
{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}Paul, an apostle 
of Christ Jesus by the 
will of God, and Timothy, 
our brother, to the 
church of God in Corinth, 
and to all the saints in 
the whole of Achaia. 
{I}2_{/}May you receive 
grace and peace from God 
our Father and from 
Christ Jesus, the Lord.
BLESSED BE GOD, THE 
SOURCE OF ALL COMFORT{/}

{I}3_{/}Blessed be God, 
the Father of Christ 
Jesus, our Lord, the all-
merciful Father and the 
God of all comfort! 
{I}4_{/}He encourages us 
in all our trials, so 
that we may also 
encourage those in any 
trial, with the same 
comfort that we receive 
from God.
{I}5_{/}For whenever the 
sufferings of Christ 
overflow to us, so, 
through Christ, a great 
comfort also overflows. 
{I}6_{/}So, if we are 
afflicted, it is for your 
comfort and salvation; 
and if we receive comfort 
it is also for you. You 
may experience the same 
comfort when you come to 
endure the same 
sufferings we endure. 
{I}7_{/}Our hope for you 
is most firm; just as you 
share in our sufferings, 
so shall you also share 
in our consolation.
{I}8_{/}Brothers and 
sisters, we want you to 
know some of the trials 
we experienced in the 
province of Asia. We were 
crushed; it was too much; 
it was more than we could 
bear and we had already 
lost all hope of coming 
through alive. {I}9_{/}We 
felt branded for death, 
but this happened that we 
might no longer rely on 
ourselves but on God, who 
raises the dead. 
{I}10_{/}He freed us from 
such a deadly peril and 
will continue to do so. 
We trust he will continue 
protecting us, 
{I}11_{/}but you must 
help us with your 
prayers. When such a 
favor is obtained by the 
intercession of many, so 
will there be many to 
give thanks to God on our 
behalf.
THE PLANS OF PAUL{/}

{I}12_{/}There is 
something we are proud 
of: our conscience tells 
us that we have lived in 
this world with the 
openness and sincerity 
that comes from God. We 
have been guided, not by 
human motives, but by the 
grace of God, especially 
in relation to you. 
{I}13_{/}There were no 
hidden intentions in my 
letter, but only what you 
can read and understand. 
{I}14_{/}I trust that 
what you now only partly 
realize, you will come to 
understand fully, and so 
be proud of us, as we 
shall also be proud of 
you on the Day of the 
Lord Jesus.
{I}15_{/}With this 
assurance, I wanted to go 
and visit you first, and 
this would have been a 
double blessing for you. 
{I}16_{/}And from there I 
thought of going to 
Macedonia and then, from 
Macedonia, of coming back 
to you, that you might 
send me on my way to 
Judea. {I}17_{/}Have I 
planned this without 
thinking at all? Or do I 
change my decisions on 
the spur of the moment, 
so that I am between No 
and Yes?
{I}18_{/}God knows that 
our dealing with you is 
not Yes and No, 
{I}19_{/}just as the Son 
of God, Christ Jesus, 
whom we - Silvanus, 
Timothy and I - preach to 
you, was not Yes and No; 
with him it was simply 
Yes. {I}20_{/}In him all 
the promises of God have 
come to be a Yes, and we 
also say in his name: 
Amen! giving thanks to 
God. {I}21_{/}God himself 
has anointed us and 
strengthens us with you 
to serve Christ; 
{I}22_{/}he has marked us 
with his own seal in a 
first outpouring of the 
Spirit in our hearts. 
PAUL REFERS TO A 
SCANDAL{/}

{I}23_{/}God knows, and I 
swear to you by my own 
life, that if I did not 
return to Corinth, it was 
because I wanted to spare 
you. {I}24_{/}I do not 
wish to lord it over your 
faith, but to contribute 
to your happiness; for 
regarding faith, you 
already stand firm.
{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}So I gave up a 
visit that would again be 
a distressing one. 
{I}2_{/}If I make you 
sad, who will make me 
happy if not you whom I 
have grieved? 
{I}3_{/}Remember what I 
wrote you, "May it be 
that when I come I do not 
feel sad because of you, 
who should rather make me 
happy." I trust in 
everyone and I am sure 
that my joy will be the 
joy of you all.
{I}4_{/}So afflicted and 
worried was I when I 
wrote to you, that I even 
shed tears. I did not 
intend to cause you pain, 
but rather to let you 
know of the immense love 
that I have for you.
{I}5_{/}If anyone has 
caused me pain, he has 
hurt not me but in some 
measure, (I do not wish 
to exaggerate) all of 
you. {I}6_{/}The 
punishment that he 
received from the 
majority is enough for 
him. {I}7_{/}Now you 
should rather forgive and 
comfort him, lest 
excessive sorrow 
discourage him. 
{I}8_{/}So I beg you to 
treat him with love.
{I}9_{/}This is why I 
wrote to you, to test you 
and to know if you would 
obey in everything. 
{I}10_{/}The one you 
forgive, I also forgive. 
And what I forgave, if 
indeed I had anything to 
forgive, I forgave for 
your sake in the presence 
of Christ, {I}11_{/}lest 
Satan take advantage of 
us; for we know his 
designs.
WE ARE THE FRAGRANCE OF 
CHRIST{/}

{I}12_{/}So I came to 
Troas to preach the 
Gospel of Christ, and the 
Lord opened doors for me. 
{I}13_{/}However I could 
not be at peace because I 
did not find my brother 
Titus there, so I took 
leave of them and went to 
Macedonia.
{I}14_{/}Thanks be to 
God, who always leads us 
in the triumphant 
following of Christ and, 
through us, spreads the 
knowledge of him 
everywhere, like an 
aroma. {I}15_{/}We are 
Christ's fragrance rising 
up to God, and perceived 
by those who are saved as 
well as by those who are 
lost. {I}16_{/}To the 
latter, it smells of 
death and leads them to 
death. To others it is 
the fragrance of life and 
leads to life.
{I}17_{/}But who is 
worthy of such a mission? 
Unlike so many who make 
money out of the word of 
God, we speak with 
sincerity: everything 
comes from God and is 
said in his presence, in 
Christ.
THE GREAT DIGNITY OF 
CHRIST'S MINISTERS{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}Am I again 
commending myself? Or do 
I need to present to you 
letters of recommendation 
as some do; or should I 
ask you for those 
letters? {I}2_{/}You are 
the letter. This letter 
is written in your inner 
self, yet all can read 
and understand it. 
{I}3_{/}Yes, who could 
deny that you are 
Christ's letter written 
by us - a letter written 
not with ink but with the 
Spirit of the living God, 
carved not in slabs of 
stones, but in hearts of 
flesh.
{I}4_{/}This is how we 
are sure of God, through 
Christ. {I}5_{/}As for us 
we would not dare 
consider that something 
comes from us: our 
ability comes from God. 
{I}6_{/}He has even 
enabled us to be 
ministers of a new 
covenant no longer 
depending on a written 
text but on the Spirit. 
The written text kills, 
but the Spirit gives 
life.
{I}7_{/}The ministry of 
the Law carved on stones 
brought death; it was 
nevertheless surrounded 
by glory and we know that 
the Israelites could not 
fix their eyes on the 
face of Moses, such was 
his radiance, though 
fleeting. {I}8_{/}How 
much more glorious will 
the ministry of the 
Spirit be! {I}9_{/}If 
there is greatness in a 
ministry which uses to 
condemn, how much more 
will there be in the 
ministry that brings 
holiness? {I}10_{/}This 
is such a glorious thing 
that in comparison the 
former's glory is like 
nothing. {I}11_{/}That 
ministry was provisory 
and had only moments of 
glory; but ours endures 
with a lasting glory.
THE VEIL OF MOSES{/}

{I}12_{/}Since we have 
such a great ambition, we 
are quite confident - 
{I}13_{/}unlike Moses, 
who covered his face with 
a veil. Otherwise the 
Israelites would have 
seen his passing radiance 
fade.
{I}14_{/}They became 
blind, however; until 
this day, the same veil 
prevents them from 
understanding the Old 
Covenant and they do not 
realize that in Christ it 
is nullified. {I}15_{/}Up 
to this very day, 
whenever they read Moses, 
the veil remains over 
their understanding 
{I}16_{/}but, for whoever 
turns to the Lord, the 
veil shall be removed. 
{I}17_{/}The Lord is 
spirit, and where the 
Spirit of the Lord is, 
there is freedom.
{I}18_{/}So, with 
unveiled faces, we all 
reflect the Glory of the 
Lord, while we are 
transformed into his 
likeness and experience 
his Glory more and more 
by the action of the Lord 
who is spirit.
WE CARRY THIS TREASURE IN 
VESSELS OF CLAY{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}Since this is our 
ministry mercifully given 
to us, we do not weaken. 
{I}2_{/}We refuse to stay 
with half-truths through 
fear; we do not behave 
with cunning or falsify 
the message of God but, 
manifesting the truth, we 
deserve the respect of 
everyone before God.
{I}3_{/}In fact if the 
Gospel we proclaim 
remains obscure, it is 
obscure only for those 
who go to their own 
destruction. {I}4_{/}The 
god of this world has 
blinded the minds of 
these unbelievers lest 
they see the radiance of 
the glorious Gospel of 
Christ, who is God's 
image. {I}5_{/}It is not 
ourselves we preach, but 
Christ Jesus as Lord; and 
for Jesus' sake we are 
your servants. 
{I}6_{/}God who said, Let 
the light shine out of 
darkness, has also made 
the light shine in our 
hearts to radiate and to 
make known the Glory of 
God, as it shines in the 
face of Christ.
{I}7_{/}However, we carry 
this treasure in vessels 
of clay, so that this 
all-surpassing power may 
not be seen as ours but 
as God's. {I}8_{/}Trials 
of every sort come to us, 
but we are not 
discouraged. {I}9_{/}We 
are left without answer, 
but do not despair; 
persecuted but not 
abandoned, knocked down 
but not crushed. 
{I}10_{/}At any moment we 
carry in our person the 
death of Jesus, so that 
the life of Jesus may 
also be manifested in us. 
{I}11_{/}For we, the 
living, are given up 
continually to death for 
the sake of Jesus, so 
that the life of Jesus 
may appear in our mortal 
existence. {I}12_{/}And 
as death is at work in 
us, life comes to you.
{I}13_{/}We have received 
the same spirit of faith 
referred to in Scripture 
that says: I believed and 
so I spoke. We also 
believe and so we speak. 
{I}14_{/}We know that He 
who raised the Lord Jesus 
will also raise us with 
Jesus and bring us, with 
you, into his presence. 
{I}15_{/}Finally, 
everything is for your 
good, so that grace will 
come more abundantly upon 
you and great will be the 
thanksgiving for the 
glory of God.
WE LONG FOR OUR HEAVENLY 
DWELLING{/}

{I}16_{/}Therefore we are 
not discouraged. On the 
contrary, while our outer 
being wastes away, the 
inner self is renewed 
from day to day. 
{I}17_{/}The slight 
affliction which quickly 
passes away prepares us 
for an eternal wealth of 
glory so great and beyond 
all comparison. 
{I}18_{/}So we no longer 
pay attention to the 
things that are seen, but 
to those that are unseen, 
for the things that we 
see last for a moment, 
but that which cannot be 
seen is eternal.
{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}We know that when 
our earthly dwelling, or 
rather our tent, is 
destroyed, we may count 
on a building from God, a 
heavenly dwelling not 
built by human hands, 
that lasts forever. 
{I}2_{/}Therefore we long 
and groan: Why may we not 
put on this heavenly 
dwelling over that which 
we have? {I}3_{/}(Indeed, 
are we sure that we shall 
still be wearing our 
earthly dwelling and not 
be unclothed?)
{I}4_{/}As long as we are 
in the field-tent, we 
indeed moan our 
unbearable fate for we do 
not want this clothing to 
be removed from us; we 
would rather put the 
other over it, that the 
mortal body may be 
absorbed by true life. 
{I}5_{/}This is God's 
purpose for us, and he 
has given us the Spirit 
as a pledge of what we 
are to receive.
{I}6_{/}So we feel 
confident always. We know 
that while living in the 
body, we wander away from 
the Lord, {I}7_{/}living 
by faith, without seeing; 
{I}8_{/}but we dare to 
think that we would 
rather be away from the 
body to go and live with 
the Lord. {I}9_{/}So, 
whether we have to keep 
this house or lose it, we 
only wish to please the 
Lord. {I}10_{/}Anyway we 
all have to appear before 
the tribunal of Christ 
for each one to receive 
what he deserves for his 
good or evil deeds in the 
present life.
WE PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE 
OF RECONCILIATION{/}

{I}11_{/}So we know the 
fear of the Lord and we 
try to convince people 
while we live openly 
before God. And I trust 
that you know in your 
conscience what we truly 
are. {I}12_{/}Once more, 
we do not try to win your 
esteem; we want to give 
you a reason to feel 
proud of us, that you may 
respond to those who heed 
appearances and not the 
reality. {I}13_{/}Now, if 
I have spoken foolishly, 
let God alone hear; if 
what I have said makes 
sense, take it for 
yourselves.
{I}14_{/}Indeed the love 
of Christ holds us and we 
realize that if he died 
for all, all have died. 
{I}15_{/}He died for all 
so that those who live 
may live no longer for 
themselves, but for him 
who died and rose again 
for them. {I}16_{/}And so 
from now on, we do not 
regard anyone from a 
human point of view; and 
even if we once knew 
Christ personally, we 
should now regard him in 
another way.
{I}17_{/}For that same 
reason, the one who is in 
Christ is a new creature. 
For him the old things 
have passed away; a new 
world has come. 
{I}18_{/}All this is the 
work of God who in Christ 
reconciled us to himself, 
and who entrusted to us 
the ministry of 
reconciliation. 
{I}19_{/}Because in 
Christ God reconciled the 
world with himself, no 
longer taking into 
account their trespasses 
and entrusting to us the 
message of 
reconciliation.
{I}20_{/}So we present 
ourselves as ambassadors 
in the name of Christ, as 
if God himself makes an 
appeal to you through us. 
Let God reconcile you; 
this we ask you in the 
name of Christ. 
{I}21{/}He had no sin, 
but God made him bear our 
sin, so that in him we 
might share the holiness 
of God.
{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}Being God's 
helpers we beg you: let 
it not be in vain that 
you received this grace 
of God. {I}2_{/}Scripture 
says: At the favorable 
time I listened to you, 
on the day of salvation I 
helped you. This is the 
favorable time, this is 
the day of salvation.
THE TRIALS OF AN 
APOSTLE{/}

{I}3_{/}We are concerned 
not to give anyone an 
occasion to stumble or 
criticize our mission. 
{I}4_{/}Instead we prove 
we are true ministers of 
God in every way by our 
endurance in so many 
trials, in hardships, 
afflictions, 
{I}5_{/}floggings, 
imprisonment, riots, 
fatigue, sleepless nights 
and days of hunger.
{I}6_{/}People can notice 
in our upright life, 
knowledge, patience and 
kindness, action of the 
Holy Spirit, sincere 
love, {I}7_{/}words of 
truth and power of God. 
So we fight with the 
weapons of justice, to 
attack as well as to 
defend.
{I}8_{/}Sometimes we are 
honored, at other times 
insulted; we receive 
criticism as well as 
praise. We are regarded 
as liars although we 
speak the truth; 
{I}9_{/}as unknown though 
we are well known; as 
dead and yet we live. 
Punishments come upon us 
but we have not, as yet, 
been put to death. 
{I}10_{/}We appear to be 
afflicted, yet always 
joyful; we seem to be 
poor, but we enrich many; 
we have nothing, but we 
possess everything!
{I}11_{/}Corinthians! I 
have spoken to you 
frankly and I have 
uncovered my inner 
thought. {I}12_{/}My 
heart is wide open to 
you, but you feel uneasy 
because of your closed 
heart: {I}13_{/}repay us 
with the same measure - I 
speak to you as to my 
children - open your 
hearts wide also.
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH 
EVIL{/}

{I}14_{/}Do not make 
unsuitable covenants with 
those who do not believe: 
can justice walk with 
wickedness? Or can light 
coexist with darkness, 
{I}15_{/}and can there be 
harmony between Christ 
and Satan? What union can 
there be between one who 
believes and one who does 
not believe? 
{I}16{/}God's temple must 
have no room for idols, 
and we are the temple of 
the living God. As 
Scripture says; I will 
dwell and live in their 
midst, I will be their 
God and they shall be my 
people.
{I}17_{/}Therefore: Come 
out from their midst and 
separate from them, says 
the Lord. Do not touch 
anything unclean 
{I}18_{/}and I will be 
gracious to you. I will 
be a father to you, that 
you may become my sons 
and daughters, says the 
all-powerful God.
{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}Since we have 
such promises, dear 
friends, let us purify 
ourselves from all 
defilement of body and 
spirit, and complete the 
work of sanctification in 
the fear of God.
WELCOME US IN YOUR 
HEARTS{/}

{I}2_{/}Welcome us in 
your hearts. We have 
injured no one, we have 
harmed no one, we have 
cheated no one. {I}3_{/}I 
do not say this to 
condemn you: I have just 
said that you are in our 
heart to live together 
and die as one. {I}4_{/}I 
have great confidence in 
you and I am indeed proud 
of you. I feel very much 
encouraged and my joy 
overflows in spite of all 
this bitterness.
{I}5_{/}Know that when I 
came to Macedonia, I had 
no rest at all but I was 
afflicted with all kinds 
of difficulties: conflict 
outside and fear within. 
{I}6_{/}But God who 
encourages the humble 
gave me comfort with the 
arrival of Titus, 
{I}7_{/}not only because 
of his arrival, but also 
because you had received 
him very well. He told me 
about your deep affection 
for me; you were affected 
by what happened, you 
worried about me, and 
this made me rejoice all 
the more.
{I}8_{/}If my letter 
caused you pain, I do not 
regret it. Perhaps I did 
regret it, for I saw that 
the letter caused you 
sadness for a moment but 
now I rejoice, 
{I}9_{/}not because of 
your sadness, but because 
this sadness brought you 
to repentance. This was a 
sadness from God, so that 
no evil came to you 
because of me. 
{I}10_{/}Sadness from God 
brings firm repentance 
that leads to salvation 
and brings no regret, but 
worldly grief produces 
death. {I}11_{/}See what 
this sadness from God has 
produced in you: What 
concern for me! What 
apologies! What 
indignation and fear! 
What a longing to see me, 
to make amends and do me 
justice!
You have fully proved 
that you were innocent in 
this matter. {I}12_{/}In 
reality, I wrote to you 
not on account of the 
offender or of the 
offended, but that you 
may be conscious of the 
concern you have for me 
before God. {I}13_{/}I 
was encouraged by this.
In addition to this 
consolation of mine, I 
rejoice especially to see 
Titus very pleased with 
the way you all reassured 
him. {I}14_{/}I had no 
cause to regret my praise 
of you to him. You know 
that I am always sincere 
with you; likewise my 
praise of you to Titus 
has been justified. 
{I}15_{/}He now feels 
much more affection for 
you as he remembers the 
obedience of all and the 
respect and humility with 
which you received him. 
{I}16_{/}Really I rejoice 
for I can be truly proud 
of you.
THE COLLECTION FOR THOSE 
IN JERUSALEM{/}

{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Now I want you to 
know about a gift of 
divine grace among the 
Churches of Macedonia. 
{I}2_{/}While they were 
so afflicted and 
persecuted, their joy 
overflowed and their 
extreme poverty turned 
into a wealth of 
generosity. {I}3{/}-
{I}4_{/}According to 
their means - even beyond 
their means - they wanted 
to share in helping the 
saints.
They asked us for this 
favor spontaneously and 
with much insistence 
{I}5_{/}and, far beyond 
anything we expected, 
they put themselves at 
the disposal of the Lord 
and of us by the will of 
God. {I}6_{/}Accordingly, 
I urged Titus to complete 
among you this work of 
grace since he began it 
with you. {I}7_{/}You 
excel in everything: in 
the gifts of faith, 
speech and knowledge; you 
feel concern for every 
cause and, besides, you 
are first in my heart. 
Excel also in this 
generous service.
{I}8_{/}This is not a 
command; I make known to 
you the determination of 
others to check the 
sincerity of your 
fraternal concern. 
{I}9_{/}You know well the 
generosity of Christ 
Jesus, our Lord. Although 
he was rich, he made 
himself poor to make you 
rich through his poverty.
{I}10_{/}I only make a 
suggestion, because you 
were the first not only 
in cooperating, but in 
beginning this project a 
year ago. {I}11_{/}So 
complete this work and, 
according to your means, 
carry out what you 
decided with much 
enthusiasm. {I}12_{/}When 
there is a good 
disposition, everything 
you give is welcomed and 
no one longs for what you 
do not have. {I}13_{/}I 
do not mean that others 
should be at ease and you 
burdened. Strive for 
equality; {I}14_{/}at 
present give from your 
abundance what they are 
short of, and in some way 
they also will give from 
their abundance what you 
lack. Then you will be 
equal {I}15_{/}and what 
Scripture says shall come 
true: To the one who had 
much, nothing was in 
excess; to the one who 
had little, nothing was 
lacking.
{I}16_{/}Blessed be God 
who inspires Titus with 
such care for you! 
{I}17_{/}He not only 
listened to my appeal but 
he wanted to go and see 
you on his own 
initiative. {I}18_{/}I am 
sending with him the 
brother who has gained 
the esteem of the 
churches in the work of 
the Gospel; 
{I}19_{/}moreover they 
appointed him to travel 
with us in this blessed 
work we are carrying on 
for the glory of the Lord 
but also because of our 
personal enthusiasm.
{I}20_{/}We decided on 
this so that no one could 
suspect us with regard to 
this generous fund that 
we are administering. 
{I}21_{/}Let us see to it 
that all may appear clean 
not only before God but 
also before people. 
{I}22_{/}We also send 
with them another brother 
who on several occasions 
has shown us his zeal 
and, now, is more 
enthusiastic because of 
his confidence in you.
{I}23_{/}You then have 
Titus, our companion and 
minister, to serve you 
and, with him, you have 
our brothers, 
representatives of the 
churches and a glory to 
Christ. {I}24_{/}Show 
them how you love, and 
prove before the churches 
all the good things I 
said to them about you.
MORE ABOUT THE 
COLLECTION{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}It is not 
necessary for  me to 
write to you about 
assistance to the saints. 
{I}2_{/}I know your 
readiness and I praised 
you before the 
Macedonians. I said, "In 
Achaia they have been 
ready for the collection 
since last year." And 
your enthusiasm carried 
most of them along. 
{I}3_{/}So I send you 
these brothers of ours. 
May all my praise of you 
not fall flat in this 
case! May you be ready, 
as I said. {I}4_{/}If 
some Macedonians come 
with me, let them not 
find you unprepared. What 
a shame for me - and 
perhaps for you - after 
so much confidence!
{I}5_{/}So I thought it 
necessary to ask our 
brothers to go ahead of 
us and see you to 
organize this blessed 
work you have promised. 
It shall come from your 
generosity and not be an 
imposed task.
{I}6_{/}Remember: the one 
who sows meagerly will 
reap meagerly, and there 
shall be generous 
harvests for the one who 
sows generously. 
{I}7_{/}Each of you 
should give as you 
decided personally, and 
not reluctantly as if 
obliged. God loves a 
cheerful giver. 
{I}8_{/}And God is able 
to fill you with every 
good thing, so that you 
have enough of everything 
at  all  times, and  may  
give  abundantly  for  
any good work.
{I}9_{/}Scripture says: 
He distributed, he gave 
to the poor, his good 
works last forever. 
{I}10_{/}God who provides 
the sower with seed will 
also provide him with the 
bread he eats. He will 
multiply the seed for you 
and also increase the 
interests of your good 
works. {I}11_{/}Become 
rich in every way, and 
give abundantly. What you 
give will become, through 
us, a thanksgiving to 
God.
{I}12_{/}For this sacred 
relief, after providing 
the saints with what they 
need, will result in much 
thanksgiving to God. 
{I}13_{/}This will be a 
test for them; they will 
give thanks because you 
obey the requirements of 
Christ's Gospel and share 
generously with them and 
with all. {I}14_{/}They 
shall pray to God for you 
and feel affection for 
you because the grace of 
God overflows in you.
{I}15_{/}Yes, thanks be 
to God for his 
indescribable gift!
PAUL'S DEFENSE AND 
ADMONITION{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}It is I, Paul, 
who by  the humility and 
kindness of Christ appeal 
to you, the Paul "who is 
timid among you and bold 
when far away from you!"
{I}2_{/}Do not force me 
to act boldly when I 
come, as I am determined 
and will dare to act 
against some people who 
think that I act from 
human motives. 
{I}3_{/}Human is our 
condition but not our 
fight.
{I}4_{/}Our weapons for 
this fight are not human 
but they have divine 
power to destroy 
strongholds - those 
arguments {I}5_{/}and 
haughty thoughts which 
oppose the knowledge of 
God. They disarm the 
conceited minds, that 
they obey Christ. 
{I}6_{/}So I am prepared 
to punish any 
disobedience when you 
should show perfect 
obedience.
{I}7_{/}See things as 
they really are. If 
someone is convinced that 
he belongs to Christ, let 
him consider that just as 
he is Christ's, so am I. 
{I}8_{/}Although I may 
seem too confident in the 
authority that the Lord 
gave me for building you 
up and not for pulling 
you down, I will not be 
put to shame for saying 
this. {I}9_{/}Do not 
think that I can only 
frighten you with 
letters. {I}10_{/}"His 
letters are severe and 
strong," some say, "but 
as he is, he has no 
presence and he is a poor 
speaker." {I}11_{/}To 
such people I say, "Be 
careful: what my letters 
say from afar, is what I 
will do when I come."
{I}12_{/}How could I 
venture to equate or 
compare myself with some 
people who proclaim their 
own merits? Fools! They 
measure themselves with 
their own measure and 
compare themselves with 
themselves. {I}13_{/}As 
for me, I will not boast 
beyond measure, for I 
will not go past the 
limits that the God of 
true measure has set for 
me: He gave the measuring 
stick when he made me set 
foot in your place.
{I}14_{/}It is not the 
same when someone goes 
beyond his field to where 
he has not been able to 
set foot. But I am he who 
first reached you with 
the Gospel of Christ. 
{I}15_{/}I am not making 
myself important where 
others have worked. On 
the contrary, we hope 
that as your faith 
increases, so too our 
area of ministry among 
you will be enlarged 
without going beyond our 
limit. {I}16_{/}So we 
shall bring the Gospel to 
places beyond yours 
without entering into the 
field of others, or 
boasting and making 
ourselves important where 
the work is already done. 
{I}17_{/}Let the one who 
boasts, boast in the 
Lord. {I}18_{/}It is not 
the one who commends 
himself who is approved, 
but the one whom the Lord 
commends.
{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}May you bear with 
me in some little 
foolishness! But surely 
you will. {I}2_{/}I 
confess that I share the 
jealousy of God for you, 
for I have promised you 
in marriage to Christ, 
the only spouse, to 
present you to him as a 
pure virgin. {I}3_{/}And 
this is my fear: the 
serpent that seduced Eve 
with cunning could also 
corrupt your minds and 
divert you from the 
christian sincerity. 
{I}4_{/}Someone now comes 
and preaches another 
Jesus different from the 
one we preach, or you are 
offered a different 
spirit from the one you 
have received, with a 
different Gospel from the 
one you have accepted - 
and you agree!
{I}5_{/}I do not see how 
I am inferior to those 
super-apostles. 
{I}6_{/}Does my speaking 
leave much to be desired? 
Perhaps, but not my 
knowledge, as I have 
abundantly shown to you 
in every way.
PAUL COMMENDS THE APOSTLE 
PAUL{/}

{I}7_{/}Perhaps my sin 
was that I humbled myself 
in order to uplift you, 
or that I gave you the 
Gospel free of charge. 
{I}8_{/}I called upon the 
services of other 
churches and served you 
with the support I 
received from them. 
{I}9_{/}When I was with 
you, although I was in 
need, I did not become a 
burden to anyone. The 
friends from Macedonia 
gave me what I needed. I 
have taken care not to be 
a burden to you in 
anything and I will 
continue to do so. 
{I}10_{/}By the truth of 
Christ within me, I will 
let no one in the land of 
Achaia stop this boasting 
of mine.
{I}11_{/}Why? Because I 
do not love you? God 
knows that I do! 
{I}12_{/}Yet I do and I 
will continue to do so to 
silence any people 
anxious to appear as 
equal to me: this is my 
glory. {I}13_{/}In 
reality, they are false 
apostles, deceivers 
disguised as apostles of 
Christ. {I}14_{/}It is 
not surprising: if Satan 
disguises himself as an 
angel of light, 
{I}15_{/}his servants can 
easily disguise 
themselves as ministers 
of salvation, until they 
receive what their deeds 
deserve.
{I}16_{/}I say again: Do 
not take me for a fool, 
but if you do take me as 
such, bear with me that I 
may sing my own praises a 
little. {I}17_{/}I will 
not speak in the language 
of Christ, but in that of 
a fool, bringing my own 
merits to prominence. 
{I}18_{/}As some people 
boast of human 
advantages, I will do the 
same. 
{I}19_{/}Fortunately you 
bear rather well with 
fools, you who are so 
wise! {I}20_{/}You 
tolerate being enslaved, 
and exploited, robbed, 
treated with contempt and 
slapped in the face. 
{I}21_{/}What a shame 
that I acted so weakly 
with you!
But if others are so 
bold, I shall also dare, 
although I may speak like 
a fool. {I}22_{/}Are they 
Hebrews? So am I. Are 
they Israelites? So am I. 
Are they descendants of 
Abraham? So am I. 
{I}23_{/}Are they 
ministers of Christ? (I 
begin to talk like a 
madman) I am better than 
they.
Better than they with my 
numerous labors. Better 
than they with the time 
spent in prison. The 
beatings I received are 
beyond comparison. How 
many times have I found 
myself in danger of 
death! {I}24_{/}Five 
times the Jews sentenced 
me to thirty-nine lashes. 
{I}25_{/}Three times I 
was beaten with a rod, 
once I was stoned. Three 
times I was shipwrecked, 
and once I spent a night 
and a day adrift on the 
high seas.
{I}26_{/}I have been 
continually in hazards of 
traveling because of 
rivers, because of 
bandits, because of my 
fellow Jews, or because 
of the pagans; in danger 
in the city, in the open 
country, at sea; in 
danger from false 
brothers. {I}27_{/}I have 
worked and often labored 
without sleep, I have 
been hungry and thirsty 
and starving, cold and 
without shelter.
{I}28_{/}Besides these 
and other things, there 
was my daily concern for 
all the churches. 
{I}29_{/}Whoever wavers, 
do I not waver with him? 
Whoever stumbles, am I 
not on hot bricks?
{I}30_{/}If it is 
necessary to boast, let 
me proclaim the occasions 
on which I was found 
weak. {I}31_{/}The God 
and Father of Jesus the 
Lord - may he be blessed 
for ever! - knows that I 
speak the truth. 
{I}32_{/}At Damascus, the 
governor under King 
Aretas placed the city 
under guard in order to 
arrest me, {I}33_{/}and I 
had to be let down in a 
basket through a window 
in the wall. In that way 
I slipped through his 
hands.
EXTRAORDINARY GRACES{/}

{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}It is useless to 
boast;  but if I have to, 
I will go on to some 
visions and revelations 
of the Lord.
{I}2_{/}I know a certain 
Christian: fourteen years 
ago he was taken up to 
the third heaven. 
{I}3_{/}Whether in the 
body or out of the body, 
I do not know, God knows. 
But I know that this man, 
whether in the body or 
out of the body - I do 
not know, God knows - 
{I}4_{/}was taken up to 
Paradise where he heard 
words that cannot be 
told: things which humans 
cannot express.
{I}5_{/}Of that man I can 
indeed boast, but of 
myself I will not boast 
except of my weaknesses. 
{I}6_{/}If I wanted to 
boast, it would not be 
foolish of me, for I 
would speak the truth. 
{I}7_{/}However, I better 
give up lest somebody 
think more of me than 
what is seen in me or 
heard from me. Lest I 
become proud after so 
many and extraordinary 
revelations, I was given 
a thorn in my flesh, a 
true messenger of Satan, 
to slap me in the face. 
{I}8_{/}Three times I 
prayed to the Lord that 
it leave me, {I}9_{/}but 
he answered, "My grace is 
enough for you; my great 
strength is revealed in 
weakness."
Gladly, then, will I 
boast of my weakness that 
the strength of Christ 
may be mine. {I}10_{/}So 
I rejoice when I suffer 
infirmities, 
humiliations, want, 
persecutions: all for 
Christ! For when I am 
weak, then I am strong.
{I}11_{/}I have acted as 
a fool but you forced me. 
You should have been the 
ones commending me. Yet I 
do not feel outdone by 
those super-apostles, 
{I}12_{/}even though I am 
nothing. All the signs of 
a true apostle are found 
in me: patience in all 
trials, signs, miracles 
and wonders.
{I}13_{/}Now, in what way 
were you not treated like 
the rest of the churches? 
Only in this: I was not a 
burden to you - forgive 
me for this offense!
THIS IS MY THIRD VISIT TO 
YOU{/}

{I}14_{/}For the third 
time I plan to visit you, 
and I will not be a 
burden to you, for I am 
not interested in what 
you have but only in you. 
Children should not have 
to collect money for 
their parents, but the 
parents for their 
children. {I}15_{/}As for 
me, I am ready to spend 
whatever I have and even 
my whole self for all of 
you. If I love you so 
much, am I to be loved 
less?
{I}16_{/}Well, I was not 
a burden to you, but was 
it not a trick to deceive 
you? Tell me: 
{I}17_{/}Did I take money 
from you through any of 
my messengers? {I}18_{/}I 
asked Titus to go to you 
and I sent another 
brother with him. But did 
Titus take money from 
you? Have we not both 
acted in the same spirit?
{I}19_{/}Perhaps you 
think that we are again 
apologizing; but no: we 
speak in Christ and 
before God, and I do this 
for you, dear friends, to 
build you up. {I}20_{/}I 
fear that if I go and see 
you, I might not find you 
as I would wish, and you 
in turn, might not find 
me to your liking. I 
might see rivalries, 
envy, grudges, disputes, 
slanders, gossip, 
conceit, disorder. 
{I}21_{/}Let it not be 
that in coming again to 
you, God humble me 
because of you and I have 
to grieve over so many of 
you who live in sin, on 
seeing that they have not 
yet given up an impure 
way of living, their 
wicked conduct and the 
vices they formerly 
practiced.
{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}This will be my 
third visit  to you. Any 
charge must be decided 
upon by the declaration 
of two or three 
witnesses. {I}2_{/}I have 
said and I say again, 
being still far away, 
just as I did on my 
second visit I say to you 
who lived in sin as well 
as to the rest: when I 
return to you, I will not 
have pity. {I}3_{/}You 
want to know if Christ is 
speaking through me? So 
you will. He is not used 
to dealing weakly with 
you, but rather he acts 
with power. {I}4_{/}If he 
was crucified in his 
weakness, now he lives by 
the strength of God; and 
so we are weak with him, 
but we will be well alive 
with him, because God 
acts powerfully with you.
{I}5_{/}Examine 
yourselves: are you 
acting according to 
faith? Test yourselves. 
Can you assert that 
Christ Jesus is in you? 
{I}6_{/}If not, you have 
failed the test. I hope 
you recognize that we 
ourselves have not failed 
it.
{I}7_{/}We pray God that 
you may do no wrong, not 
that we wish to be 
acknowledged but we want 
you to do right, even if 
in this we appear to have 
failed. {I}8_{/}For we do 
not have power against 
the truth, but only for 
the truth. {I}9_{/}We 
rejoice if we are weak 
while you are strong, for 
all we hope is that you 
become perfect. 
{I}10_{/}This is why I am 
writing now, so that when 
I come I may not have to 
act strictly and make use 
of the authority the Lord 
has given me for building 
up and not for 
destroying.
{I}11_{/}Finally, 
brothers and sisters, be 
happy, strive to be 
perfect, have courage, be 
of one mind and live in 
peace. And the God of 
love and peace will be 
with you. {I}12_{/}Greet 
one another with a holy 
kiss. All the saints 
greet you.
{I}13_{/}The grace of 
Christ Jesus the Lord, 
the love of God and the 
fellowship of the Holy 
Spirit be with you all.

