2 Corinthians 2:1-17
So I made up my mind that I would not pay you another painful visit.
For if I cause you pain, who is left to make me happy except the people I have pained?
Indeed, this is why I wrote as I did — so that when I came, I would not have to be pained by those who ought to be making me happy; for I had enough confidence in all of you to believe that unless I could be happy, none of you could be happy either.
I wrote to you greatly distressed and anguish, and with many tears, not in order to cause you pain, but to get you to realize how very much I love you.
Now if someone has been a cause of pain, it is not I whom he has pained, but, in some measure (I don’t want to exaggerate) all of you.
For such a person the punishment already imposed on him by the majority is enough,
so that now you should do the opposite — forgive him, encourage him, comfort him. Otherwise such a person might be swallowed up in overwhelming depression.
So I urge you to show that you really do love him.
The reason I wrote you was to see if you would pass the test, to see if you would fully obey me.
Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. For indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if there has been anything to forgive, has been for your sake in the presence of the Messiah
so that we will not be railroaded by the Adversary — for we are quite aware of his schemes!
Now when I went to Troas to proclaim the Good Message of the Messiah, since a door had been opened for me by the Lord,
I could not rest, because I failed to find my brother Titus. So I left the people there and went on to Macedonia.
But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah/Christ constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him!
For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost;
to the unsaved, we are the smell of death leading only to decay. To the saved, we are the sweet smell of life leading to abundant life. Who is up to such a task?
For we are not like a lot of folks who go about peddling God’s message for a fee --- quite the contrary, we speak out of a sincere heart, as people sent by God, standing in God’s presence, living united with the Messiah.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And I decided this to myself, not again to come in sorrow unto you,
2 for if I make you sorry, then who is he who is making me glad, except he who is made sorry by me?
3 and I wrote to you this same thing, that having come, I may not have sorrow from them of whom it behoved me to have joy, having confidence in you all, that my joy is of you all,
4 for out of much tribulation and pressure of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not that ye might be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly toward you.
5 And if any one hath caused sorrow, he hath not caused sorrow to me, but in part, that I may not burden you all;
6 sufficient to such a one is this punishment, that [is] by the more part,
7 so that, on the contrary, [it is] rather for you to forgive and to comfort, lest by over abundant sorrow such a one may be swallowed up;
8 wherefore, I call upon you to confirm love to him,
9 for, for this also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether in regard to all things ye are obedient.
10 And to whom ye forgive anything -- I also; for I also, if I have forgiven anything, to whom I have forgiven [it], because of you -- in the person of Christ -- [I forgive it,]
11 that we may not be over-reached by the Adversary, for of his devices we are not ignorant.
12 And having come to Troas for the good news of the Christ, and a door to me having been opened in the Lord,
13 I have not had rest to my spirit, on my not finding Titus my brother, but having taken leave of them, I went forth to Macedonia;
14 and to God [are] thanks, who at all times is leading us in triumph in the Christ, and the fragrance of His knowledge He is manifesting through us in every place,
15 because of Christ a sweet fragrance we are to God, in those being saved, and in those being lost;
16 to the one, indeed, a fragrance of death to death, and to the other, a fragrance of life to life; and for these things who is sufficient?
17 for we are not as the many, adulterating the word of God, but as of sincerity -- but as of God; in the presence of God, in Christ we do speak.
Bible verse by verse
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_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 3:1-18
Are we recommending ourselves again? Or do we, like some, need letters of recommendation either for you or from you?
You are our recommendation, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
You make it clear that you are a letter from the Messiah placed in our care, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on human hearts.
Such is the confidence we have through the Messiah toward God.
It is not that we are competent in ourselves to count anything as having come from us; quite the contrary, our competence comes from God.
He has even made us competent to be workers serving a New Covenant, the essence of which is not a written text but the Spirit. For the written text brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
Now if that which worked death, by means of a written text engraved on stone tablets, came with glory — such glory that the people of Israel could not stand to look at Moses' face because of its brilliance, even though such brightness was already fading away —
won’t the working of the Spirit be accompanied by even greater glory?
For if there was glory in what worked to declare people guilty, how much more must the glory abound in what works to declare people innocent!
In fact, by comparison with this greater glory, what was made glorious before has ended.
For if there was glory in what faded away, how much more glory must remain in what lasts.
Therefore, with a hope like this, we are very open —
unlike Moses, who covered his face, so that the people of Israel would not see the brightness fade.
What is more, their minds were made stonelike; for to this time the same veil remains over them when they read the Old Covenant; it has not been unveiled, because only by the Messiah is the veil removed.
Yes, until today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart.
“But,” says the Law, “whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.”
Now, “the Lord” in this text means the Spirit. And where the Spirit of Adonai is, there is freedom.
So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into His likeness, from one degree of glory to the next, by the Lord's Spirit.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Do we begin again to recommend ourselves, except we need, as some, letters of recommendation unto you, or from you?
2 our letter ye are, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men,
3 manifested that ye are a letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in the tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart,
4 and such trust we have through the Christ toward God,
5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of ourselves, but our sufficiency [is] of God,
6 who also made us sufficient [to be] ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.
7 and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless,
8 how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in glory?
9 for if the ministration of the condemnation [is] glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;
10 for also even that which hath been glorious, hath not been glorious -- in this respect, because of the superior glory;
11 for if that which is being made useless [is] through glory, much more that which is remaining [is] in glory.
12 Having, then, such hope, we use much freedom of speech,
13 and [are] not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,
14 but their minds were hardened, for unto this day the same vail at the reading of the Old Covenant doth remain unwithdrawn -- which in Christ is being made useless --
15 but till to-day, when Moses is read, a vail upon their heart doth lie,
16 and whenever they may turn unto the Lord, the vail is taken away.
17 And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty;
18 and we all, with unvailed face, the glory of the Lord beholding in a mirror, to the same image are being transformed, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Are we recommending ourselves again? Or do we, like some, need letters of recommendation either for you or from you?
You are our recommendation, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
You make it clear that you are a letter from the Messiah placed in our care, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on human hearts.
Such is the confidence we have through the Messiah toward God.
It is not that we are competent in ourselves to count anything as having come from us; quite the contrary, our competence comes from God.
He has even made us competent to be workers serving a New Covenant, the essence of which is not a written text but the Spirit. For the written text brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
Now if that which worked death, by means of a written text engraved on stone tablets, came with glory — such glory that the people of Israel could not stand to look at Moses' face because of its brilliance, even though such brightness was already fading away —
won’t the working of the Spirit be accompanied by even greater glory?
For if there was glory in what worked to declare people guilty, how much more must the glory abound in what works to declare people innocent!
In fact, by comparison with this greater glory, what was made glorious before has ended.
For if there was glory in what faded away, how much more glory must remain in what lasts.
Therefore, with a hope like this, we are very open —
unlike Moses, who covered his face, so that the people of Israel would not see the brightness fade.
What is more, their minds were made stonelike; for to this time the same veil remains over them when they read the Old Covenant; it has not been unveiled, because only by the Messiah is the veil removed.
Yes, until today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart.
“But,” says the Law, “whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.”
Now, “the Lord” in this text means the Spirit. And where the Spirit of Adonai is, there is freedom.
So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into His likeness, from one degree of glory to the next, by the Lord's Spirit.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Do we begin again to recommend ourselves, except we need, as some, letters of recommendation unto you, or from you?
2 our letter ye are, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men,
3 manifested that ye are a letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in the tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart,
4 and such trust we have through the Christ toward God,
5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of ourselves, but our sufficiency [is] of God,
6 who also made us sufficient [to be] ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.
7 and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless,
8 how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in glory?
9 for if the ministration of the condemnation [is] glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;
10 for also even that which hath been glorious, hath not been glorious -- in this respect, because of the superior glory;
11 for if that which is being made useless [is] through glory, much more that which is remaining [is] in glory.
12 Having, then, such hope, we use much freedom of speech,
13 and [are] not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,
14 but their minds were hardened, for unto this day the same vail at the reading of the Old Covenant doth remain unwithdrawn -- which in Christ is being made useless --
15 but till to-day, when Moses is read, a vail upon their heart doth lie,
16 and whenever they may turn unto the Lord, the vail is taken away.
17 And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty;
18 and we all, with unvailed face, the glory of the Lord beholding in a mirror, to the same image are being transformed, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
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_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
God has shown us such mercy that we do not lose courage as we do the work He has given us.
Indeed, we refuse to make apply shameful underhanded methods, employing deception or distorting God’s message. Quite the contrary, by making very clear what the truth is, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in God's sight.
So if indeed our Good Message is veiled, it is veiled only to those in the process of remaining lost.
They do not come to trust because the god of this age has blinded their minds, in order to prevent them from seeing the light shining from the Good Message concerning the glory of the Messiah, who is the image of God.
For what we are proclaiming is not ourselves, but the Messiah Jesus as Lord, with ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.
For it is God who once said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has made His brilliance to shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Jesus.
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.
We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair;
persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed.
We always carry in our bodies Jesus dying, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies also.
For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesis’s life also might be manifested in our mortal bodies.
Thus death is at work in us but life in you.
The scripture says, “I trusted, therefore I spoke.”Since we have that same Spirit who enables us to trust, we also trust and therefore speak;
because we know that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us along with you into His presence.
All this is for your sakes, so that as grace flows out to more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to overflow and bring glory to God.
This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily.
For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description.
We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Because of this, having this ministration, according as we did receive kindness, we do not faint,
2 but did renounce for ourselves the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves unto every conscience of men, before God;
3 and if also our good news is vailed, in those perishing it is vailed,
4 in whom the god of this age did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God;
5 for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus -- Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;
6 because [it is] God who said, Out of darkness light [is] to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us;
8 on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 at all times the dying of the Lord Jesus bearing about in the body, that the life also of Jesus in our body may be manifested,
11 for always are we who are living delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying flesh,
12 so that, the death indeed in us doth work, and the life in you.
13 And having the same spirit of the faith, according to that which hath been written, `I believed, therefore I did speak;' we also do believe, therefore also do we speak;
14 knowing that He who did raise up the Lord Jesus, us also through Jesus shall raise up, and shall present with you,
15 for the all things [are] because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to the glory of God;
16 wherefore, we faint not, but if also our outward man doth decay, yet the inward is renewed day by day;
17 for the momentary light matter of our tribulation, more and more exceedingly an age-during weight of glory doth work out for us --
18 we not looking to the things seen, but to the things not seen; for the things seen [are] temporary, but the things not seen [are] age-during.
God has shown us such mercy that we do not lose courage as we do the work He has given us.
Indeed, we refuse to make apply shameful underhanded methods, employing deception or distorting God’s message. Quite the contrary, by making very clear what the truth is, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in God's sight.
So if indeed our Good Message is veiled, it is veiled only to those in the process of remaining lost.
They do not come to trust because the god of this age has blinded their minds, in order to prevent them from seeing the light shining from the Good Message concerning the glory of the Messiah, who is the image of God.
For what we are proclaiming is not ourselves, but the Messiah Jesus as Lord, with ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.
For it is God who once said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has made His brilliance to shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Jesus.
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.
We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair;
persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed.
We always carry in our bodies Jesus dying, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies also.
For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesis’s life also might be manifested in our mortal bodies.
Thus death is at work in us but life in you.
The scripture says, “I trusted, therefore I spoke.”Since we have that same Spirit who enables us to trust, we also trust and therefore speak;
because we know that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us along with you into His presence.
All this is for your sakes, so that as grace flows out to more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to overflow and bring glory to God.
This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily.
For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description.
We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Because of this, having this ministration, according as we did receive kindness, we do not faint,
2 but did renounce for ourselves the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves unto every conscience of men, before God;
3 and if also our good news is vailed, in those perishing it is vailed,
4 in whom the god of this age did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God;
5 for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus -- Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;
6 because [it is] God who said, Out of darkness light [is] to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us;
8 on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 at all times the dying of the Lord Jesus bearing about in the body, that the life also of Jesus in our body may be manifested,
11 for always are we who are living delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying flesh,
12 so that, the death indeed in us doth work, and the life in you.
13 And having the same spirit of the faith, according to that which hath been written, `I believed, therefore I did speak;' we also do believe, therefore also do we speak;
14 knowing that He who did raise up the Lord Jesus, us also through Jesus shall raise up, and shall present with you,
15 for the all things [are] because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to the glory of God;
16 wherefore, we faint not, but if also our outward man doth decay, yet the inward is renewed day by day;
17 for the momentary light matter of our tribulation, more and more exceedingly an age-during weight of glory doth work out for us --
18 we not looking to the things seen, but to the things not seen; for the things seen [are] temporary, but the things not seen [are] age-during.
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_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 5:1-21
We know that when the tent which houses us here on earth disintegrates, we have a permanent edifice from God, a building not made by human hands, to house us in heaven.
For in this tent, our earthly body, we groan-- desiring to have around us the home from heaven that will be ours.
With this around us we wont be naked.
Yes, while we are in this body, we groan with the sense of being oppressed: it is not so much that we want to take something off, but rather to put something on over it; so that what must die may be consumed by the Life.
Moreover, it is God who has prepared us for this very thing, and as a pledge He gives us His Spirit.
So we are always confident — we know that so long as we are at home in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord;
for we live by trust, not by what we see.
We are confident, then, and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and come to our home with the Lord.
Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our best to please Him;
for we must all appear before the Messiah’s court of judgment, where everyone will gain the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.
So it is with the fear of the Lord before us that we try to persuade people. Additionally, God knows us as we really are; and I hope that in your consciences you too know us as we really are.
We are not recommending ourselves to you again but giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you will be able to answer those who brag regarding a person’s appearance rather than his inner qualities.
If we are insane, it is for God’s sake; and if we are sane, it is for your sake.
For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead),
and that He died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the One who on their behalf died and was raised.
So from now on, we do not look at anyone from a worldly viewpoint. Even if we once regarded the Messiah from a worldly viewpoint, we do not anymore.
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has arrived is fresh and new!
And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has presented us with the work of that reconciliation,
which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is appealing through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God!
God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with Him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.”
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 For we have known that if our earthly house of the tabernacle may be thrown down, a building from God we have, an house not made with hands -- age-during -- in the heavens,
2 for also in this we groan, with our dwelling that is from heaven earnestly desiring to clothe ourselves,
3 if so be that, having clothed ourselves, we shall not be found naked,
4 for we also who are in the tabernacle do groan, being burdened, seeing we wish not to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves, that the mortal may be swallowed up of the life.
5 And He who did work us to this self-same thing [is] God, who also did give to us the earnest of the Spirit;
6 having courage, then, at all times, and knowing that being at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord, --
7 for through faith we walk, not through sight --
8 we have courage, and are well pleased rather to be away from the home of the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9 Wherefore also we are ambitious, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to him,
10 for all of us it behoveth to be manifested before the tribunal of the Christ, that each one may receive the things [done] through the body, in reference to the things that he did, whether good or evil;
11 having known, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, and to God we are manifested, and I hope also in your consciences to have been manifested;
12 for not again ourselves do we recommend to you, but we are giving occasion to you of glorifying in our behalf, that ye may have [something] in reference to those glorifying in face and not in heart;
13 for whether we were beside ourselves, [it was] to God; whether we be of sound mind -- [it is] to you,
14 for the love of the Christ doth constrain us, having judged thus: that if one for all died, then the whole died,
15 and for all he died, that those living, no more to themselves may live, but to him who died for them, and was raised again.
16 So that we henceforth have known no one according to the flesh, and even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him no more;
17 so that if any one [is] in Christ -- [he is] a new creature; the old things did pass away, lo, become new have the all things.
18 And the all things [are] of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and did give to us the ministration of the reconciliation,
19 how that God was in Christ -- a world reconciling to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses; and having put in us the word of the reconciliation,
20 in behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors, as if God were calling through us, we beseech, in behalf of Christ, `Be ye reconciled to God;'
21 for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.
We know that when the tent which houses us here on earth disintegrates, we have a permanent edifice from God, a building not made by human hands, to house us in heaven.
For in this tent, our earthly body, we groan-- desiring to have around us the home from heaven that will be ours.
With this around us we wont be naked.
Yes, while we are in this body, we groan with the sense of being oppressed: it is not so much that we want to take something off, but rather to put something on over it; so that what must die may be consumed by the Life.
Moreover, it is God who has prepared us for this very thing, and as a pledge He gives us His Spirit.
So we are always confident — we know that so long as we are at home in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord;
for we live by trust, not by what we see.
We are confident, then, and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and come to our home with the Lord.
Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our best to please Him;
for we must all appear before the Messiah’s court of judgment, where everyone will gain the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.
So it is with the fear of the Lord before us that we try to persuade people. Additionally, God knows us as we really are; and I hope that in your consciences you too know us as we really are.
We are not recommending ourselves to you again but giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you will be able to answer those who brag regarding a person’s appearance rather than his inner qualities.
If we are insane, it is for God’s sake; and if we are sane, it is for your sake.
For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead),
and that He died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the One who on their behalf died and was raised.
So from now on, we do not look at anyone from a worldly viewpoint. Even if we once regarded the Messiah from a worldly viewpoint, we do not anymore.
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has arrived is fresh and new!
And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has presented us with the work of that reconciliation,
which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is appealing through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God!
God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with Him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.”
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 For we have known that if our earthly house of the tabernacle may be thrown down, a building from God we have, an house not made with hands -- age-during -- in the heavens,
2 for also in this we groan, with our dwelling that is from heaven earnestly desiring to clothe ourselves,
3 if so be that, having clothed ourselves, we shall not be found naked,
4 for we also who are in the tabernacle do groan, being burdened, seeing we wish not to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves, that the mortal may be swallowed up of the life.
5 And He who did work us to this self-same thing [is] God, who also did give to us the earnest of the Spirit;
6 having courage, then, at all times, and knowing that being at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord, --
7 for through faith we walk, not through sight --
8 we have courage, and are well pleased rather to be away from the home of the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9 Wherefore also we are ambitious, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to him,
10 for all of us it behoveth to be manifested before the tribunal of the Christ, that each one may receive the things [done] through the body, in reference to the things that he did, whether good or evil;
11 having known, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, and to God we are manifested, and I hope also in your consciences to have been manifested;
12 for not again ourselves do we recommend to you, but we are giving occasion to you of glorifying in our behalf, that ye may have [something] in reference to those glorifying in face and not in heart;
13 for whether we were beside ourselves, [it was] to God; whether we be of sound mind -- [it is] to you,
14 for the love of the Christ doth constrain us, having judged thus: that if one for all died, then the whole died,
15 and for all he died, that those living, no more to themselves may live, but to him who died for them, and was raised again.
16 So that we henceforth have known no one according to the flesh, and even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him no more;
17 so that if any one [is] in Christ -- [he is] a new creature; the old things did pass away, lo, become new have the all things.
18 And the all things [are] of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and did give to us the ministration of the reconciliation,
19 how that God was in Christ -- a world reconciling to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses; and having put in us the word of the reconciliation,
20 in behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors, as if God were calling through us, we beseech, in behalf of Christ, `Be ye reconciled to God;'
21 for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.
-
_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 6:1-18
Working along with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
For He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And I helped you on the day of salvation.” See now is “the acceptable time,” and now is “the day of salvation”—
we don't obstruct anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, sufferings, hardships, distresses,
beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger,
purity and sincerity, knowledge and spiritual insight, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
the word of truth, the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left,
amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet vindicated as truthful;
as unknown to the world, yet well-known by God and His people; as dying, yet we live; as punished, yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, yet rich.
We are speaking freely to you, Corinthians, and our heart is exposed.
There is no limit to our affection for you, but you are limited in your own feelings towards us.
Now in the same way i'm speaking as I would to children—open wide your hearts to us also.
Do not be unequally bound together with nonbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What harmony can there be between Christ and Satan? Or what does a believer have in common with a nonbeliever?
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said:
“I will dwell among them and walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
“So separate from among unbelievers and be exclusive,” says the Lord, “And do not touch what is filthy; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you,
And I will be as a Father to you, And you will become My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And working together also we call upon [you] that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --
2 for He saith, `In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now [is] a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation,' --
3 in nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,
4 but in everything recommending ourselves as God's ministrants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,
6 in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left,
8 through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true;
9 as unknown, and recognized; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not put to death;
10 as sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
11 Our mouth hath been open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart hath been enlarged!
12 ye are not straitened in us, and ye are straitened in your [own] bowels,
13 and [as] a recompense of the same kind, (as to children I say [it],) be ye enlarged -- also ye!
14 Become not yoked with others -- unbelievers, for what partaking [is there] to righteousness and lawlessness?
15 and what fellowship to light with darkness? and what concord to Christ with Belial? or what part to a believer with an unbeliever?
16 and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said -- `I will dwell in them, and will walk among [them], and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,
17 wherefore, come ye forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and an unclean thing do not touch, and I -- I will receive you,
18 and I will be to you for a Father, and ye -- ye shall be to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'
Working along with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
For He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And I helped you on the day of salvation.” See now is “the acceptable time,” and now is “the day of salvation”—
we don't obstruct anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, sufferings, hardships, distresses,
beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger,
purity and sincerity, knowledge and spiritual insight, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
the word of truth, the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left,
amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet vindicated as truthful;
as unknown to the world, yet well-known by God and His people; as dying, yet we live; as punished, yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, yet rich.
We are speaking freely to you, Corinthians, and our heart is exposed.
There is no limit to our affection for you, but you are limited in your own feelings towards us.
Now in the same way i'm speaking as I would to children—open wide your hearts to us also.
Do not be unequally bound together with nonbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What harmony can there be between Christ and Satan? Or what does a believer have in common with a nonbeliever?
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said:
“I will dwell among them and walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
“So separate from among unbelievers and be exclusive,” says the Lord, “And do not touch what is filthy; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you,
And I will be as a Father to you, And you will become My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And working together also we call upon [you] that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --
2 for He saith, `In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now [is] a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation,' --
3 in nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,
4 but in everything recommending ourselves as God's ministrants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,
6 in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left,
8 through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true;
9 as unknown, and recognized; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not put to death;
10 as sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
11 Our mouth hath been open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart hath been enlarged!
12 ye are not straitened in us, and ye are straitened in your [own] bowels,
13 and [as] a recompense of the same kind, (as to children I say [it],) be ye enlarged -- also ye!
14 Become not yoked with others -- unbelievers, for what partaking [is there] to righteousness and lawlessness?
15 and what fellowship to light with darkness? and what concord to Christ with Belial? or what part to a believer with an unbeliever?
16 and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said -- `I will dwell in them, and will walk among [them], and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,
17 wherefore, come ye forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and an unclean thing do not touch, and I -- I will receive you,
18 and I will be to you for a Father, and ye -- ye shall be to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'
-
_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 7:1-16
So, my dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive to be completely holy, out of a reverence for God.
Make room for us in your hearts — we haven’t wronged, ruined, or exploited anyone.
I am not saying this to place blame on you, for I have already said that you have a place in our hearts, whether we live or die together;
that I'm quite confident of you. I'm very proud of you; that you have filled me with encouragement; and that in spite of all our problems, I'm overflowing with joy.
For indeed when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no relaxation. Quite the contrary, we faced all kinds of troubles — altercations without, apprehensions within.
But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us with Titus' arrival!
However, it was not only his arrival which encouraged us, but also how encouraged he was regarding you, as he told us how you long to see me, how distressed you are over my situation, how zealous you are in my defense. Such news made me even happier!
If I caused you pain by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it before — for I observe that that letter distressed you, though only for a short time>
Presently I rejoice not because you were pained, but because the pain led you to return towards God. For you handled the pain in God’s way, so that you were not injured by us at all.
Pain handled in God’s way produces a turning from sin towards God leading towards salvation, and there is nothing to regret in that! But pain handled in the world’s way produces only death.
For just look at what handling the pain God’s way produced in you! What earnest diligence, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to put things right! In everything you have proved yourselves blameless in the matter.
So even though I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of either the one who did the wrong or the one wronged, but so that before God you could see for yourselves how deep is your devotion to us.
This is the reason we have been encouraged. Besides our own encouragement, we had the even greater joy of seeing how happy Titus was, because all of you set his mind at ease.
For I had boasted somewhat about you to him, and now I have not been made to look foolish. Quite the contrary, just as everything we have said to you is true, so too our boasting in front of Titus has proved true.
And his affection for you is all the greater as he remembers how ready you were to obey and how you received him with reverence and respect.
I am glad that in everything I can have confidence in you.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;
2 receive us; no one did we wrong; no one did we waste; no one did we defraud;
3 not to condemn you do I say [it], for I have said before that in our hearts ye are to die with and to live with;
4 great [is] my freedom of speech unto you, great my glory on your behalf; I have been filled with the comfort, I overabound with the joy on all our tribulation,
5 for also we, having come to Macedonia, no relaxation hath our flesh had, but on every side we are in tribulation, without [are] fightings, within -- fears;
6 but He who is comforting the cast-down -- God -- He did comfort us in the presence of Titus;
7 and not only in his presence, but also in the comfort with which he was comforted over you, declaring to us your longing desire, your lamentation, your zeal for me, so that the more I did rejoice,
8 because even if I made you sorry in the letter, I do not repent -- if even I did repent -- for I perceive that the letter, even if for an hour, did make you sorry.
9 I now do rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry to reformation, for ye were made sorry toward God, that in nothing ye might receive damage from us;
10 for the sorrow toward God reformation to salvation not to be repented of doth work, and the sorrow of the world doth work death,
11 for, lo, this same thing -- your being made sorry toward God -- how much diligence it doth work in you! but defence, but displeasure, but fear, but longing desire, but zeal, but revenge; in every thing ye did approve yourselves to be pure in the matter.
12 If, then, I also wrote to you -- not for his cause who did wrong, nor for his cause who did suffer wrong, but for our diligence in your behalf being manifested unto you before God --
13 because of this we have been comforted in your comfort, and more abundantly the more did we rejoice in the joy of Titus, that his spirit hath been refreshed from you all;
14 because if anything to him in your behalf I have boasted, I was not put to shame; but as all things in truth we did speak to you, so also our boasting before Titus became truth,
15 and his tender affection is more abundantly toward you, remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye did receive him;
16 I rejoice, therefore, that in everything I have courage in you.
So, my dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive to be completely holy, out of a reverence for God.
Make room for us in your hearts — we haven’t wronged, ruined, or exploited anyone.
I am not saying this to place blame on you, for I have already said that you have a place in our hearts, whether we live or die together;
that I'm quite confident of you. I'm very proud of you; that you have filled me with encouragement; and that in spite of all our problems, I'm overflowing with joy.
For indeed when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no relaxation. Quite the contrary, we faced all kinds of troubles — altercations without, apprehensions within.
But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us with Titus' arrival!
However, it was not only his arrival which encouraged us, but also how encouraged he was regarding you, as he told us how you long to see me, how distressed you are over my situation, how zealous you are in my defense. Such news made me even happier!
If I caused you pain by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it before — for I observe that that letter distressed you, though only for a short time>
Presently I rejoice not because you were pained, but because the pain led you to return towards God. For you handled the pain in God’s way, so that you were not injured by us at all.
Pain handled in God’s way produces a turning from sin towards God leading towards salvation, and there is nothing to regret in that! But pain handled in the world’s way produces only death.
For just look at what handling the pain God’s way produced in you! What earnest diligence, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to put things right! In everything you have proved yourselves blameless in the matter.
So even though I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of either the one who did the wrong or the one wronged, but so that before God you could see for yourselves how deep is your devotion to us.
This is the reason we have been encouraged. Besides our own encouragement, we had the even greater joy of seeing how happy Titus was, because all of you set his mind at ease.
For I had boasted somewhat about you to him, and now I have not been made to look foolish. Quite the contrary, just as everything we have said to you is true, so too our boasting in front of Titus has proved true.
And his affection for you is all the greater as he remembers how ready you were to obey and how you received him with reverence and respect.
I am glad that in everything I can have confidence in you.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;
2 receive us; no one did we wrong; no one did we waste; no one did we defraud;
3 not to condemn you do I say [it], for I have said before that in our hearts ye are to die with and to live with;
4 great [is] my freedom of speech unto you, great my glory on your behalf; I have been filled with the comfort, I overabound with the joy on all our tribulation,
5 for also we, having come to Macedonia, no relaxation hath our flesh had, but on every side we are in tribulation, without [are] fightings, within -- fears;
6 but He who is comforting the cast-down -- God -- He did comfort us in the presence of Titus;
7 and not only in his presence, but also in the comfort with which he was comforted over you, declaring to us your longing desire, your lamentation, your zeal for me, so that the more I did rejoice,
8 because even if I made you sorry in the letter, I do not repent -- if even I did repent -- for I perceive that the letter, even if for an hour, did make you sorry.
9 I now do rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry to reformation, for ye were made sorry toward God, that in nothing ye might receive damage from us;
10 for the sorrow toward God reformation to salvation not to be repented of doth work, and the sorrow of the world doth work death,
11 for, lo, this same thing -- your being made sorry toward God -- how much diligence it doth work in you! but defence, but displeasure, but fear, but longing desire, but zeal, but revenge; in every thing ye did approve yourselves to be pure in the matter.
12 If, then, I also wrote to you -- not for his cause who did wrong, nor for his cause who did suffer wrong, but for our diligence in your behalf being manifested unto you before God --
13 because of this we have been comforted in your comfort, and more abundantly the more did we rejoice in the joy of Titus, that his spirit hath been refreshed from you all;
14 because if anything to him in your behalf I have boasted, I was not put to shame; but as all things in truth we did speak to you, so also our boasting before Titus became truth,
15 and his tender affection is more abundantly toward you, remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye did receive him;
16 I rejoice, therefore, that in everything I have courage in you.
-
_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 8:1-24
Now, brethren, we must tell you about the grace God has provided the congregations in Macedonia.
Despite terrible trials, and even though they are desperately poor, their joy has overflowed in a wealth of generosity.
I say they have not merely given according to their means, but of their own free will they have given beyond their means.
They begged and pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service for God’s people.
Also, they didn’t do this in the way we had expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, which means, by God’s will, to us.
All this has led us to urge Titus to bring this same gracious gift to completion among you, since he has already made a beginning of it.
Just as you excel in everything — in faith, speech, knowledge, diligence of every kind, and in your love for us — see that you excel in this gift too.
I am not issuing an order; rather, I am testing the genuineness of your love against the diligence of others.
For you know how generous our Lord Jesus the Messiah was — for your sakes He impoverished Himself, even though he was wealthy, so that he might make you rich through His way of poverty.
As I say, in regard to this matter I am only giving an opinion. A year ago you were not only the first to take action but the first to want to do so. Now it would be to your advantage
to finish what you began, so that your eagerness in wanting to begin the project may be matched by your eagerness to fulfill it, as you contribute from what you have.
For if the eagerness to give is there, the acceptability of the gift will be measured by what you have, not by what you don’t have.
It is not that relief for others should create trouble for you, but that there should be a kind of reciprocity:
at present your abundance can assist those in need; so that when you are in need, their abundance can assist you — thus there's reciprocity.
It is as the scripture says, “He who gathered a lot had nothing additional, and he who gathered little had nothing lacking.”
Now I thank God for making Titus as devoted to you as we are;
or he not only responded to our urging, but, being so devoted, he is coming to you on his own initiative.
And with him we are sending the brother whose work for the Good Message is praised in all the congregations;
not only that, he has also been appointed by the congregations to travel with us, so that the way we administer this charitable work will bring honor to the Lord and show our eagerness to help.
Our aim in this is to show that our conduct in dealing with these substantial sums is above reproach;
for we take pains to do what is right not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of others.
With these two we are sending another brother of ours, one whose diligence we have tested many times in many ways, but who is now all the more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
As for Titus, he's my partner who works with me on your behalf; and the other brethren with him are the apostles of the congregations and bring honor to the Messiah.
So the love you demonstrate towards these men will justify our pride in you to them, and through them to the congregations that sent them
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
2 because in much trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, did abound to the riches of their liberality;
3 because, according to [their] power, I testify, and above [their] power, they were willing of themselves,
4 with much entreaty calling on us to receive the favour and the fellowship of the ministration to the saints,
5 and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,
6 so that we exhorted Titus, that, according as he did begin before, so also he may finish to you also this favour,
7 but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound;
8 not according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness,
9 for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor -- being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.
10 and an opinion in this do I give: for this to you [is] expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before -- a year ago,
11 and now also finish doing [it], that even as [there is] the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which ye have,
12 for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;
13 for not that for others release, and ye pressured, [do I speak,]
14 but by equality, at the present time your abundance -- for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,
15 according as it hath been written, `He who [did gather] much, had nothing over; and he who [did gather] little, had no lack.'
16 And thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence for you in the heart of Titus,
17 because indeed the exhortation he accepted, and being more diligent, of his own accord he went forth unto you,
18 and we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the good news [is] through all the assemblies,
19 and not only so, but who was also appointed by vote by the assemblies, our fellow-traveller, with this favour that is ministered by us, unto the glory of the same Lord, and your willing mind;
20 avoiding this, lest any one may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,
21 providing right things, not only before the Lord, but also before men;
22 and we sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,
23 whether -- about Titus -- my partner and towards you fellow-worker, whether -- our brethren, apostles of assemblies -- glory of Christ;
24 the shewing therefore of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf, to them shew ye, even in the face of the assemblies.
Now, brethren, we must tell you about the grace God has provided the congregations in Macedonia.
Despite terrible trials, and even though they are desperately poor, their joy has overflowed in a wealth of generosity.
I say they have not merely given according to their means, but of their own free will they have given beyond their means.
They begged and pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service for God’s people.
Also, they didn’t do this in the way we had expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, which means, by God’s will, to us.
All this has led us to urge Titus to bring this same gracious gift to completion among you, since he has already made a beginning of it.
Just as you excel in everything — in faith, speech, knowledge, diligence of every kind, and in your love for us — see that you excel in this gift too.
I am not issuing an order; rather, I am testing the genuineness of your love against the diligence of others.
For you know how generous our Lord Jesus the Messiah was — for your sakes He impoverished Himself, even though he was wealthy, so that he might make you rich through His way of poverty.
As I say, in regard to this matter I am only giving an opinion. A year ago you were not only the first to take action but the first to want to do so. Now it would be to your advantage
to finish what you began, so that your eagerness in wanting to begin the project may be matched by your eagerness to fulfill it, as you contribute from what you have.
For if the eagerness to give is there, the acceptability of the gift will be measured by what you have, not by what you don’t have.
It is not that relief for others should create trouble for you, but that there should be a kind of reciprocity:
at present your abundance can assist those in need; so that when you are in need, their abundance can assist you — thus there's reciprocity.
It is as the scripture says, “He who gathered a lot had nothing additional, and he who gathered little had nothing lacking.”
Now I thank God for making Titus as devoted to you as we are;
or he not only responded to our urging, but, being so devoted, he is coming to you on his own initiative.
And with him we are sending the brother whose work for the Good Message is praised in all the congregations;
not only that, he has also been appointed by the congregations to travel with us, so that the way we administer this charitable work will bring honor to the Lord and show our eagerness to help.
Our aim in this is to show that our conduct in dealing with these substantial sums is above reproach;
for we take pains to do what is right not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of others.
With these two we are sending another brother of ours, one whose diligence we have tested many times in many ways, but who is now all the more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
As for Titus, he's my partner who works with me on your behalf; and the other brethren with him are the apostles of the congregations and bring honor to the Messiah.
So the love you demonstrate towards these men will justify our pride in you to them, and through them to the congregations that sent them
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
2 because in much trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, did abound to the riches of their liberality;
3 because, according to [their] power, I testify, and above [their] power, they were willing of themselves,
4 with much entreaty calling on us to receive the favour and the fellowship of the ministration to the saints,
5 and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,
6 so that we exhorted Titus, that, according as he did begin before, so also he may finish to you also this favour,
7 but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound;
8 not according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness,
9 for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor -- being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.
10 and an opinion in this do I give: for this to you [is] expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before -- a year ago,
11 and now also finish doing [it], that even as [there is] the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which ye have,
12 for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;
13 for not that for others release, and ye pressured, [do I speak,]
14 but by equality, at the present time your abundance -- for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,
15 according as it hath been written, `He who [did gather] much, had nothing over; and he who [did gather] little, had no lack.'
16 And thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence for you in the heart of Titus,
17 because indeed the exhortation he accepted, and being more diligent, of his own accord he went forth unto you,
18 and we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the good news [is] through all the assemblies,
19 and not only so, but who was also appointed by vote by the assemblies, our fellow-traveller, with this favour that is ministered by us, unto the glory of the same Lord, and your willing mind;
20 avoiding this, lest any one may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,
21 providing right things, not only before the Lord, but also before men;
22 and we sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,
23 whether -- about Titus -- my partner and towards you fellow-worker, whether -- our brethren, apostles of assemblies -- glory of Christ;
24 the shewing therefore of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf, to them shew ye, even in the face of the assemblies.
-
_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
There is really no need for me to write you about this offering for God’s people.
I know how eager you are, and I boast about you to the Macedonians. I tell them, “Achaia has been ready since last year." It was your zeal that stirred up most of them.
But now I am sending the brethren so that our boast about you in this regard will not prove hollow, so that you will be ready, as I said you would be.
For if some Macedonians were to come with me and find you unprepared, we would be humiliated at having been so confident — to say nothing of how you would feel.
So I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go on to you ahead of me and prepare your promised gift in plenty of time; this way it will be ready when I come and will be a genuine gift, not something gained through pressure.
Here’s the point: he who plants little also reaps little.
Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under pressure, for God loves a happy giver.
Additionally, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause —
as the scripture says, “He gave generously to the needy; His righteousness lasts till the end of time.”
He who provides both seed for the planter and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous in everything. And through us your generosity will cause people to thank God,
because rendering this holy service not only provides for the needs of God’s people, but it also overflows in the many thanks people will extend to God.
In offering this service you prove to these people that you glorify God by actually doing what your acknowledgement of the Good Message of the Messiah requires, namely, sharing generously with them and with everyone.
And in their prayers for you they will feel a strong connection towards you because of how gracious God has been to you.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 For, indeed, concerning the ministration that [is] for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you,
2 for I have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and the zeal of you did stir up the more part,
3 and I sent the brethren, that our boasting on your behalf may not be made vain in this respect; that, according as I said, ye may be ready,
4 lest if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we -- we may be put to shame (that we say not -- ye) in this same confidence of boasting.
5 Necessary, therefore, I thought [it] to exhort the brethren, that they may go before to you, and may make up before your formerly announced blessing, that this be ready, as a blessing, and not as covetousness.
6 And this: He who is sowing sparingly, sparingly also shall reap; and he who is sowing in blessings, in blessings also shall reap;
7 each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love,
8 and God [is] able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work,
9 (according as it hath been written, `He dispersed abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness doth remain to the age,')
10 and may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 in every thing being enriched to all liberality, which doth work through us thanksgiving to God,
12 because the ministration of this service not only is supplying the wants of the saints, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13 through the proof of this ministration glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the good news of the Christ, and [for] the liberality of the fellowship to them and to all,
14 and by their supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God upon you;
15 thanks also to God for His unspeakable gift!
There is really no need for me to write you about this offering for God’s people.
I know how eager you are, and I boast about you to the Macedonians. I tell them, “Achaia has been ready since last year." It was your zeal that stirred up most of them.
But now I am sending the brethren so that our boast about you in this regard will not prove hollow, so that you will be ready, as I said you would be.
For if some Macedonians were to come with me and find you unprepared, we would be humiliated at having been so confident — to say nothing of how you would feel.
So I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go on to you ahead of me and prepare your promised gift in plenty of time; this way it will be ready when I come and will be a genuine gift, not something gained through pressure.
Here’s the point: he who plants little also reaps little.
Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under pressure, for God loves a happy giver.
Additionally, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause —
as the scripture says, “He gave generously to the needy; His righteousness lasts till the end of time.”
He who provides both seed for the planter and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous in everything. And through us your generosity will cause people to thank God,
because rendering this holy service not only provides for the needs of God’s people, but it also overflows in the many thanks people will extend to God.
In offering this service you prove to these people that you glorify God by actually doing what your acknowledgement of the Good Message of the Messiah requires, namely, sharing generously with them and with everyone.
And in their prayers for you they will feel a strong connection towards you because of how gracious God has been to you.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 For, indeed, concerning the ministration that [is] for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you,
2 for I have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and the zeal of you did stir up the more part,
3 and I sent the brethren, that our boasting on your behalf may not be made vain in this respect; that, according as I said, ye may be ready,
4 lest if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we -- we may be put to shame (that we say not -- ye) in this same confidence of boasting.
5 Necessary, therefore, I thought [it] to exhort the brethren, that they may go before to you, and may make up before your formerly announced blessing, that this be ready, as a blessing, and not as covetousness.
6 And this: He who is sowing sparingly, sparingly also shall reap; and he who is sowing in blessings, in blessings also shall reap;
7 each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love,
8 and God [is] able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work,
9 (according as it hath been written, `He dispersed abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness doth remain to the age,')
10 and may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 in every thing being enriched to all liberality, which doth work through us thanksgiving to God,
12 because the ministration of this service not only is supplying the wants of the saints, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13 through the proof of this ministration glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the good news of the Christ, and [for] the liberality of the fellowship to them and to all,
14 and by their supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God upon you;
15 thanks also to God for His unspeakable gift!
-
_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 10:1-18
I Paul, am making an appeal to you gently and perseverance that comes from the Messiah ---- I who am considered shy when face-to-face with you but fierce from a distance.
But I beg you not to force me to be harsh when I'm with you, as I expect to be toward some who regard us as living in a worldly way.
For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war like the world does;
because the weapons we apply to wage war are not worldly. Quite the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments
and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah.
And when you have become completely obedient, then we will be prepared to punish every act of disobedience.
You are considering things superficially. If anyone is convinced that he belongs to the Messiah, he should remind himself that we also belong to the Messiah as much as he does.
For even if I boast a little too much about the authority the Lord has given us — authority to build you up, not tear you down — I am not ashamed.
My objective is not to appear as though I were trying to scare you with these letters.
Someone says, “His letters are weighty and mighty, but when he appears in person he is weak, and as a speaker he doesn't amount to much.”
Such a person should understand that what we say in our letters when absent, we will do when present.
We don’t dare class or compare ourselves with some of the people who advertise themselves. In measuring themselves against each other and comparing themselves with each other, they are acting ridiculous.
We will not boast about what lies outside the area of work which God has given us; rather, we will boast within our assigned area, and that area does reach as far as you.
We are not overextending our boasting as if we had not reached to you; for we did come all the way to you with the Good News of the Messiah.
We do not boast regarding the locations where others labor; but our hope is that as your trust matures, we will be magnified in your midst in relation to our own area of work, so that we can go on to do even more,
namely, to proclaim the Good Message in regions beyond you. Our hope is not to boast about the work already done by someone else.
So, let anyone who wants to boast, boast concerning the Lord;
because it is not the one who recommends himself who is worthy of approval, but the one whom the Lord recommends.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And I, Paul, do call upon you -- through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ -- who in presence, indeed [am] humble among you, and being absent, have courage toward you,
2 and I beseech [you], that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;
3 for walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh do we war,
4 for the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,
5 reasonings bringing down, and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Christ,
6 and being in readiness to avenge every disobedience, whenever your obedience may be fulfilled.
7 The things in presence do ye see? if any one hath trusted in himself to be Christ's, this let him reckon again from himself, that according as he is Christ's, so also we [are] Christ's;
8 for even if also anything more abundantly I shall boast concerning our authority, that the Lord gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed;
9 that I may not seem as if I would terrify you through the letters,
10 `because the letters indeed -- saith one -- [are] weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.'
11 This one -- let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, [we are] in deed.
12 For we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, among themselves measuring themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,
13 and we in regard to the unmeasured things will not boast ourselves, but after the measure of the line that the God of measure did appoint to us -- to reach even unto you;
14 for not as not reaching to you do we stretch ourselves overmuch, for even unto you did we come in the good news of the Christ,
15 not boasting of the things not measured, in other men's labours, and having hope -- your faith increasing -- in you to be enlarged, according to our line -- into abundance,
16 in the [places] beyond you to proclaim good news, not in another's line in regard to the things made ready, to boast;
17 and he who is boasting -- in the Lord let him boast;
18 for not he who is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord doth commend.
I Paul, am making an appeal to you gently and perseverance that comes from the Messiah ---- I who am considered shy when face-to-face with you but fierce from a distance.
But I beg you not to force me to be harsh when I'm with you, as I expect to be toward some who regard us as living in a worldly way.
For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war like the world does;
because the weapons we apply to wage war are not worldly. Quite the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments
and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah.
And when you have become completely obedient, then we will be prepared to punish every act of disobedience.
You are considering things superficially. If anyone is convinced that he belongs to the Messiah, he should remind himself that we also belong to the Messiah as much as he does.
For even if I boast a little too much about the authority the Lord has given us — authority to build you up, not tear you down — I am not ashamed.
My objective is not to appear as though I were trying to scare you with these letters.
Someone says, “His letters are weighty and mighty, but when he appears in person he is weak, and as a speaker he doesn't amount to much.”
Such a person should understand that what we say in our letters when absent, we will do when present.
We don’t dare class or compare ourselves with some of the people who advertise themselves. In measuring themselves against each other and comparing themselves with each other, they are acting ridiculous.
We will not boast about what lies outside the area of work which God has given us; rather, we will boast within our assigned area, and that area does reach as far as you.
We are not overextending our boasting as if we had not reached to you; for we did come all the way to you with the Good News of the Messiah.
We do not boast regarding the locations where others labor; but our hope is that as your trust matures, we will be magnified in your midst in relation to our own area of work, so that we can go on to do even more,
namely, to proclaim the Good Message in regions beyond you. Our hope is not to boast about the work already done by someone else.
So, let anyone who wants to boast, boast concerning the Lord;
because it is not the one who recommends himself who is worthy of approval, but the one whom the Lord recommends.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And I, Paul, do call upon you -- through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ -- who in presence, indeed [am] humble among you, and being absent, have courage toward you,
2 and I beseech [you], that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;
3 for walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh do we war,
4 for the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,
5 reasonings bringing down, and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Christ,
6 and being in readiness to avenge every disobedience, whenever your obedience may be fulfilled.
7 The things in presence do ye see? if any one hath trusted in himself to be Christ's, this let him reckon again from himself, that according as he is Christ's, so also we [are] Christ's;
8 for even if also anything more abundantly I shall boast concerning our authority, that the Lord gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed;
9 that I may not seem as if I would terrify you through the letters,
10 `because the letters indeed -- saith one -- [are] weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.'
11 This one -- let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, [we are] in deed.
12 For we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, among themselves measuring themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,
13 and we in regard to the unmeasured things will not boast ourselves, but after the measure of the line that the God of measure did appoint to us -- to reach even unto you;
14 for not as not reaching to you do we stretch ourselves overmuch, for even unto you did we come in the good news of the Christ,
15 not boasting of the things not measured, in other men's labours, and having hope -- your faith increasing -- in you to be enlarged, according to our line -- into abundance,
16 in the [places] beyond you to proclaim good news, not in another's line in regard to the things made ready, to boast;
17 and he who is boasting -- in the Lord let him boast;
18 for not he who is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord doth commend.
-
_LittleNipper
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:49 pm
Re: Bible verse by verse
2 Corinthians 11:1-33
Please persevere with me in some little foolishness — !
For I am jealous for you with God’s kind of jealousy; since I promised to present you as a pure virgin in marriage to your one husband, the Messiah;
and I'm concerned that somehow your minds may be seduced from simple and pure devotion of the Messiah, just as Havah/Eve was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness.
For if someone comes and tells you regarding some other Jesus other than the one we explained to you, or if you hear of a spirit different from the one you received or accept some other so-called “good message” different from the Good Message you've already accepted -- you've handled such well before!
For I don’t consider myself in any way inferior to “stellar apostles.”
I may not be a skilled lecturer, but I do have the knowledge Anyhow, we've made this clear to you in every way and in every circumstance.
Or did I sin in humbling myself so that you could be exalted, in proclaiming God’s Good Message to you free of charge?
I robbed other congregations by accepting support from them in order to serve you.
And when I was with you and had needs, I did not burden anyone: my needs were met by the brethren from Macedonia. In nothing have I burdened you, nor will I.
The truthfulness of the Messiah is in me, so that this boast concerning me is not going to be silenced anywhere in Achaia.
Why won’t I ever accept your support? Is it that I don’t love you? God knows I do!
No, I do it, and continue doing it — in order to pull the rug from under those who want an excuse to boast that they work the same way we do.
The truth is that such men are fake apostles: they tell lies about their work and masquerade as apostles of the Messiah.
There is nothing surprising in that, for the Adversary/Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light;
so it’s no difficult task if his workers masquerade as servants of righteousness. They will meet the end their deeds deserve.
I repeat: don’t let anyone think I am a fool. But even if you do, at least accept me as a such; so that I too may do a little boasting!
What I am saying is not in accordance with the Lord; rather, this conceited boasting is spoken as a fool would speak.
Since many people boast in a worldly way, I too will boast this way.
For since you yourselves are so wise, you gladly put up with fools!
You put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, exploits you, takes you in, puffs himself up, slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must admit that we have been too “weak” to do such things!
But if anyone dares to boast about something (speaking as a fool!) I am just as daring.
Are they Hebrew-speakers? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Are they servants of the Messiah? (I’m talking like some nut!) I’m a better one! I’ve worked much harder, been imprisoned more often, suffered more beatings, been near death again and again.
On 5 occasions I received “39” lashes from the Jews.
3 times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
In my many travels I have been exposed to danger from rivers, robbers, my own people, Gentiles, in the city, in the desert, at sea, danger from fake brothers.
I've worked and endured hardship, often not had enough sleep, been hungry and thirsty, frequently gone without food, been cold and underdressed.
And besides these external matters, there is the daily pressure of my anxious concern for all the congregations.
Who is weak without my sharing his weakness? Who falls into sin without upsetting me?
If I must boast, I will boast about things that show how inferior I am.
God the Father of the Lord Jesus — blessed be He eternally — knows that I am not lying!
When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city of Damascenes guarded in order to apprehend me;
but I was lowered in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped his clutches.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me:
2 for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did betroth you to one husband, a pure virgin, to present to Christ,
3 and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that [is] in the Christ;
4 for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another Jesus whom we did not preach, or another Spirit ye receive which ye did not receive, or other good news which ye did not accept -- well were ye bearing [it],
5 for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,
6 and even if unlearned in word -- yet not in knowledge, but in every thing we were made manifest in all things to you.
7 The sin did I do -- myself humbling that ye might be exalted, because freely the good news of God I did proclaim to you?
8 other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for your ministration;
9 and being present with you, and having been in want, I was chargeable to no one, for my lack did the brethren supply -- having come from Macedonia -- and in everything burdenless to you I did keep
myself, and will keep.
10 The truth of Christ is in me, because this boasting shall not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia;
11 wherefore? because I do not love you? God hath known!
12 and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those wishing an occasion, that in that which they boast they may be found according as we also;
13 for those such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,
14 and no wonder -- for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;
15 no great thing, then, if also his ministrants do transform themselves as ministrants of righteousness -- whose end shall be according to their works.
16 Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.
17 That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;
18 since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast:
19 for gladly do ye bear with the fools -- being wise,
20 for ye bear, if any one is bringing you under bondage, if any one doth devour, if any one doth take away, if any one doth exalt himself, if any one on the face doth smite you;
21 in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say [it] -- I also am bold.
22 Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I also!
23 ministrants of Christ are they? -- as beside myself I speak -- I more; in labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times;
24 from Jews five times forty [stripes] save one I did receive;
25 thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice was I shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep I have passed;
26 journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred, perils from nations, perils in city, perils in wilderness, perils in sea, perils among false brethren;
27 in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;
28 apart from the things without -- the crowding upon me that is daily -- the care of all the assemblies.
29 Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled, and I am not fired;
30 if to boast it behoveth [me], of the things of my infirmity I will boast;
31 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --
32 In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king was watching the city of the Damascenes, wishing to seize me,
33 and through a window in a rope basket I was let down, through the wall, and fled out of his hands.
Please persevere with me in some little foolishness — !
For I am jealous for you with God’s kind of jealousy; since I promised to present you as a pure virgin in marriage to your one husband, the Messiah;
and I'm concerned that somehow your minds may be seduced from simple and pure devotion of the Messiah, just as Havah/Eve was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness.
For if someone comes and tells you regarding some other Jesus other than the one we explained to you, or if you hear of a spirit different from the one you received or accept some other so-called “good message” different from the Good Message you've already accepted -- you've handled such well before!
For I don’t consider myself in any way inferior to “stellar apostles.”
I may not be a skilled lecturer, but I do have the knowledge Anyhow, we've made this clear to you in every way and in every circumstance.
Or did I sin in humbling myself so that you could be exalted, in proclaiming God’s Good Message to you free of charge?
I robbed other congregations by accepting support from them in order to serve you.
And when I was with you and had needs, I did not burden anyone: my needs were met by the brethren from Macedonia. In nothing have I burdened you, nor will I.
The truthfulness of the Messiah is in me, so that this boast concerning me is not going to be silenced anywhere in Achaia.
Why won’t I ever accept your support? Is it that I don’t love you? God knows I do!
No, I do it, and continue doing it — in order to pull the rug from under those who want an excuse to boast that they work the same way we do.
The truth is that such men are fake apostles: they tell lies about their work and masquerade as apostles of the Messiah.
There is nothing surprising in that, for the Adversary/Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light;
so it’s no difficult task if his workers masquerade as servants of righteousness. They will meet the end their deeds deserve.
I repeat: don’t let anyone think I am a fool. But even if you do, at least accept me as a such; so that I too may do a little boasting!
What I am saying is not in accordance with the Lord; rather, this conceited boasting is spoken as a fool would speak.
Since many people boast in a worldly way, I too will boast this way.
For since you yourselves are so wise, you gladly put up with fools!
You put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, exploits you, takes you in, puffs himself up, slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must admit that we have been too “weak” to do such things!
But if anyone dares to boast about something (speaking as a fool!) I am just as daring.
Are they Hebrew-speakers? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Are they servants of the Messiah? (I’m talking like some nut!) I’m a better one! I’ve worked much harder, been imprisoned more often, suffered more beatings, been near death again and again.
On 5 occasions I received “39” lashes from the Jews.
3 times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
In my many travels I have been exposed to danger from rivers, robbers, my own people, Gentiles, in the city, in the desert, at sea, danger from fake brothers.
I've worked and endured hardship, often not had enough sleep, been hungry and thirsty, frequently gone without food, been cold and underdressed.
And besides these external matters, there is the daily pressure of my anxious concern for all the congregations.
Who is weak without my sharing his weakness? Who falls into sin without upsetting me?
If I must boast, I will boast about things that show how inferior I am.
God the Father of the Lord Jesus — blessed be He eternally — knows that I am not lying!
When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city of Damascenes guarded in order to apprehend me;
but I was lowered in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped his clutches.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me:
2 for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did betroth you to one husband, a pure virgin, to present to Christ,
3 and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that [is] in the Christ;
4 for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another Jesus whom we did not preach, or another Spirit ye receive which ye did not receive, or other good news which ye did not accept -- well were ye bearing [it],
5 for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,
6 and even if unlearned in word -- yet not in knowledge, but in every thing we were made manifest in all things to you.
7 The sin did I do -- myself humbling that ye might be exalted, because freely the good news of God I did proclaim to you?
8 other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for your ministration;
9 and being present with you, and having been in want, I was chargeable to no one, for my lack did the brethren supply -- having come from Macedonia -- and in everything burdenless to you I did keep
myself, and will keep.
10 The truth of Christ is in me, because this boasting shall not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia;
11 wherefore? because I do not love you? God hath known!
12 and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those wishing an occasion, that in that which they boast they may be found according as we also;
13 for those such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,
14 and no wonder -- for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;
15 no great thing, then, if also his ministrants do transform themselves as ministrants of righteousness -- whose end shall be according to their works.
16 Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.
17 That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;
18 since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast:
19 for gladly do ye bear with the fools -- being wise,
20 for ye bear, if any one is bringing you under bondage, if any one doth devour, if any one doth take away, if any one doth exalt himself, if any one on the face doth smite you;
21 in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say [it] -- I also am bold.
22 Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I also!
23 ministrants of Christ are they? -- as beside myself I speak -- I more; in labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times;
24 from Jews five times forty [stripes] save one I did receive;
25 thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice was I shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep I have passed;
26 journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred, perils from nations, perils in city, perils in wilderness, perils in sea, perils among false brethren;
27 in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;
28 apart from the things without -- the crowding upon me that is daily -- the care of all the assemblies.
29 Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled, and I am not fired;
30 if to boast it behoveth [me], of the things of my infirmity I will boast;
31 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --
32 In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king was watching the city of the Damascenes, wishing to seize me,
33 and through a window in a rope basket I was let down, through the wall, and fled out of his hands.