reconciled To God...

We are begging^[pu] on behalf of Christ: “Be reconciled to God! ²¹ He made the One not having known sin to be sin for us, in order that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”...

We Are Appealing To You Too!

6 And working-with Him, we also are appealing that you not receive the grace of God in vain. ² For He says [in Isa 49:8], “I heard you at the acceptable time. And I helped you on the day of salvation”. Behold, now is the very-acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

... In The Process Giving Them No Opportunity For Stumbling...

³ ... in^[pv] nothing giving any opportunity-for-stumbling, in order that the ministry may not be faulted,

... But Commending Ourselves While Enduring The Bad And Persevering In The Good

⁴ ... but in everything, as God’s servants, commending ourselves in great endurance— in afflictions, in constraints, in distresses, ⁵ in beatings, in prisons, in disturbances, in labors, in watchings^[pw], in fastings; ⁶ in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in a holy^[px] spirit, in sincere love, ⁷ in the word^[py] of truth, in the power of God; through^[pz] the weapons of ^[qa] righteousness for the right hand and^[qb] the left; ⁸ through^[qc] glory and dishonor, through evil-report^[qd] and good-report; as deceivers and true ones, ⁹ as being not-known and being fully-known; as dying and behold we live, as being disciplined and not being put-to-death, ¹⁰ as being grieved but always rejoicing; as poor but enriching many, as having nothing and holding-on-to all things.

Open Your Hearts To Us, Corinthians

¹¹ Our mouth has opened to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened-wide. ¹² You are not restrained^[qe] in us, but you are restrained in your own deep-feelings. ¹³ Now as^[qf] the same return^[qg]— I speak as to my children— you also open-wide.

Do Not Be Mis-Yoked To Unbelievers; Be Separated Out To God Your Father

¹⁴ Do not be ones being mis-yoked to unbelievers^[qh]. For what partnership is there for righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there for light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what is the harmony^[qi] of Christ with Beliar^[qj]? Or what share is there for a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement^[qk] is there for the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said [in Lev 26:12], that “I will dwell in them, and I will walk-among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people”. ¹⁷ Therefore, “Come out of their midst and be separated^[ql]”, says the Lord, “and do not touch an unclean thing^[qm]. And I will take you in ¹⁸ and be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me”, says the Lord Almighty. 7 ¹ Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every stain^[qn] of flesh and spirit, perfecting^[qo] holiness in the fear of God.

Make Room For Us In Your Hearts

² Make-room-for us— we wronged no one, we corrupted^[qp] no one, we exploited^[qq] no one. ³ I am not speaking for your condemnation. For I have said-before that you are in our hearts so as to die-together and to live-together. ⁴ There is great confidence in me toward you. There is much boasting by me about you.

When I Found Titus In Macedonia, I Was Comforted By His Report About You

I have been filled with comfort. I am super-abounding with joy in all our affliction. ⁵ For indeed we having come to Macedonia^[qr], our flesh had no rest, but we were being afflicted in every way— battles^[qs] outside, fears inside. ⁶ But the One comforting the downcast^[qt], God, comforted us by the coming of Titus; ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted over you while reporting to us your yearning, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced more.

I Am Rejoicing At Your Repentance And Actions After You Received My Letter

⁸ Because even though I grieved you by the letter^[qu], I do not regret it. Even though I was regretting it (for I see that that letter grieved you, even though for an hour), ⁹ now I am rejoicing— not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved into repentance. For you were grieved in-accordance-with God, in order that you might suffer-loss in nothing by us. ¹⁰ For the grief in accordance with God works unregretted repentance leading-to salvation. But the grief of the world produces death. ¹¹ For behold this very thing— the being grieved in accordance with God— how much earnestness^[qv] it produced in you; even a defense^[qw], even indignation^[qx], even fear, even yearning, even zeal, even punishment^[qy]. In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter. ¹² So even though I wrote to you [causing grief], it was not^[qz] for the sake of the one having done wrong, nor for the sake of the one having been wronged, but for the sake of making your earnestness for us evident to you in the sight of God. ¹³ For this reason, we have been comforted.

I Rejoiced Even More At The Joy of Titus Over You

But in addition to our comfort, we rejoiced even more abundantly over the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴ Because if I have boasted anything 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 Titus proved-to-be the truth. ¹⁵ And his deep-feelings are especially for you, while remembering the obedience of you all— how you received him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I am rejoicing because in everything I am confident in you.

Macedonia Gave Sacrificially, So We Urged Titus To Go Complete Your Gracious Gift

8 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God having been granted in the churches of Macedonia^[ra]— ² that in a great test of ^[rb] affliction their abundance of joy and their down deep poverty abounded into the riches of their generosity. ³ Because I testify that they gave in accordance with their ability and beyond their ability, of-their-own-accord, ⁴ with a great appeal begging from us the favor^[rc] and the partnership^[rd] in this ministry to the saints— ⁵ and not as we hoped^[re], but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God— ⁶ so that we urged^[rf] Titus that just as he previously-began, so also he should complete this grace^[rg] with reference to you also.

I Urge You To Abound In This Grace of Giving Because It Is Beneficial For You!

⁷ But just as you are abounding in everything— in faith and speech and knowledge and all earnestness, and in the love from us in you— I urge that you also be abounding in this grace. ⁸ I am not speaking by way of command, but am proving^[rh] through the earnestness of others the genuineness of your love also. ⁹ For you know the grace^[ri] of our Lord Jesus Christ— that for your sakes He became-poor while being rich, in order that you might become-rich by the poverty of that One. ¹⁰ And I am giving an opinion in this matter, for this^[rj] is beneficial for you, who began-beforehand from last year not only the doing, but the wanting to do. ¹¹ But now indeed complete the doing, so that just as was the eagerness of the wanting, so also may be the completing out of what you have.

A Gift Proportionate To Your Abundance Is Acceptable For Their Need

¹² For if the eagerness is there, it ^[rk] is acceptable to whatever degree a person may have, not to-the-degree he does not have. ¹³ For it is not in order that there may be rest^[rl] for others, affliction^[rm] for you, but out of equality^[rn]— ¹⁴ at the present time your abundance^[ro] being for the need of those ones, in order that the abundance of those ones also may come-to-be for your need, so that there may be equality. ¹⁵ Just as it has been written [in Ex 16:18], “The one gathering much did not increase^[rp], and the one gathering little did not have-less”.

Titus Was Eager To Go To You. So Demonstrate Your Love For All To See

¹⁶ Now thanks be to God, the One having given the same^[rq] earnestness^[rr] for you in the heart of Titus. ¹⁷ Because he welcomed the urging^[rs]— but being more^[rt] earnest, went-out^[ru] to you of-his-own-accord! ¹⁸ And we sent with him the brother^[rv] whose praise in^[rw] the good-news is through all the churches, ¹⁹ and not only this, but who was also appointed^[rx] by the churches to be our fellow-traveler with this grace-gift being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our eagerness^[ry]— ²⁰ avoiding this: that anyone should fault^[rz] us in this abundance being ministered by us. ²¹ For we are providing-for^[sa] good things not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people. ²² And we sent with them our brother whom we often proved in many things as being diligent, but now is much more diligent with great confidence in you. ²³ If any ask^[sb] about Titus— he is my partner and fellow-worker for you; if as to our brothers^[sc]— they are delegates^[sd] of the churches, a glory of ^[se] Christ. ²⁴ Therefore, be demonstrating^[sf] to them, to the face^[sg] of the churches, the demonstration of your love and our boasting about you.

For I Have Boasted of Your Eagerness To Others, So I Want You Ready When I Come

9 For indeed, it is superfluous for me to write to you concerning the ministry^[sh] to the saints. ² For I know your eagerness, which I am boasting about you to the Macedonians— that “Achaia has been prepared [to give] since last year”. And your zeal stirred-up the majority. ³ But I sent the brothers in order that our boast about you might not be made-empty in this respect: in order that, just as I was saying, you may be prepared, ⁴ that we should not somehow be put-to-shame (that I not say you) in this confidence^[si] if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared. ⁵ Therefore I regarded it necessary to urge the brothers that they go-ahead to you and prepare-beforehand your previously-promised blessing^[sj], that this may be ready thus as a blessing and not as greediness^[sk].

Sow For Blessings, As You Freely Choose In Your Hearts: God Loves a Cheerful Giver

⁶ Now this^[sl] I say: the one sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly. And the one sowing for^[sm] blessings will also reap for blessings. ⁷ Each should give just as he has chosen-beforehand^[sn] in his heart— not out of grief ^[so] or out of compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to cause all grace to abound to you in order that in everything, always having all sufficiency, you may be abounding for every good work. ⁹ Just as it has been written [in Ps 112:9], “He scattered, he gave to the needy ones, his righteousness remains forever”.

God Will Multiply Your Seed And Fruit, And Your Gift Will Abound To His Glory

¹⁰ And the One supplying seed to the one sowing^[sp], and bread for eating, will supply and multiply your seed, and will grow the fruits of ^[sq] your righteousness. ¹¹ In everything you will be enriched for all generosity, which through^[sr] us is going to produce thanksgiving to God, ¹² because the ministry of ^[ss] this service^[st] is not only going to be filling-up the needs of the saints, but also abounding through many thanksgivings to God! ¹³ Through the approvedness of this ministry, they will be glorifying God for the obedience of ^[su] your confession to^[sv] the good-news of Christ, and the generosity^[sw] of the contribution for them and for all, ¹⁴ while they also are yearning-for you in prayer for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift^[sx].

Now Don’t Make Me Have To Act Boldly Against Some of You, For My Weapons Are Powerful

10 Now I, Paul, myself, am appealing-to you by the gentleness and kindness of Christ— I who face-to-face am lowly among you, but while absent am-bold toward you! ² And I am begging that I may not [have to] be bold^[sy] while present with the confidence with which I am considering to dare [to act] against some considering us as walking in accordance with the flesh^[sz]. ³ For [though] walking in the flesh, we are not waging-war in accordance with the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly^[ta], but powerful in^[tb] God for the tearing-down of fortresses. We are tearing-down^[tc] considerations^{[td] 5} and every height^[te] being raised-up against the knowledge of God, and taking-captive every thought^[tf] to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish^[tg] all disobedience^[th], when your obedience is fulfilled^[ti].

If I Boast In My Authority In Christ, I Will Not Be Put To Shame

⁷ You are^[tj] looking at things according to appearance. If someone^[tk] is confident in himself that he is Christ’s^[tl], let him consider this again in himself: that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. ⁸ For if I should boast anything more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building-up and not for tearing you down, I shall not be put-to-shame— ⁹ in order that I may not seem^[tm] as-if I would [merely] frighten you by my letters! ¹⁰ Because “The letters”, he^[tn] says, “are weighty and strong, but the presence of his body is weak, and his speaking is treated-with-contempt^[to]”. ¹¹ Let such a one consider this: that such as we are in word by letters while absent, such ones we are also in deed while present!

For I Do Not Commend Myself Or Compare Myself To Others

¹² For we do not dare to class or compare ourselves with some of the ones commending themselves. But they— measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves— do not understand^[tp].

And I Do Not Boast In Unmeasured Things Or In The Labors of Others

¹³ And we will not boast in unmeasured^[tq] things, but in-relation-to^[tr] the measure of ^[ts] the standard^[tt] which God apportioned to us as a measure: to reach as far as even you. ¹⁴ For we are not, as-if not reaching to you, overextending ourselves. For we arrived even as far as you in connection with the good-news of Christ!— ¹⁵ not boasting in unmeasured things, in labors belonging-to-others, but having the hope, while your faith is growing, that we might be enlarged^[tu] in^[tv] you in relation to our standard of measure, for an abundance; ¹⁶ that we might announce-the-good-news in the regions beyond^[tw] you, not that we might boast in the prepared things in the standard of measure belonging-to-another.

The One The Lord Commends Is The Approved One

¹⁷ But “let the one boasting be boasting in the Lord” [Jer 9:24]. ¹⁸ For not that one commending himself is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

I Am Jealous For You, For I Fear That You Are Being Corrupted By False Messengers

11 O-that you would bear-with me as to a little bit^[tx] of foolishness— but indeed, keep-bearing-with^[ty] me! ² For I am jealous-for^[tz] you with a jealousy^[ua] of ^[ub] God. For I betrothed^[uc] you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. ³ But I am fearing that as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds^[ud] should somehow be corrupted^[ue] from sincerity^[uf] and purity for^[ug] Christ. ⁴ For indeed if the one coming proclaims another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or you receive a different spirit which you did not receive, or a different good-news which you did not accept— you bear-with him nicely!

For I Come Short of No Other Apostle, Especially In Knowledge

⁵ For I think that I have in no way come-short-of ^[uh] the superlative^[ui] apostles. ⁶ But even though I am untrained in speech, nevertheless I am not in knowledge. But in every way we made this evident in all things to you.

Or Did I Sin By Not Letting You Pay Me?

⁷ Or^[uj] did I commit a sin [by] humbling myself in order that you might be exalted— because I freely^[uk] announced-as-good-news to you the good-news of God? ⁸ I robbed^[ul] other churches, having taken rations^[um] from them for your ministry! ⁹ And while being present with you and having been in-need, I did not burden anyone— for the brothers having come from Macedonia supplied my need. And in every way I kept and will keep myself unburdensome to you.

I Won’t Stop This Boast, For It Cuts Off The Opportunity For False Apostles

¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is^[un] in me, this boasting^[uo] will not be stopped for me in the regions of Achaia! ¹¹ For what reason? Because I do not love you? God knows I do. ¹² But what I am doing, I indeed will do in order that I may cut-off the opportunity^[up] of the ones wanting an opportunity that they might be found to be just as also we in what they are boasting. ¹³ For such ones are false-apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.