Part 43 (1/2)
THEREFORE, having this ministry, as we received mercy, we faint not.
(2)But we renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor falsifying the word of G.o.d; but, by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of G.o.d. (3)But if our gospel is vailed, it is vailed in those who perish; (4)in whom the G.o.d of this world blinded the understandings of the unbelieving, that they should not discern the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of G.o.d[4:4]. (5)For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord; and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (6)Because it is G.o.d, who commands light to s.h.i.+ne out of darkness; who s.h.i.+ned in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of G.o.d in the face of Christ.
(7)But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be G.o.d's, and not of us; (8)being pressed in every way, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not despairing; (9)persecuted, yet not forsaken; cast down, yet not destroyed; (10)always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that also the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (11)For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (12)So that death works in us, but life in you.
(13)But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore did I speak, we also believe, therefore also speak; (14)knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise up us also with Jesus, and will present us with you. (15)For all things are for your sakes; that the grace, abounding through the greater number, might make the thanksgiving more abundant, to the glory of G.o.d.
(16)For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed day by day: (17)For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works out for us a far more exceeding, an 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.
V.
FOR we know that, if our earthly house of the tabernacle[5:1] were dissolved, we have a building of G.o.d, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2)For in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven; (3)seeing that we shall be found clothed, not naked[5:3]. (4)For we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; in that we do not desire to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that what is mortal might be swallowed up by life.
(5)Now he who wrought us out for this very thing is G.o.d, who also gave to us the earnest of the Spirit. (6)Being therefore always confident, and knowing that while at home in the body we are absent from the Lord, (7)(for we walk by faith, not by sight), (8)we are confident, and are well pleased rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
(9)Wherefore we also strive, that, whether at home or absent, we may be well pleasing to him. (10)For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to the things which he did, whether good or bad.
(11)Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but to G.o.d we have been made manifest, and I hope that we have been made manifest also in your consciences. (12)For we are not again commending ourselves to you, but giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer those who glory in appearance and not in heart. (13)For whether we were beside ourselves, it was for G.o.d; or whether we are of sound mind, it is for you. (14)For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judged, that if one died for all, then they all died. (15)And he died for all, that they who live should live no longer to themselves, but to him who for them died and rose again. (16)So that we henceforth know no one according to the flesh; and if also we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know him. (17)So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things pa.s.sed away; behold, all things have become new. (18)And all things are of G.o.d, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19)as that G.o.d was in Christ reconciling a world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespa.s.ses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
(20)We are then amba.s.sadors on behalf of Christ[5:20], as though G.o.d were beseeching by us; on behalf of Christ we pray: Be reconciled to G.o.d! (21)Him who knew not sin he made to be sin for us, that we might become G.o.d's righteousness in him.
VI.
AND, as workers together with him, we also beseech you that ye receive not the grace of G.o.d in vain; (2)(for he says:
In an accepted time I heard thee, And in the day of salvation I helped thee;
behold, now is the well accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation;) (3)giving no cause of offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; (4)but as G.o.d's ministers, commending ourselves in everything, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, (5)in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; (6)in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, (7)in the word of truth, in the power of G.o.d, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, (8)through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and true; (9)as unknown, and well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; (10)as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
(11)O Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged.
(12)Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. (13)Now as a recompense in the same kind (I speak as to my children), be ye also enlarged.
(14)Be not yoked unequally with unbelievers; for what fellows.h.i.+p has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? (15)And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (16)And what agreement has the temple of G.o.d with idols? For ye are a temple of the living G.o.d; as G.o.d said: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their G.o.d, and they shall be to me a people.
(17)Wherefore, come out from among them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and touch not anything unclean; and I will receive you, (18)and will be to you a Father, and ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
VII.
HAVING therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of G.o.d.
(2)Receive us; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we defrauded no one. (3)I say it not for condemnation; for I have before said, that ye are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. (4)Great is my confidence toward you, great is my glorying on account of you; I am filled with the consolation, I am made to abound with the joy, in all our affliction.
(5)For indeed, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way; without were fightings, within were fears. (6)But G.o.d, who consoles those who are cast down, consoled us by the coming of t.i.tus; (7)and not by his coming only, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced the more. (8)Because, though I made you sorry with the letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it; for I perceive that that letter made you sorry, though but for a season. (9)Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a G.o.dly manner, that ye might in nothing receive harm from us. (10)For G.o.dly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world works out death.