Modern Literal Version
2 Corinthians 1]
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God and Timothy our brother, to the congregation* of God which is in Corinth, together with all the holy-ones who are in the whole of Achaia: 1:2 grace to you* and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the mercies and God of all encouragement is gracious*; 1:4 who is encouraging us on our every affliction, *that* we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction, through the encouragement of which we ourselves are encouraged by God. 1:5 Because just-as the sufferings of the Christ abound to us, so our encouragement also abounds through the Christ. 1:6 But whether we are afflicted, it is on behalf of your* encouragement and salvation; which is working in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also are suffering; and our hope is steadfast on your* behalf. If whether we are encouraged, it is on behalf of your* encouragement and salvation, 1:7 knowing that, just-like you* are partners of the sufferings, so you* are also of the comfort. 1:8 For* brethren, we do not wish you* to be ignorant in regard to our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were burdened down surpassingly, beyond our power, so-then for us to be despaired even to be living. 1:9 But, we ourselves have had the verdict of death in ourselves, in order that we should not be having confidence upon ourselves, but upon God, who is raising up the dead; 1:10 who rescued us out of so-great a death and is rescuing us; in whom we have hoped that he will also still be rescuing us. 1:11 You* are also working together on our behalf by your* supplication; in order that the gift* to us from many faces {i.e. mouths} might be a giving-thanks through many people on our behalf.
1:12 For* this is our boasting, the testimony of our conscience, that in clarity and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world and even-more toward you*. 1:13 For* we are writing no other things to you*, but what you* are reading or even what you* know. Now I hope you* will fully know these things we write until the end; 1:14 as you* also recognized us partially, that we are your* boasting, just-as you* are also ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
1:15 And in this confidence, I was planning to come to you* beforehand, in order that you* might have a second favor from me; 1:16 and through you* to go through into Macedonia, and away from Macedonia to come to you* again and to be sent onward to Judea by you*. 1:17 Therefore while planning this certain thing, I did not then use fickleness, did I? Or what I plan, do I plan those things according to the flesh, in order that there should be from me the yes, yes and the no, no? 1:18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you* did not become yes and no. 1:19 For* the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you* through us, that is, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, did not become yes and no, but in him it has become yes. 1:20 For* as many things as are the promises of God, in him is the yes and the amen is in him, for glory to God through us. 1:21 Now he who is confirming us together with you* in Christ and anointed us is God, 1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the down-payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
1:23 Now I myself call upon God as a witness upon my soul, that, I came to Corinth no more so sparing you*. 1:24 Not that we have lordship over your* faith, but are fellow workers of your* joy; for* you* are standing in the faith.
2:1 But I decided this thing for myself, that I wished not to come to you* again in sorrow. 2:2 For* if I make you* sorrowful, who is it who also makes me joyous except he who is made sorrowful from me? 2:3 And I wrote this same thing to you*, in order that, if I came, I might not have sorrow from them of whom it was essential to rejoice for; having confidence in all of you*, that my joy is the joy of all of you*. 2:4 For* I wrote to you* out of much affliction and dismay of heart through many tears; not in order that you* should be made sorrowful, but that you* may know the love* that I have even-more toward you*.
2:5 But if anyone has caused-sorrow, he has not caused-sorrow to me, (that* I may not burden him), but partially to you* all. 2:6 Sufficient to such a one is this penalty which was inflicted by the many; 2:7 so-then you*, rather instead, are to forgive* him and to encourage him, lest such a one might be swallowed up with his sorrow even-more. 2:8 Hence, I encourage you* to validate your* love* toward him. 2:9 For* I even wrote *for this reason; in order that I might know the trial of you*, if you* are obedient* in all things. 2:10 But to whom you* forgive* anything, I forgive. For* if I have also forgiven*, (in whom I have forgiven* is because of you*), I have forgiven* in the face of Christ; 2:11 in order that we should not be taken-advantage of by the Adversary. For* we are not ignorant of his devices.
2:12 Now after I came to Troas *for the good-news of the Christ and after a door had been opened to me in the Lord, 2:13 I had not had relief in my spirit because I did not find Titus my brother, but having bid farewell to them, I went forth into Macedonia.
2:14 Now gratitude to God, who always makes us to triumph in the Christ and the aroma of his knowledge in every place is manifest through us. 2:15 Because we are a sweet-fragrance of Christ to God, in those who are saved and in those who are perishing; 2:16 to the one an aroma from death to death, but to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient in these things? 2:17 For* we are not as the rest who are peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in God's sight.
3:1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? As if we have no need, as some people, letters of commendation to you* or ones of commendation from you*? 3:2 You* are our letter, having been inscribed in our hearts, being known and read by all men; 3:3 being manifested that you* are a letter of Christ, was served by us, not having been inscribed with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets, in fleshly hearts. 3:4 Now we have such confidence through Christ toward God; 3:5 not that we are sufficient from ourselves, to reason anything as out of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God; 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant*; not from the writing, but from the Spirit; for* the writing kills, but the Spirit gives-life. 3:7 But if the service of death, on scriptures having been engraved in stones, happened in glory, so-then the sons of Israel were not able to stare at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which was being done-away-with. 3:8 How will the service of the Spirit not rather be in glory? 3:9 For* if the service of condemnation has glory, how much rather is the service of righteousness abounding in glory. 3:10 For* even what has also been glorified, has not been glorified in this respect, because of the glory which surpasses it. 3:11 For* if what is being done-away is through glory, what remains is much more in glory.
3:12 Therefore having such a hope, we are using it in much boldness, 3:13 and are not just-as Moses, who was placing a veil upon his face, *that* the sons of Israel might not stare at the end of what was being done-away-with. {Exo 34:33} 3:14 But their minds were hardened; for* till today, the same veil remains upon the public-reading of the old covenant*, not being unveiled, something which is being done-away in Christ. 3:15 But until this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil is laying upon their heart. 3:16 But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 3:18 But we all, with our face having been unveiled, seeing the reflection of the glory of the Lord for ourselves, are being transfigured into the same image from glory into glory, just-as from the Lord, the Spirit.
4:1 Because of this, having this service, just-as we were shown-mercy, we are not depressed. 4:2 But we ourselves scoffed at the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every conscience of men in God's sight. 4:3 But even if our good-news is being hidden, it is being hidden among those who are perishing, 4:4 in whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, *that* the illumination of the good-news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn for them. 4:5 For* we are not preaching ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your* bondservants because of Jesus. 4:6 Because it is God, who said, 'Illumination shine' {Gen 1:3} out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, in order that the excellence of the power may be from God and not from us. 4:8 We are being pressed in everything, but not distressed; being perplexed, but not despairing; 4:9 being persecuted, but not forsaken; being cast down, but not being destroyed; 4:10 always carrying around in the body the death of the Lord Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus should also be manifested in our body. 4:11 For* we who live are habitually given up to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus should also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 4:12 So-then indeed, death is working in us, but life in you*. 4:13 But having the same spirit of the faith, according to what has been written, 'I believed and hence I spoke.' {Psa 116:10} We also believe and hence we also speak; 4:14 knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also be raising us up through Jesus and will be presenting us together with you*. 4:15 For* all things are because of you*, in order that the grace which increased through the many, the thanksgiving may abound to the glory of God.
4:16 Hence we are not depressed, but even if the outward man is decayed, but yet our man inside is renewed day in and day out. 4:17 For* the momentary light weight of our affliction, is working for us according to excellence into greater excellence an everlasting weight of glory; 4:18 not to be noting ourselves, (the things being seen), but note the things which are not seen; for* the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are everlasting. [2 Corinthians 5] 5:1 For* we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle should be torn-down, we have a building from God, a house not made* with hands, everlasting in the heavens. 5:2 For* even we are groaning in this house, longing to be clothed with our house which is from heaven; 5:3 if actually in also having clothed ourselves, we will not be found naked. 5:4 For* even we who are in this tabernacle are groaning, being burdened; not in which we wish to strip ourselves, but we wish to be clothed, in order that the mortal one may be swallowed up by life. 5:5 Now God is the one who worked out this in us *for this same thing, who also gave the down-payment of the Spirit to us. 5:6 Therefore we are always courageous, and knowing that while we are at home in the body; we are away from home, that is away from the Lord 5:7 (for* we are walking through faith, not through sight). 5:8 But we are courageous and are delighted rather to be away from home, away from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 5:9 Hence we also make it our aim to be well pleasing to him, whether at home, or away from home. 5:10 For* it is essential for all of us to appear before the judicial-seat of the Christ; in order that each one may get back the things done in the body, for what he practiced, whether good or evil.
5:11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we are persuading men, but we have been manifested to God, and I hope to have also been manifested in your* consciences. 5:12 For* we are not again commending ourselves to you*, but we are giving you* a starting-point of boasting on our behalf, in order that you* may have an answer toward those who boast in countenance {i.e. outward appearance} and not in heart. 5:13 For* whether we were crazy, it was to God; or whether we are sensible, it is for you*. 5:14 For* the love* of Christ is holding us together with him, having judged this thing: if one died on behalf of all, consequently*, all died; 5:15 and he died on behalf of all, in order that those who are living should no longer live to themselves, but to the one who died and was raised on their behalf. 5:16 So-then from hereafter we know no one according to the flesh, but even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, but now we know him as such no more. 5:17 So-then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 5:18 But all things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and gave the service of reconciliation to us; 5:19 as that, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ not counting to them their trespasses and having placed the word of reconciliation in us. 5:20 Therefore, we are emissaries on behalf of Christ; as though God is encouraging you* through us. We are beseeching you* on behalf of Christ, be* reconciled to God. 5:21 For* the one who knew no sin, he was made* the sin offering on our behalf; in order that we might become the righteousness of God in him. [2 Corinthians 6] 6:1 And working together with him, we are also encouraging you* to not accept the grace of God in vain; 6:2 (for* he says, 'I heard you at an acceptable time and I helped you in a day of salvation;' {Isa 49:8} behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation), 6:3 giving no one a stumbling block in anything, in order that the service from us might not be blamed. 6:4 But we are commending ourselves in everything, as servants of God: in much endurance, in afflictions, in calamities, in distresses, 6:5 in lashes, in prisons, in unrests, in labors, in sleeplessnesses, in fasts; 6:6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in non-pretended love*, 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the weapons of righteousness from the right hand and from the left hand, 6:8 through glory and dishonor, through defamation and good-repute; as misleaders and yet true; 6:9 as being unrecognized and yet being fully known; as dying and behold, we live; as being disciplined and yet not being slain; 6:10 as sorrowful, yet even habitually rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet having all things.
6:11 O Corinthians, our mouth has opened to you*, our heart has been widened. 6:12 You* are not distressed by us, but you* are distressed by your* own affections, 6:13 but the same as recompense, (I speak to you as to my children). You* also, be* widened in your* hearts.
6:14 Do* not become unequally yoked with unbelieving ones; for* what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? 6:15 And what agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believing one with an unbelieving one? 6:16 And what alliance has a temple of God with idols? For* you* are a temple of the living God; just-as God said, 'I will be dwelling among them and will be walking among them, and I will be their God and they will be a people to me.' 6:17 Hence 'Come* forth from the midst of them and be* separate*,' says the Lord, 'And touch* no unclean thing, and I will accept you* 6:18 and will be a Father to you* and you* will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.' {Lev 26:11-12; 2Sam 7:7, 14; Isa 52:11; Jer 32:38, 51:45; Ezek 20:34, 41, 37:27; Amos 4:13} [2 Corinthians 7] 7:1 Therefore beloved, having these promises, we should cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, completing {Or: maturing} holiness in the fear of God.
7:2 Make* room for us in your* hearts: we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took-advantage of no one. 7:3 I am not saying this toward your* condemnation; for* I have said before, that you* are in our hearts, *that* we may die together with you* and we may live together with you*. 7:4 My boldness of speech toward you* is much; my boasting on your* behalf is much. I have been filled with your encouragement. I over-abound with joy in all our affliction.
7:5 For* even after we went into Macedonia, our flesh still had not had any relief, but we were being afflicted in everything; outside were quarrels, inside were fears. 7:6 But God, who encourages the humble, encouraged us at the presence of Titus; 7:7 and not only at his presence, but also at the encouragement to which he was encouraged in you*, while reporting to us your* longing, your* anguish, your* zeal on my behalf; so-then for me to rejoice even more. 7:8 Because even if I made you* sorrowful in the previous letter, I do not regret it; even if I was regretting it. For* I see that, that letter made you* sorrowful, even if but for a short-time. 7:9 I now rejoice, not that you* were made sorrowful, but that you* were made sorrowful to repentance; for* you* were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you* might suffer-damage in nothing from us. 7:10 For* the sorrow which is according to the will of God is working unregretted repentance *for salvation, but the sorrow of the world is working death. 7:11 For* behold how-much diligence this same thing, (to be made sorrowful according to the will of God), worked in you*: but what a defense, but what indignation, but what fear, but what longing, but what zeal, but what vengeance! You* commended yourselves in everything to be pure in the matter. 7:12 Consequently*, if I also wrote to you*, it was not because of the one who had done wrong, nor because of the one who was wronged, but because of your* diligent-aid on our behalf to be made manifest to you* in God's sight. 7:13 Because of this, now, we have been encouraged in your* encouragement, we rejoiced even-more rather upon the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been given-rest from all of you*. 7:14 Because if I have boasted in anything on your* behalf to him, I was not ashamed, but as we spoke all things to you* in truth, so also, our boasting in Titus became truth. 7:15 And his affections are even-more toward you*, while remembering the obedience of all of you*, how with fear and trembling you* accepted him. 7:16 I rejoice that in everything I have courage in you*.
8:1 Now brethren, we are making known to you* the grace of God which has been given in the congregations* of Macedonia; 8:2 because the abundance of their joy in much trial of affliction and according to the depth of their poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. 8:3 I testify, because according to their power, and yet beyond their power, they gave of their own accord. 8:4 They were beseeching from us, with much pleading, to help in the favor and the fellowship of the service of relief to the holy-ones; 8:5 and, not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God. 8:6 *That* we might encourage Titus, in order that just-as he made a beginning, so he might also complete this favor in you*. 8:7 But just-like you* are abounding in everything, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all diligence and in the love* from you* to us, see that* you* also may abound in this favor. 8:8 I do not speak according to commandment, but I am testing the genuineness of your* love* through the diligence of others. 8:9 For* you* know the favor of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet he became-poor because of you*, in order that you* might be enriched through that poverty. 8:10 And I give my viewpoint in this; for* this is advantageous for you*, who made a beginning from the past-year, not only to do* this, but also to will this. 8:11 But now also, complete* the doing* of it; *that just-as there was the eagerness to wish it, so also to complete it out of what you* have. 8:12 For* if the eagerness lays before you*, according to whatever someone has, it is acceptable, not according to what he does not have. 8:13 For* I do not say that* there should be relief to others but affliction to you*, but from equality, your* abundance in this current time is *for their lack, 8:14 in order that their abundance may also become *for your* lack, *that there may become equality, 8:15 as it has been written, 'He who gathered much did not increase, and he who gathered few did not have less.' {Exo 16:18}
8:16 But gratitude is to God, who is giving the same diligent-aid into the heart of Titus on your* behalf. 8:17 Because he indeed accepted our encouragement, but being* more diligent, he went forth to you* of his own accord. 8:18 Now we sent the brother together with him, the one whose praise in the good-news is known through all the congregations*; 8:19 and not only this, but also, having been assigned by the congregations* as our fellow traveling-associate together with this favor, which is served by us to the glory of the same Lord and to show our eagerness. 8:20 We are avoiding this thing, lest anyone might blame us in the matter of this lavish donation which is served by us; 8:21 planning-for good things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 8:22 Now we sent our brother together with them, whom we proved often, many times as being diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, by the large confidence which he has in you*. 8:23 If anyone inquires in regard to Titus, whether our brethren, the ambassadors* of the congregations* (the glory of Christ)– he is my partner and my fellow worker *for you*. 8:24 Therefore show* to them in the face of the congregations*, the example of your* love* and of our boasting on your* behalf.
9:1 For* indeed, concerning the relief service *for the holy-ones, it is superfluous for me to write to you*: 9:2 for* I know your* eagerness, of which I am boasting on your* behalf to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared from the past-year, and the zeal from you* stimulated most of them. 9:3 But I sent the brethren, in order that our boasting on your* behalf may not be made void in this respect; in order that, just-as I was saying, you* may be prepared; 9:4 lest, if some Macedonians come together with me and might find you* unprepared, we (that* we should not say, you*) should be ashamed in this firmness of boasting. 9:5 Therefore I deemed it necessary to encourage the brethren, in order that they should go beforehand to you*, and should thus prearrange the previously proclaimed beforehand bounty {Or: blessing; and following verses}. This is to be ready, as a bounty and not as something from greed. 9:6 But I say this, He who is sowing sparingly will also be reaping sparingly, and he who is sowing upon his bounties will also be reaping upon his bounties. 9:7 Let each man give just-as he proposes in his heart; not out of sorrow or out of necessity {Or maybe: compulsion}; for* God loves* a joyful giver. 9:8 Now God is able to make abound all grace toward you*; in order that having all self-sufficiency in everything, you* should always abound to every good work; 9:9 as it has been written, 'He scattered them, he gave to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.'{Psa 112:9} 9:10 Now he who is supplying seed to the sower and bread *for food, may supply and may multiply your* seed and may cause the growth of the fruits* of your* righteousness. 9:11 You* are enriched in everything to all liberality, which is working through us thanksgiving to God. 9:12 Because the service of this ministry* not only is replenishing the things lacking of the holy-ones, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God; 9:13 because through the trial of you* from this service they are glorifying God upon the subjection of your* confession toward the good-news of the Christ and at the liberality of your* generosity toward them and toward all; 9:14 and in their supplication on your* behalf, a longing-for you* because of the surpassing grace of God upon you*. 9:15 But gratitude is to God for his indescribable gift.
10:1 Now I, Paul, myself, encourage you* through the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who when face to face am indeed humble among you*, but being absent am courageous toward you*. 10:2 But I am beseeching you* (not while I am present*) to be courageous with the confidence in which I am reasoning to dare against some who reason us as walking according to the flesh. 10:3 For* although we are walking in the flesh, we are not warring according to the flesh. 10:4 For* the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are mighty in God, toward the demolition of strongholds, 10:5 demolishing evil reasonings and every exalted thing which is lifting itself up against the knowledge of God and capturing every device of the Adversary to the obedience of the Christ; 10:6 and having in readiness to avenge all disobedience*, whenever your* obedience is fulfilled.
10:7 Are you* looking at things according to their countenance? If anyone has confidence in himself to be Christ's, let him count this again from within himself, that, just-as he is Christ's, so are we also Christ's. 10:8 For* even if I am boasting even-more of something concerning our authority (which the Lord gave to us *for your* building up and not *for your* demolition), I will not be shamed; 10:9 in order that I may not seem as if I wished to make you* fearful through my letters. 10:10 Because indeed he says, The letters are weighty and mighty, but the body's presence is weak and the speech has been nothing special. 10:11 Let such a one count this, that, such-as we are in word through letters, being absent, such will we also be in work, while we are present*. 10:12 For* we are not daring to class or to compare ourselves together with some of those who are commending themselves, but they themselves, measuring themselves in themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, do not understand. 10:13 Now we will not be boasting in the immeasurable things, but according to the measure of the standard* of which the God of measure divided to us which is able to reach up-to even you*. 10:14 For* we do not overstretch ourselves, as though we are not reaching toward you*; for* till we have attained even up to you* in the good-news of the Christ. 10:15 We were not boasting in the immeasurable things, (that is, in another's labors), but having hope that as your* faith is grown, we will be magnified by you*, according to our standard* *for abundance, 10:16 reaching out to proclaim the good-news into areas past you* and not to boast in the things prepared in another's standard*. 10:17 But he who is boasting, let him boast in the Lord. 10:18 For* he who commends himself, that man is not approved after being tested, but whom the Lord is commending.
11:1 I wish-that you* were tolerating me in a little foolishness, but even as you* are tolerating other things from me. 11:2 For* I am jealous over you* with the jealousy of God; for* I espoused you* to one husband, to present you* as a pure virgin to the Christ. 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your* minds might be corrupted away from the clarity and the purity which is leading to the Christ. 11:4 For* if he who indeed comes, is preaching another Jesus, whom we did not preach or if you* receive a different spirit, which you* did not receive or a different good-news, which you* did not accept, you* were tolerating him well. 11:5 For* I reason to have come-short in nothing compared to the preeminent apostles. 11:6 But even if I am unskilled in my speech, but I am not in knowledge! But in everything, we made this knowledge manifest to you* in all things. 11:7 Or did I practice some sin in humbling myself in order that you* might be exalted, because I proclaimed freely the good-news of God to you*? 11:8 I plundered other congregations*, having taken compensation from them for your* service. 11:9 And being present* with you* and having been lacking, I encumbered no one; for* the brethren who came from Macedonia, replenished my lack of things and I kept and will be keeping myself not burdensome to you* in everything. 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting will not be sealed up in me in the districts of Achaia. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love* you*? God knows I do. 11:12 But what I am doing*, I will also continue to be doing* it in order that I may cut off the starting-point from those who wish for a starting-point in order that they may be found just-as we in what they are boasting. 11:13 For* such men are false apostles, workers of treachery, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 11:14 And it is not a marvelous thing; for* even the Adversary fashions himself into a messenger of light. 11:15 Therefore, it is no great thing if his servants are also fashioned like servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
11:16 I say again, not anyone should think me to be foolish; otherwise, (even if as foolish), accept* me in order that I may also boast in a little something. 11:17 What I speak in this firmness of boasting, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness. 11:18 Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I will also be boasting. 11:19 For* you* are tolerating the foolish gladly, being so prudent. 11:20 For* you* tolerate it, if anyone is enslaving you*, if anyone is devouring you*, if anyone is taking from you*, if anyone is lifting himself up, if anyone is whipping you* in the face. 11:21 I speak according to our dishonor, as though we were weak. But in whatever anyone may be daring (I speak in foolishness), I am also daring. 11:22 Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they the seed of Abraham? I also. 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak, as if having insanity) I am beyond them: in labors even-more, in lashes surpassingly, in prisons even-more, in deaths often. 11:24 Five-times, I received forty lashes beside {i.e. minus} one under the Jews. 11:25 I was lashed with rods three-times. I was stoned once. I was shipwrecked three-times. I have spent a night and a day in the depth of the sea; 11:26 often in journeys, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own race, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils by false brethren; 11:27 in labor and hardship, often in sleeplessnesses, in famine and thirst, often in fasts, in cold and nakedness. 11:28 Plus the things which are outside, my every day pressure which is the anxiety for all the congregations*. 11:29 Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is offended and I am not on fire? 11:30 If it is essential for me to boast, I will be boasting in the things which are from my weakness. 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is gracious* forever, knows that I am not lying. 11:32 In Damascus the Ethnarch of Aretas, the king, was guarding the Damascenes' city, wishing to arrest me; 11:33 and I was lowered through a window in a hamper and through the wall and fled away from his hands.
12:1 It is not advantageous for me to boast! For* I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years before, (whether in the body, I do not know or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a one was seized up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I know such a man (whether in the body or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), 12:4 that he was seized up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not legal for man to speak. 12:5 I will be boasting on behalf of such a one, but I will not be boasting on behalf of myself, except in my weaknesses. 12:6 For* if I wish to boast, I will not be foolish; for* I will be speaking the truth, but I am refraining, lest anyone should reason of me beyond what he sees from me or hears something out of me. 12:7 And, in order that I should not promote myself by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of the Adversary, in order that it might batter me, in order that I should not promote myself. 12:8 I pleaded with the Lord three-times in regard to this thing, in order that it might withdraw from me. 12:9 And he has said to me, My grace is enough for you; for* my power is completed in weakness. Therefore I will rather gladly be boasting in my weaknesses, in order that the power of the Christ might reside upon me. 12:10 Hence I am delighted in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, on behalf of Christ; for* whenever I am weak, then I am mighty.
12:11 I have become a boasting fool. You* urged me to it. For* I was obligated to be commended by you*; for* I lacked in nothing over those preeminent apostles, even if I am nothing. 12:12 Indeed the signs of an apostle were worked among you* in all endurance, in signs and wonders and miracles. 12:13 For* in what is it that you* were lesser, beyond the rest of the congregations*, except in that I myself did not encumber you*? Forgive** me this unrighteousness!
12:14 Behold, I hold ready to come to you* the third-time, and I will not be encumbering you*; for* I am not seeking the things of you*, but you*; for* the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 12:15 Now I will gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your* souls; even if, when loving* you* even-more, means I am loved* even-less. 12:16 But let it be so, nevertheless, I did not burden you*. But, being* crafty, I took you* with treachery. 12:17 Anyone of whom I have sent to you*, I did not take-advantage of you* through him, did I? 12:18 I encouraged Titus and I sent the brother together with him. Did Titus take-advantage of any of you*? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same footprints?
12:19 Again, do you* think that we are defending ourselves to you*? We speak in Christ in God's sight. But beloved, all things are on behalf of your* building up. 12:20 For* I am fearing, lest, if I came, I should find you* such-as I do not will and I myself might be found by you* such-as you* do not will; lest there should be strifes, jealousies, furies, selfish ambitions, slanderers, malicious whisperers, arrogant-people, unrests; 12:21 lest having come again, my God will humble me before you* and I should mourn for many of those who have sinned before and did not repent upon the uncleanness and fornication and unbridled-lust in which they practiced.
13:1 This will be the third-time I am coming to you*. (Upon the mouth of two or three witnesses every declaration will be established.) {Deu 19:15} 13:2 I have spoken to you* beforehand and I do say again like beforehand, being present* the second-time and so being absent now, I am writing to warn those who have sinned before and to all the rest, that, if I come to it again, I will not be sparing them, 13:3 since you* are seeking proof of the Christ speaking in me; who is not weak toward you*, but is mighty in you*. 13:4 For* even if he was crucified out of weakness, but yet he is living out of the power of God. For* we are also weak in him, but yet we will be living together with him out of the power of God toward you*. 13:5 Test* yourselves, if you* are in the faith! Test* yourselves. Or do you* not fully know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you*, (lest you* are unapproved)? 13:6 But I hope that you* will know that we are not unapproved. 13:7 Now I pray to God that you* do* nothing evil; not in order that we may appear approved, but in order that you* may do* the good things, but even if we may be as unapproved. 13:8 For* we are not able to do anything against the truth, but are able on behalf of the truth. 13:9 For* we rejoice, whenever we are weak, but you* may be mighty. But we are also praying for this: your* completion {Or: mending}. 13:10 I am writing these things because of this, while being absent, in order that I may not need to treat you* sharply when being present*, according to the authority which the Lord gave me *for building up and not *for demolition.
13:11 Furthermore brethren: rejoice*; be* completed; be* comforted; be* mindful of the same thing; be* at peace; and the God of love* and peace will be with you*. 13:12 Greet* one another with* a holy kiss. 13:13 All the holy-ones are greeting you*. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love* of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, is with all of you*.
Amen.
{NOTES: You should read the 'Definitions' Section and other non-bible sections.}
{{ Introduction to Galatians 55-58 AD
The letter is addressed to Christians as is all 'letters' and this time multiple congregations all located in Galatia. Paul wastes no time getting right to the point that there is only 'one good-news of Jesus' and obeying any other is a curse. Apparently, some previously converted Jew(s) were teaching the previously converted Gentile Christians that they had to be circumcised and keep the Old Covenant Laws. A wonderful comparison of the 'promise to' and the 'faith of Abraham' and 'the faith of Christ.' The real purpose of God was always to bring Christ into the world. However, Paul with various arguments pretty much put it in the context in 5:1-6. Circumcision is not profitable, but if you keep any of the Law (Old Testament), then you have to practice all of it. However, in Christ, all are free from the Old Testament Law and Christians are not a slave to it. Then the typical 'slap on the face' from Paul 'you* who are made righteous by the law; you* have fallen from the grace of God.'
Therefore, if you are keeping tithing, then you have to keep the Sabbath (Saturday) and about 630 more laws. Then once again 'who hindered you* not to obey the truth'' I wish-that those who are unsettling you* will even castrate themselves. No doubt, we know Paul's (God's) opinion of false teachers who lead Christians away from the truth by making them keep Old Testament Law. For* all the Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: 'You will love* your neighbor like yourself' 5:14.}}
Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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