SECOND
CORINTHIANS
King James Version
1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the
saints which are in all Achaia:
2 Grace be to you
and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 ¶ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth
us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we
be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in
the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be
comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 ¶ And our hope of you is
stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be
also of the consolation.
8 For we would
not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that
we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even
of life:
9 But we had the
sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in
God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered
us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet
deliver us;
11 Ye also
helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the
means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
12 ¶ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our
conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom,
but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more
abundantly to you-ward.
13 For we write none
other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall
acknowledge even to the end;
14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part,
that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord
Jesus.
15 ¶ And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you
before, that ye might have a second benefit;
16 And to pass by
you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to
be brought on my way toward Judaea.
17 When I
therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose,
do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and
nay nay?
18 But as God is
true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
19 For the Son of
God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus
and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
20 For all the
promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
21
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath
anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also
sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
23 Moreover I
call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto
Corinth.
24 Not for that
we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye
stand.
1 ¶ But I determined this with myself, that I would not
come again to you in heaviness.
2 For if I make you
sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by
me?
3 And I wrote
this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I
ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you
all.
4 For out of much
affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye
should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly
unto you.
5 ¶ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me,
but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to
such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to
forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up
with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I
beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end
also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in
all things.
10 To whom ye
forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I
forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan
should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12 ¶ Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's
gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest
in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of
them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth
us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us
in every place.
15 For we are
unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that
perish:
16 To the one we
are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto
life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not
as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in
the sight of God speak we in Christ.
1 ¶ Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we,
as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation
from you?
2 Ye are our
epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye
are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written
not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone,
but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4 And such trust
have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are
sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency
is of God;
6 ¶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new
testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the
spirit giveth life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,
was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the
face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done
away:
8 How shall not
the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the
ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of
righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that
which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory
that excelleth.
11 For if that
which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
12 ¶ Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great
plainness of speech:
13 And not as
Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this
day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto
this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless
when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord
is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all,
with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into
the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1 ¶ Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have
received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our
gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god
of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them.
5 For we preach
not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for
Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency
of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 ¶ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we
are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but
not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing
about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which
live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of
Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death
worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the
same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore
have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord
Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things
are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of
many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which
cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is
renewed day by day.
17 For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look
not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the
things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal.
1 ¶ For we know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we
groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from
heaven:
3 If so be that
being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are
in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that
hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the
earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we
are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are
absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we
labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or
bad.
11 Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest
unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 ¶ For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but
give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer
them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we
be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your
cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us;
because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he
died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves,
but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 ¶ Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:
yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we
him no more.
17 Therefore if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new.
18 And all things
are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given
to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath
made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
1 ¶ We then, as workers together with him, beseech you
also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith,
I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I
succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation.)
3 Giving no
offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all
things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in
afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in
imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by
knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of
righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and
dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and
yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful,
yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet
possessing all things.
11 ¶ O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our
heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not
straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a
recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath
light with darkness?
15 And what
concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel?
16 And what
agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the
living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come
out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a
Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty.
1 ¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let
us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we
have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not
this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die
and live with you.
4 Great is my
boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with
comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5 ¶ For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had
no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within
were fears.
6 Nevertheless
God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of
Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he
was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your
fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
8 For though I
made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I
perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a
season.
9 Now I rejoice,
not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were
made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly
sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of
the world worketh death.
11 For behold
this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it
wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea,
what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all
things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12 ¶ Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for
his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but
that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
13 Therefore we were
comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy
of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of
you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our
boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
15 And his inward
affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of
you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice
therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.