Of immortal glory. II. Corinthians. Reconciliation in Christ. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.a 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight :)b 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and, I trust also, are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.. a The earnest, the pledge or assurance of the Spirit. b For we walk, we are supported by faith, by the belief of the world to come, and not by the sight of earthly objects. 13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead :c 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore, henceforth know we no man after the flesh;d yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation ; 19 To wit,e that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are am bassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; c Then were all dead, all condemned to death. d Wherefore henceforth know we,that is, regard with partiality no man on account of his birth or country. e To wit, namely, or which is. Paul's faithfulness, &e. Chap. vi. Of idolatrous company. we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us.f who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. CHAP. VI. 1 Of Paul's faithfulness in the ministry. 14 Exhortations to avoid idolaters. WE then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee; behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed : 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, To be sin, to be a sin-offering. by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 11 O ye Corinthians! our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompense in the same,a (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers ;b for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial ?c or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols; for ye are the temple of the living God; as God a Now for a recompense in the same, &c. Now to recompense me, I request that you would be enlarged in your heart toward me. b Be ye not unequally, &c. Do not connect yourselves in friendship, marriage, or otherwise with unbelievers or infidels. c Belial, Satan. II. Corinthians. Purity of life, &c. hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them,d and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. CHAP. VI. 1 He exhorteth to purity, 3 and sheweth what comfort he took in afflictions. HAVING, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit; perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. Of godly sorrow. on every side; without were And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent; for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 3 I speak not this to con- eth For godly sorrow work demn you; for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you; I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled d Come out from among them, from among idolaters and infidels. repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For, behold, this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge!a In all things a Revenge denotes a passion never to be indulged by christians; the Chap. viii. Of liberality ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. 13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort; yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice, therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things. CHAP. VIII. 1 He stirreth them up to contribute to the saints, 11 commendeth Titus and others. MOREOVER brethren, we do you to wita of the grace of word would have been better translated punishment, and the punishment alluded to, is the excommunication of a notorious offender, which Paul had ordered in his First Epistle, chap. v. 13. a We do you to wit, we make known to you the grace of God, &c. to the saints, &c. God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia ;b 2 How that, in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded unto the riches of their liberality. I 3 For to their power, bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves ;c 4 Praying us with much intreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.d 5 And this they did, not as we hoped ;e but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God: 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us; see that ye abound in this grace also.f 8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to b We do you to wit of the grace of God, we make known to you the grace, or the gracious disposition, which God hath given to the Macedonians. c Willing of themselves to make contribution for the saints at Jerusalem. d The fellowship, &c. the agency of carrying their charitable gift to the saints. e Not as we hoped, not as we feared. f This grace, charity to the saints. 1 Titus and others II. Corinthians. commended. prove the sincerity of your love. ye 9 For know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice; for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do.g but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now, therefore, perform the doing of it; that, as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and you burdened; 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be an equality; 15 As it is written,h He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest g Not only to do or make your col lection. As it is written, Exod. xvi. 18. care into the heart of Titus for you. 17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but, being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the churches: 19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind. 20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is adminis tered by us: 21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you; or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. |