Part 768 (1/2)

7:4. Great is my confidence for you: great is my glorying for you. I am filled with comfort: I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulation.

7:5. For also, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest: but we suffered all tribulation. Combats without: fears within.

7:6. But G.o.d, who comforteth the humble, comforted us by the coming of t.i.tus.

7:7. And not by his coming only, but also by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, relating to us your desire, your mourning, your zeal for me: so that I rejoiced the more.

7:8. For although I made you sorrowful by my epistle, I do not repent.

And if I did repent, seeing that the same epistle (although but for a time) did make you sorrowful,

7:9. Now I am glad: not because you were made sorrowful, but because you were made sorrowful unto penance. For you were made sorrowful according to G.o.d, that you might suffer damage by us in nothing.

7:10. For the sorrow that is according to G.o.d worketh penance, steadfast unto salvation: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

7:11. For behold this selfsame thing, that you were made sorrowful according to G.o.d, how great carefulness it worketh in you: yea defence, yea indignation, yea fear, yea desire, yea zeal, yea revenge. In all things you have shewed yourselves to be undefiled in the matter.

7:12. Wherefore although I wrote to you, it was not for his sake that did the wrong, nor for him that suffered it: but to manifest our carefulness that we have for you.

7:13. Before G.o.d: therefore we were comforted. But in our consolation we did the more abundantly rejoice for the joy of t.i.tus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

7:14. And if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I have not been put to shame: but as we have spoken all things to you in truth, so also our boasting that was made to t.i.tus is found a truth.

7:15. And his bowels are more abundantly towards you: remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.

7:16. I rejoice that in all things I have confidence in you.

2 Corinthians Chapter 8

He exhorts them to contribute bountifully to relieve the poor of Jerusalem.

8:1. Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of G.o.d that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia.

8:2. That in much experience of tribulation, they have had abundance of joy and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity.

Simplicity... That is, sincere bounty and charity.

8:3. For according to their power (I bear them witness) and beyond their power, they were willing:

8:4. With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.

8:5. And not as we hoped: but they gave their own selves, first to the Lord, then to us by the will of G.o.d;

8:6. Insomuch, that we desired t.i.tus, that, as he had begun, so also he would finish among you this same grace.

8:7. That as in all things you abound in faith and word and knowledge and all carefulness, moreover also in your charity towards us: so in this grace also you may abound.

8:8. I speak not as commanding: but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.

8:9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor for your sakes: that through his poverty you might be rich.