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2 Corinthians 1-4
American Standard Version

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy [a]our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be [b]the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ. 6 But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: 7 and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort. 8 For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 [c]yea, we ourselves have had the [d]sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead: 10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have [e]set our hope that he will also still deliver us; 11 ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.

12 For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 13 For we write no other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end: 14 as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second [f]benefit; 16 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea. 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay? 18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you [g]by us, even [h]by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea. 20 For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us. 21 Now he that establisheth us with you [i]in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 22 [j]who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth. 24 Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in [k]faith ye stand fast. 2 1 [l]But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow. 2 For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

5 But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all. 6 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by [m]the many; 7 so that contrariwise ye should [n]rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, [o]whether ye are obedient in all things. 10 But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the [p]presence of Christ; 11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Now when I came to Troas for the [q]gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord, 13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.

14 But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. 15 For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that [r]are saved, and in them that [s]perish; 16 to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as the many, [t]corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

3 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you? 2 Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; 3 being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh. 4 And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, [u]written, and engraven on stones, came [v]with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory [w]was passing away: 8 how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory? 9 [x]For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth. 11 For if that which [y]passeth away was [z]with glory, much more that which remaineth is in glory.

12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly [aa]on the end of that which [ab]was passing away: 14 but their [ac]minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil [ad]remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ. 15 But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. 16 But whensoever [ae]it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face [af]beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.

4 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not: 2 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our [ag]gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that [ah]perish: 4 in whom the god of this [ai]world hath blinded the [aj]minds of the unbelieving, [ak]that the [al]light of the [am]gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your [an]servants [ao]for Jesus’ sake. 6 Seeing it is God, that said, [ap]Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the [aq]light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; 8 we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; 9 pursued, yet not [ar]forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; 10 always bearing about in the body the [as]dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, [at]I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak; 14 knowing that he that raised up [au]the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through [av]the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.

16 Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:1 Greek the brother.
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:3 Or, God and the Father. See Rom. 15:6 margin.
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:9 Or, but we ourselves
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:9 Greek answer.
  5. 2 Corinthians 1:10 Some ancient authorities read set our hope; and still will he deliver us.
  6. 2 Corinthians 1:15 Or, grace. Some ancient authorities read joy.
  7. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek through.
  8. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek through.
  9. 2 Corinthians 1:21 Greek into.
  10. 2 Corinthians 1:22 Or, seeing that he both sealed us
  11. 2 Corinthians 1:24 Or, your faith
  12. 2 Corinthians 2:1 Some ancient authorities read For.
  13. 2 Corinthians 2:6 Greek the more.
  14. 2 Corinthians 2:7 Some ancient authorities omit rather.
  15. 2 Corinthians 2:9 Some ancient authorities read whereby.
  16. 2 Corinthians 2:10 Or, person
  17. 2 Corinthians 2:12 Greek good tidings. See marginal note on Mt. 4:23.
  18. 2 Corinthians 2:15 Or, are being saved
  19. 2 Corinthians 2:15 Or, are perishing
  20. 2 Corinthians 2:17 Or, making merchandise of the word of God. Compare 2 Pet. 2:3.
  21. 2 Corinthians 3:7 Greek in letters.
  22. 2 Corinthians 3:7 Greek in.
  23. 2 Corinthians 3:7 Or, was being done away. Compare 1 Cor. 13:8, 10.
  24. 2 Corinthians 3:9 Many ancient authorities read For if the ministration of condemnation is glory.
  25. 2 Corinthians 3:11 Or, is being done away. See verse 7 margin.
  26. 2 Corinthians 3:11 Greek through.
  27. 2 Corinthians 3:13 Or, unto
  28. 2 Corinthians 3:13 Or, was being done away. See verse 7 margin.
  29. 2 Corinthians 3:14 Greek thoughts. 4:4; 11:3.
  30. 2 Corinthians 3:14 Or, remaineth unlifted; which veil is done away
  31. 2 Corinthians 3:16 Or, a man shall turn
  32. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or, reflecting as a mirror
  33. 2 Corinthians 4:3 See marginal note on 2:12.
  34. 2 Corinthians 4:3 Or, are perishing
  35. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Or, age
  36. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Greek thoughts.
  37. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Or, that they should not see the light . . . image of God
  38. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Greek illumination.
  39. 2 Corinthians 4:4 See marginal note on 2:12.
  40. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Greek bondservants. Compare 1 Cor. 9:19.
  41. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Some ancient authorities read through Jesus.
  42. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3.
  43. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Greek illumination.
  44. 2 Corinthians 4:9 Or, left behind
  45. 2 Corinthians 4:10 Greek putting to death.
  46. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Ps. 116:10.
  47. 2 Corinthians 4:14 Some ancient authorities omit the Lord.
  48. 2 Corinthians 4:15 Greek the more.
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2 Corinthians 1-4
New International Version

1 Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) and Timothy(C) our brother,

To the church of God(D) in Corinth,(E) together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:(F)

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

Praise to the God of All Comfort

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(H) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us(I) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,(J) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;(K) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,(L) so also you share in our comfort.

8 We do not want you to be uninformed,(M) brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced(N) in the province of Asia.(O) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,(P) who raises the dead.(Q) 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,(R) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope(S) that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers.(T) Then many will give thanks(U) on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul’s Change of Plans

12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience(V) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[b](W) and godly sincerity.(X) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom(Y) but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.(Z)

15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you(AA) first so that you might benefit twice.(AB) 16 I wanted to visit you on my way(AC) to Macedonia(AD) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way(AE) to Judea.(AF) 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner(AG) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

18 But as surely as God is faithful,(AH) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God,(AI) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas[c](AJ) and Timothy(AK)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always(AL) been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises(AM) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”(AN) is spoken by us to the glory of God.(AO) 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm(AP) in Christ. He anointed(AQ) us, 22 set his seal(AR) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(AS)

23 I call God as my witness(AT)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you(AU) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over(AV) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.(AW) 2 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.(AX) 2 For if I grieve you,(AY) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did,(AZ) so that when I came I would not be distressed(BA) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence(BB) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you(BC) out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

Forgiveness for the Offender

5 If anyone has caused grief,(BD) he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment(BE) inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,(BF) so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you(BG) was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.(BH) 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan(BI) might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.(BJ)

Ministers of the New Covenant

12 Now when I went to Troas(BK) to preach the gospel of Christ(BL) and found that the Lord had opened a door(BM) for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind,(BN) because I did not find my brother Titus(BO) there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.(BP)

14 But thanks be to God,(BQ) who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma(BR) of the knowledge(BS) of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma(BT) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.(BU) 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death;(BV) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?(BW) 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.(BX) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,(BY) as those sent from God.(BZ)

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves(CA) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation(CB) to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.(CC) 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,(CD) not on tablets of stone(CE) but on tablets of human hearts.(CF)

4 Such confidence(CG) we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves(CH) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.(CI) 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant(CJ)—not of the letter(CK) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.(CL)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

7 Now if the ministry that brought death,(CM) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,(CN) transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation(CO) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!(CP) 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope,(CQ) we are very bold.(CR) 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face(CS) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull,(CT) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant(CU) is read.(CV) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,(CW) the veil is taken away.(CX) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit,(CY) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.(CZ) 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[d](DA) the Lord’s glory,(DB) are being transformed into his image(DC) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy(DD) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(DE) 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;(DF) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.(DG) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience(DH) in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel(DI) is veiled,(DJ) it is veiled to those who are perishing.(DK) 4 The god(DL) of this age(DM) has blinded(DN) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,(DO) who is the image of God.(DP) 5 For what we preach is not ourselves,(DQ) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(DR) and ourselves as your servants(DS) for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[e](DT) made his light shine in our hearts(DU) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.(DV)

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay(DW) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God(DX) and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,(DY) but not crushed; perplexed,(DZ) but not in despair; 9 persecuted,(EA) but not abandoned;(EB) struck down, but not destroyed.(EC) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,(ED) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.(EE) 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,(EF) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.(EG)

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[f](EH) Since we have that same spirit of[g] faith,(EI) we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead(EJ) will also raise us with Jesus(EK) and present us with you to himself.(EL) 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving(EM) to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(EN) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(EO) we are being renewed(EP) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(EQ) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,(ER) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:8 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 8:1; 13:11.
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
  4. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflect
  5. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3
  6. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
  7. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given
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