fidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction, and distress of heart, I wrote to you with many tears; not merely that ye might be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have most abundantly for you. 5 BUT if any one have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part; that I may not charge you all. 6 Sufficient to such an one is that rebuke, which was given by many: 7 so that, on the contrary, ye ought rather to forgive him, and to comfort him; lest such an one should be swallowed up by excessive grief. 8 Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love towards him. 9 For to this end also I wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 But to whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also for what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven any thing, for your sakes I have done it, in the person of Christ; 11 lest the adversary should gain advantage over us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. umph* in Christ, and maketh manifest the odour of the knowledge of himself through us, in every place. 15 (For we are a sweet odourt of Christ unto God, among those who are saved, and among those who are lost: 16 to the one we are the odour of death unto death; and to the other, the odour of life unto life: and who is sufficient for these things?) 17 For we are not as many, who corrupt‡ the word of God: but, as of sincerity, as of God, as in the presence of God, we speak concerning Christ. CH. III. 1 Must we begin again to recommend ourselves? or need we, as some, letters of recommendation to you, or letters [of recommendation] from you? 2 Ye are our letter of recommendation, written in the hearts of us all, known and read by all men: 3 since ye are manifestly declared to be the letter of Christ, ministered by us; written not with ink, but by the spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on the fleshy tables of the heart. 4 Now we have this kind of 12 NOW when I came to self-confidence through Christ Troas to preach the gospel of towards God: 5 not because Christ, and a door was opened | we are sufficient of ourselves to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but I bade them farewel, and went thence into Macedonia. to reason any thing as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God: 6 who hath -even made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, 14 BUT thanks be to God, but of the spirit: for the letter who always causeth us to tri-killeth, but the spirit giveth * who leadeth us in triumph, Wakefield. † smell, Newcome. that adulterate, N. "an allusion to vintners, who adulterate pure wine with unwholesome mixtures." Im. Ver. note. is freedom.) 18 For we all, with unveiled face, reflecting as mirrors the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Lord of the spirit.* life. 7 But if the ministry of death, engraven in letters [on] stones, was glorious, so that the sons of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses, in consequence of the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away; 8 CH. IV. 1 WHEREFORE havhow shall not the ministry of ing this ministry, according as the spirit be rather glorious? we have received mercy, we 9 For if the ministry of con- faint not; 2 but have commanddemnation was glorious, much ed away the hidden things of more doth the ministry of justi- shame, not walking in craftification abound in glory. 10 For | ness, nor acting deceitfully even that which was glorified with the word of God; but, was not glorified in this re- by manifestation of the truth, spect, by reason of the excelling glory. 11 For if that which is abolished, is abolished by glory, much more that which remain-pel also be veiled, it is veileth, remaineth in glory. : 12 Having therefore such hope, we use much plainness of speech; 13 and not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face; that the sons of Israel might not steadfastly behold the end of that which is now abolished. 14 (Yet their minds are blinded for until this day the same veil remaineth, in the reading of the old covenant; it not being discovered that it is abolished in Christ; 15 but even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart: 16 nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil will be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the spirit: and where the spirit of the Lord is, [there] recommending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God. 3 But if our gos ed to those who are lost;† 4 to those unbelievers, whose minds the god of this age hath blinded; so that the lustre of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, doth not enlighten them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and are ourselves your servants on account of Jesus. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shone in our hearts, to give the lustre of his glorious knowledge, in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 BUT we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We So Macknight. "The meaning of this passage, stripped of the metaphor, is, We apostles, the ministers of the covenant of the Spirit, do not impart to the world a veiled or dark knowledge of that covenant, as Moses gave the Israelites an obscure knowledge of the covenant of the letter. But we all, having a complete knowledge of the covenant of the Spirit by inspiration from Christ, preach it every where in the plainest manner. So that in diffusing the knowledge of God and religion through the world, we are the images or representatives of Christ, by the power of an abiding inspiration from him who is the Lord, or author of the covenant of the Spirit." See Macknight in loco. "to them who destroy themselves." Ibid. are every way afflicted, but not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 always bearing about in our body the death of Jesus; that the life, also, of Jesus, may be made manifest in our body. 11 For we, who are alive, are continually exposed to death for the sake of Jesus; that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So that death worketh in us, but life in you. 13 Yet having the same spirit of faith, as it is written," I believed, and therefore I have spoken," we also believe, and therefore speak; 14 knowing, that he who raised up the Lord Jesus, will raise up us also by Jesus, and will present us together with you. 15 For all our sufferings are for your sakes; that the favour which hath abounded to many, may, through the thanksgiving of many, overflow to the glory of God. 16 For which cause, we faint not; but, even though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our present light affliction worketh for us an excessively exceeding aionian weight of glory;* 18 for we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are for a short time, but the things which are not seen are aionian. CH. V. 1 For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, aionian, in the heavens. 2 For we groan in this tabernacle, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven: 3 since we shall indeed be found clothed upon, and not naked. 4 For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened; not that we wish to be unclothed, but clothed upon; that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now he who hath prepared us for this purpose, is God; who hath [also] given us the earnest of the spirit. 6 Wherefore we are always of good courage, and know that, while we are present in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 we are of good courage, I say, and desirous rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord: 9 wherefore we earnestly strive also, that, whether present or absent, we may be well-pleasing to him. 10 For we must all be made manifest before the judgmentseat of Christ; that every one may receive the things in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 KNOWING therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; and we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest in your * Gr. καθ ̓ ὑπερβολην εις υπερβολήν αιώνιον. Now if aionian be strictly infinite or endless, how can any thing exceed it, even by a rhetorical figure, so as to be hyperbole upon hyperbole above or beyond it? consciences also. 12 [For] we commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to boast on our account; that ye may have something to answer those, who boast in appearance, and not in heart. 13 For, whether we have been transported beyond ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for you.* to God." 21 [For] God hath made him, who knew no sin, a sin-offering for us, that, in him, we may be made the righteousness of God. CH. VI. 1 Now, fellow-labourers, we also beseech you that ye receive not the favour of God in vain: 2 (for Isaiah saith, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation I have assisted thee:" behold, now the wellaccepted time: behold, now, the day of salvation :) 3 giving no one offence in any thing, that our ministry be not blamed: 4 but in all things, recommend 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us, judging this, that, [if] one died for all, then the whole were dead; 15 and he died for all, that the living should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died, and was raised, for them. 16 Where-ing ourselves as the ministers fore, henceforth we know no of God; in much patience, in one according to the desh: yea, afflictions, in necessities, in though we have known Christ distresses, 5 in stripes, in imaccording to the flesh, yet now prisonments, in disturbances, in we no longer know him. 17 labours, in watchings, in fastWherefore if any one be in ings; 6 in purity, in knowledge, Christ, this is a new creation: in long-suffering, in kindness, the old things are passed away; in a holy spirit, in love unbehold, [all things] are become feigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God; yea, through the right hand and left hand armour of righteousness:† 8 through honour and disgrace, through 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 grieved, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. new. 18 But all things are from God; who hath reconciled us to himself through [Jesus] Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their trespasses, and hath committed to us the doctrine of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, as though God besought you by us: we, in behalf of Christ, entreat you, "Be ye reconciled * So Thomson. 11 Our mouth is opened to you, O Corinthians, our heart This is said in allusion to the armour of the ancients." Macknight. : and to live together. 4 Great is my freedom of speech towards you, great is my boasting* concerning you: I am filled with comfort, I abound exceedingly in joy under all our affliction. 5 For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: without were oppositions, within were fears. 6 Nevertheless, God, who comforteth those who are brought low, comforted us by the com is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us; but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now as a recompense for this, (I speak as to my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with iniquity? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath a believer with an unbeliever? 16 and what agree-ing of Titus: 7 and not by his ment hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, "I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separated," saith the Lord, "and touch not any unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 and will be a father to you, and ye shall be to me sons, and daughters," saith the Lord Almighty. CH. VII. 1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and of spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. coming only, but by the comfort with which he was comforted on your account, when he told us your earnest desire, your lamentation, your zeal for me: so that I rather rejoiced. 8 For though I grieved you by my letter, I do not repent; though indeed I did repent: for I perceive that my letter hath grieved you for a short time only. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were grieved, but that ye were grieved to repentance: for ye were grieved in a godly manner, so that in nothing did ye received damage from us. 10 For a godly sorrow worketh repentance, to salvation, not to be regretted: but the grief of the world worketh death. 11 For, 2 RECEIVE us: we have behold, this very thing, ([your] wronged no one; we have cor- being grieved in a godly manrupted no one, we have de-ner,) what carefulness it wrought frauded no one. 3 I speak not in you, yea, apologizing, yea, this to condemn you: for I indignation, yea, fear, yea, earnhave said before, that ye are est desire, yea, zeal, yea, punin our hearts, to die together ishment !† in all things, ye have *See 1 Cor. xv. 31. †i. e. punishment of the incestuous person. See Macknight, and Parkhurst. Or the word Exdixnois may be rendered vindication, which, perhaps, is the sense in the text. |