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Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy, brother, to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all saints that be in all Achaia,

grace to you, and peace of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies, and God of all comfort,

which comforteth us in all our tribulation, that also we be able to comfort them, that be in all dis-ease, by the admonishing by which also we be admonished of God [that and we may comfort them, that be in all pressure, or overlaying, by the exhortation, or admonishing, by which and we be admonished of God].

For as the passions of Christ be plenteous in us, so also by Christ our comfort is plenteous.

And whether we be in tribulation, for your tribulation and health, either we be comforted, for your comfort[a], either we be admonished, for your admonishing and health. Which worketh in you the suffering of the same passions, which also we suffer,

that our hope be firm for you; witting for as ye be fellows of passions, so ye shall be also of comfort.

For, brethren, we will that ye know of our tribulation, that was done in Asia; for over measure we were grieved over might, so that it distressed us, yea, to live.[b]

But we in us selves had answer of death, that we trust not in us, but in God that raiseth dead men. [But we ourselves in ourselves had answer, or certainty, of death, that we be not trusting in ourselves, but in God that raiseth dead men.]

10 Which delivered us, and delivereth from so great perils, into whom we hope, also yet he shall deliver,

11 while also ye help in prayer for us [helping and you in prayer for us]; that of the persons of many faces of that giving that is in us, thankings be done for us by many men to God [by many partners, graces, or thanks, be done to God for us].

12 For our glory is this, the witnessing of our conscience, that in simpleness and cleanness of God, and not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we lived in this world, but more plenteously to you.

13 And we write not other things to you, than those that ye have read and know, and I hope that into the end ye shall know,

14 as also ye have known us a part [as and ye have known us of part]; for we be your glory, as also ye be ours in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 And in this trusting I would first come to you, that ye should have the second grace,

16 and pass by you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia come to you, and of you be led into Judaea.

17 But when I would this thing, whether I used unsteadfastness, either those things that I think, I think after the flesh, that at me be, it is and it is not?[c]

18 But God is true, for our word that was at you, is and is not, is not therein, but is is in it.[d]

19 For why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, which is preached among you by us, by me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, there was not in him, is and is not, but is was in him[e].

20 For why how many ever be promises of God, in that is, be fulfilled [Forsooth how many ever be promises of God, in him is, that is, in him they be fulfilled]. And therefore by him we say Amen to God, to our glory.

21 Soothly it is God that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and which anointed us, [The which soothly confirmeth us with you in Christ, and the which God anointed us,]

22 and which marked us [and that marked us], and gave earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 For I call God to witness against my soul [Forsooth I in-call God witness into my soul], that I sparing you came not over to Corinth;

24 not that we be lords of your faith [not for we be lords of your faith], but we be helpers of your joy; for through belief ye stand.

And I ordained this [same] thing at me, that I should not come again in heaviness to you [in sorrow to you].

For if I make you sorry, who is he that gladdeth me, but he that is sorrowful of me?

And this same thing I wrote to you, that when I come, I have not sorrow on sorrow, of the which it behooved me to have joy. And I trust in you all, that my joy is of all you[f].

For of much tribulation and anguish of heart I wrote to you by many tears, not that ye be sorry, but that ye know what charity I have more plenteously in you.

For if any man hath made me sorrowful, he hath not made me sorrowful but a part [he hath not made me sorrowful but in part], that I charge not you all.

This blaming that is made of many, sufficeth to him, that is such one [that is such a manner man];

so that on the contrary ye rather forgive and comfort, lest peradventure he that is such a manner man, be swallowed up [be sopped up, or despair,] by more great heaviness.

For which thing I beseech you, that ye confirm charity into him.

For why therefore [and] I wrote this, that I know your proof, whether in all things ye be obedient.

10 For to whom ye have forgiven any thing, also I have forgiven. For I, that that I forgave, if I forgave any thing, have forgiven for you in the person of Christ,

11 that we be not deceived of Satan; for we know his thoughts. [that we be not deceived of Satan; soothly we unknow not his thoughts.]

12 But when I was come to Troas [Forsooth when I had come to Troas] for the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord,

13 I had not rest to my spirit, for I found not my brother Titus, but I said to them farewell, and I passed into Macedonia. [I had not rest in my spirit, for I found not my brother Titus, but I saying to them farewell, passed into Macedonia.]

14 And I do thankings to God, that evermore maketh us to have victory in Christ Jesus, and showeth by us the odour of his knowing in each place;[g]

15 for we be the good odour of Christ to God, among these that be made safe, and among these that perish. [for we be the good odour, or savour, of Christ to God, in these that be made safe, and in these that perish.]

16 To others soothly odour of death into death [Soothly to others we be odour of death into death], but to the others we be odour of life into life. And to these things who is so able?

17 For we be not as many, that do adultery by the word of God, but we speak of cleanness, as of God, before God in Christ. [Soothly we be not as full many, adulterating the word of God, but of cleanness, but as of God, before God in Christ we speak.]

Begin we therefore again to praise us selves? or whether we need, as some men, epistles of praising to you, or of you? [Begin we again to commend, or praise, ourselves? or whether we need, as some, praising letters to you, or of you?]

Ye be our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read of all men,

and made open [and ye be made open], for ye be the epistle of Christ ministered of us, and written, not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not in stone tables [not in stony tables], but in fleshly tables of heart.

For we have such trust by Christ to God;

not that we be sufficient to think any thing of us[selves], as of us, but our sufficience is of God.

Which also made us able ministers of the new testament, not by letter, but by Spirit; for the letter slayeth, but the Spirit quickeneth.

And if the ministration of death written by letter in stones [formed by letters in stones] was in glory, so that the children of Israel might not behold into the face of Moses, for the glory of his face, which is voided[h],

how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be more in glory?

For if the ministration of condemnation was in glory [For why if the ministration of condemnation is in glory], much more the ministration of rightwiseness is plenteous in glory.

10 For neither that that was clear was glorified in this part for the excellent glory;

11 and if that that is voided [for why if that that is voided], was by glory, much more that that dwelleth still is in glory.

12 Therefore we that have such hope, use much trust;

13 and not as Moses laid a veil on his face [and not as Moses put a veil on his face], that the children of Israel should not behold into his face, which veil is voided.

14 But the wits of them be astonished; for [till] into this day the same veil in [the] reading of the old testament dwelleth not showed [dwelleth unshowed], for it is voided in Christ,

15 but [till] into this day, when Moses is read, the veil is put on their hearts [the veil is put upon their hearts].

16 But when Israel shall be converted to God, the veil shall be done away.

17 And the Spirit is the Lord; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.[i]

18 And all we that with open face see the glory of the Lord, be transformed into the same image, from clearness into clearness, as of the Spirit of the Lord. [Forsooth all we with showed face beholding the glory of the Lord, be transformed into the same image, from clearness to clearness, as of the Spirit of the Lord.]

Therefore we that have this administration [Therefore we having this administration, or office], after this that we have gotten mercy, fail we not,

but do we away the privy things of shame, not walking in subtle guile, neither doing adultery by the word of God, but in showing of the truth commending us selves to each conscience of men before God. [but do away the privy things of shame, not walking in subtle guile, neither adulterating the word of God, but in showing of the truth commending ourselves to each conscience of men before God.]

For if also our gospel is covered, or hid, in these that perish it is covered;

in which [the] god of this world, that is, the devil, hath blinded the souls of unfaithful men, that the lightening of the gospel of the glory of Christ, which is the image of God, shine not.[j]

But we preach not us selves, but our Lord Jesus Christ [Soothly we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord]; and us your servants by Jesus.

For God, that said [the] light to shine of darknesses, he hath given light in our hearts, to the lightening of the science of the clearness of God [he hath enlightened in our hearts, to the illumining of the science of the clearness of God], in the face of Jesus Christ.

And we have this treasure in brittle vessels, that the worthiness be of God's virtue [that the highness be of God's virtue], and not of us.

In all things we suffer tribulation, but we be not anguished, or distressed; we be made poor, but we lack nothing;[k]

we suffer persecution, but we be not forsaken; we be made low, but we be not confounded; we be cast down, but we perish not.

10 And evermore we bear about the slaying of Jesus in our body [Evermore bearing about the mortifying of Jesus Christ in our body], that also the life of Jesus be showed in our bodies.

11 For evermore we that live, be taken into death for Jesus, that [and] the life of Jesus be showed in our deadly flesh.

12 Therefore death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 And we have the same spirit of faith [Forsooth having the same spirit of faith], as it is written, I have believed, wherefore I have spoken; and we believe, wherefore also we speak;

14 witting that he that raised Jesus, shall raise up also us with Jesus, and shall ordain [us] with you.

15 And all things [be done] for you, that a plenteous grace by many thankings be plenteous into the glory of God. [Soothly all things be done for you, that grace being plenteous by many in doing of thanks be plenteous into glory of God.]

16 For which thing we fail not, for though [but though] our outer man be corrupted; nevertheless the inner man is renewed from day to day.

17 But that light thing [light, or easy, thing] of our tribulation that lasteth now, but as it were by a moment, worketh in us over measure an everlasting burden into the highness of glory [worketh over manner, or measure, into highness the everlasting weight of glory in us];

18 while that we behold not those things that be seen, but those [things] that be not seen. For those things that be seen, be but during for a short time; but those things that be not seen, be everlasting[l].

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:6 Forsooth whether we be troubled, or be pursued, it is for your teaching and health, or we be comforted, for your comfort
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:8 Forsooth, brethren, we will not you to unknow of our tribulation, that was done in Asia; for over measure we were grieved above virtue, or might, so that it distressed us, yea, to live.
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:17 Forsooth when I would this thing, whether I used lightness, either unsteadfastness, or those things that I think, I think after the flesh, that there be at me, is and not, or, yea and nay?
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:18 Forsooth God is true, for our word that was at you, there is not in it, yea and nay/there is not in it, is and nay, but is, that is truth, is in it.
  5. 2 Corinthians 1:19 there was not in him, is and nay, but in him was is /there was not in him, yea and nay, but yea in him was
  6. 2 Corinthians 2:3 that when I shall come, I have not sorrow upon sorrow, of them of whom it behooved me to have joy. Trusting in you all, that my joy is of you all
  7. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Therefore be thankings to God, that ever maketh us to have victory in Christ Jesus, and showeth by us the odour, or savour/or sweetness, of his knowing in each place;
  8. 2 Corinthians 3:7 for the glory of his cheer, which glory is now voided
  9. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Forsooth the Lord is a Spirit; forsooth where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, or freedom.
  10. 2 Corinthians 4:4 in which the god of this world, that is, the devil, or pride, hath blinded the souls of men out of belief, or unfaithful men, that the lighting of the gospel of the glory of Christ, that is the image of God, shine not.
  11. 2 Corinthians 4:8 In all things we suffer tribulation, but we be not made strait/but we be not anguished thereby in soul; we be made poor, but we be not destitute, either cast away;
  12. 2 Corinthians 4:18 Soothly those things that be seen, be temporal, or during but short time; forsooth those things that be not seen, be eternal, or everlasting

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)

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

Praise to the God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(H) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 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. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,(J) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 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. 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.

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. 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) So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.(AX) For if I grieve you,(AY) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 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. 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

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. The punishment(BE) inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,(BF) so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 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)

Are we beginning to commend ourselves(CA) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation(CB) to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.(CC) 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)

Such confidence(CG) we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves(CH) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.(CI) 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

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, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 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

Therefore, since through God’s mercy(DD) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(DE) 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. And even if our gospel(DI) is veiled,(DJ) it is veiled to those who are perishing.(DK) 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) For what we preach is not ourselves,(DQ) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(DR) and ourselves as your servants(DS) for Jesus’ sake. 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)

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. We are hard pressed on every side,(DY) but not crushed; perplexed,(DZ) but not in despair; 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