behold, now is the acceptable time; be3 hold, now is the day of salvation): giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not 4 blamed; but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in 5 distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in 6 fastings; in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the 1 Holy 7 Ghost, in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God; 2by the armour of righteousness on the right 8 hand and on the left, by glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report; 9 as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not 10 killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 Our mouth is open unto you, O Corin12 thians, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not

straitened in us, but ye are straitened in 13 your own affections. Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged. 14 Be not unequally yoked with unbe

lievers for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what com15 munion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with & Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an 16 unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and 17 they shall be my people. Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate,

18

saith the Lord,

And touch no unclean thing;
And I will receive you,
And will be to you a Father,

And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters,

7 saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

25 Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took 3 advantage of no man. I say it not to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and 4 live together. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying

7 Some ancient authori

for.

unto a salvation

bringeth no regret

on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction. 5 For even when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; without 6 were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, even God, comforted us by the coming "Gr. 7 of Titus; and not by his coming only, presence. but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal 8 for me; so that I rejoiced yet more. For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it, though I did regret; 7for I see that that epistle made you 9 sorry, though but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but ties omit that ye were made sorry unto repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by 10us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance Sunto salvation, a repent-Or. ance which bringeth no regret: but the 11 sorrow of the world worketh death. For which behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what longing, yea, what zeal, yea, what avenging! In everything ye approved your12 selves to be pure in the matter. So although I wrote unto you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight 13 of God. Therefore we have been comforted: and in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed 14 by you all. For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also, which I made before Titus, 15 was found to be truth. And his inward affection is more abundantly toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and 16 trembling ye received him. I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.

Gr. sin-· |

8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Mace2 donia; how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For according to their power, I bear gleness. witness, yea and beyond their power, 4 they gave of their own accord, beseeching us with much intreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: 5 and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord,

Inso

6 and to us by the will of God. much that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace 7 also. But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in 1your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace 8 also. I speak not by way of command

ment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of 9 your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might 10 become rich. And herein I give my judgement: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, 11 but also to will. But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readi ness to will, so there may be the com12 pletion also out of your ability. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according 13 as he hath not. For I say not this, that others may be eased, and ye dis14 tressed but by equality; your abund ance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your 15 want; that there may be equality: as

it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack.

16 But thanks be to God, which putteth the same earnest care for you into the 17 heart of Titus. For indeed he accepted our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of 18 his own accord. And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through 19 all the churches; and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to shew our 20 readiness: avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this 21 bounty which is ministered by us: for we take thought for things honourable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but 22 also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence 23 which he hath in you. Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of 24 Christ. 3 Shew ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.

9 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me

4 Or. emtaka · tion of

you

3 Gr. the

part.

2 to write to you: for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up 35 very many of them. But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may 4 be prepared: lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in 5 this confidence. I thought it necessary therefore to intreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be Gr. ready, as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.

6

8

diessing

:Or.

s Gr

6 But this I say, He that soweth spar-
ingly shall reap also sparingly; and he
that soweth bountifully shall reap also
78 bountifully. Let each man do accord-
ing as he hath purposed in his heart;
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for G
8 God loveth a cheerful giver. And God
is able to make all grace abound unto
you; that ye, having always all suffi
ciency in everything, may abound unto
9 every good work: as it is written,

He hath scattered abroad, he hath
given to the poor;

His righteousness abideth for ever. 10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: 11 ye being enriched in everything unto all 10 liberality, which worketh through G 12 us thanksgiving to God. For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through 13 many thanksgivings unto God; seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the 10 liberality of your contribution unto 14 them and unto all; while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in 15 you. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

10 Now I Paul myself intreat you

by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you: 2 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present shew courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, which count of us as if we walked 3 according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war 4 according to the flesh (for the wea

pons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting 5 down of strong holds); casting down 1imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; 6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience 7 shall be fulfilled. Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also 8 are we. For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame: 9 that I may not seem as if I would 10 terrify you by my letters. For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, 11 and his speech of no account. Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when 12 we are present. For we are not bold 3 to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are 13 without understanding. But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a 14 measure, to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in 15 the gospel of Christ: not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labours; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our 4 pro16 vince unto further abundance, so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another's province in regard of things 17 ready to our hand. But he that 18 glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

11 Would that ye could bear with me in

a little foolishness: 6nay indeed bear 2 with me. For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is 4 toward Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a

those preapostles

different gospel, which ye did not ac5 cept, ye do well to bear with him. For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the Or, 6 very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in know-eminent ledge; nay, in everything we have made it manifest among all men to you-ward. 7 Or did I commit a sin in a basing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for 8 nought? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister 9 unto you; and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man

shall stop me of this glorying in the 11 regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because 12I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off 10 occasion from them which desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, 13 they may be found even as we. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles 14 of Christ. And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel 15 of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 16 I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive 17 me, that I also may glory a little. That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this con18 fidence of glorying. Seeing that many

glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, 20 being wise yourselves. For ye bear with

a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smi21 teth you on the face. I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed 23 of Abraham? so am I. Are they minis

ters of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labours more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I 25 forty stripes save one. Thrice was I

10 Gr. the

occasion

of them.

beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night 26 and a day have I been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my 11 countrymen, in perils from 11 Gr. the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false

ruce.

27 brethren; in labour and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 281 Beside those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me 29 daily, anxiety for all the churches. Who

is weak, and I am not weak? who is 30 made to stumble, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the 31 things that concern my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore, knoweth 32 that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes, in order to take me: 33 and through a window was I let down

in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

12 I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions 2 and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up 3 even to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God 4 knoweth), how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man 5 to utter. On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will 6 not glory, save in my weaknesses. For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth 7 me to be, or heareth from me. And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations-wherefore, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that 8 I should not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ 10 may rest upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11 I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind 6the very chiefest apostles, though I 12 am nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and 13 mighty works. For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.

14 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents 15 for the children. And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, 16 am I loved the less? But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being 17 crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I take advantage of you by any one of 18 them whom I have sent unto you? I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not by the same Spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19 Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying. 20 For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisper21 ings, swellings, 10 tumults; lest, when I come again, my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.

11 Or.

12 Or, at if I were

prest and

The at

time.

though

absest

13 This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established. 2 I have said 11 beforehand, and I do say 11 beforehand, 12 as when I was presently the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, 3 I will not spare; seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you-ward is not weak, but is 4 powerful in you: for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak 13 in him, but we shall live with him My through the power of God toward you. 5 Try your own selves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed 6 ye be reprobate. But I hope that ye shall know that we are not reprobate. 7 Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but | that ye may do that which is honour8 able, 14 though we be as reprobate. For HG. we can do nothing against the truth, but 9 for the truth. For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we 10 also pray for, even your perfecting. For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down.

and that.

11 Finally, brethren, 1farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 12 Salute one another with a holy kiss.

13

All the saints salute you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.

1 PAUL, an apostle (not from men, neither through 1man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who 2 raised him from the dead), and all the brethren which are with me, unto the 3 churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace 2 from God the Father, and our 4 Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil 3 world, according to the will of our God and Father: 5 to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

6 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different 7 gospel; which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. 9 As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye 10 received, let him be anathema. For am

I now persuading men, or God? or am I seeking to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a 7 servant of Christ.

11 For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached 12 by me, that it is not after man. For

neither did I receive it from 1man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havock of it: 14 and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age 8 among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my 15 fathers. But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, eren from my mother's womb, and 16 called me through his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.

Or,

become

ac

quainted

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried 19 with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, 10 save James the 20 Lord's brother. Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, but only 21 before God, I lie not. Then I came into 22 the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And

I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in 23 Christ: but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havock; 24 and they glorified God in me.

with 10 Or,

in the course of

12 Or, are

13 Or, but it was b cause of

2 Then after the space of fourteen Or years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with 2 me. And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before them who 12 were of repute, lest by any means I should be 3 running, or had run, in vain. But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circum4 cised: 13 and that because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they 5 might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But from those who 12 were reputed to be somewhat (14 whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man's person)-they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me: 7 but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with 8 the gospel of the circumcision (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me 9 also unto the Gentiles); and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who 12 were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto 10 the circumcision; only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.

14 Or, what

they once

were