of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanks13 givings unto God; seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the Gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and 14 unto all; while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceed15 ing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. 10 Now I Paul myself intreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward 2 you: yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present shew courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, which count of us as if we walked 3 according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, 4 we do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to 5 the casting down of strong holds); casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into cap6 tivity to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall 7 be fulfilled. Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, 8 even as he is Christ's, so also are we. For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning ou authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to 9 shame: that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by 10 my letters. For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech 11 of no account. Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are 12 we also in deed when we are present. For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. 13 But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God appor14 tioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in 15 the gospel of Christ: not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labours; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you accord16 ing to our province unto further abundance, so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another's province in regard of things 17 ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory 18 in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. 11 Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolish2 ness: nay indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy; for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to 3 Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity, that is 4 toward Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with 5 him. For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very 6 chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every thing we have 7 made it manifest among all men to you-ward. Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I 9 might minister unto you; and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in every thing I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I 10 keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia? 11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occa sion from them which desire an occasion; that wherein 13 they glory, they may be found even as we. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel; 14 for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing, therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 16 I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a 17 little. That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise your20 selves. For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, 21 if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold I (speak in fool22 ishness), I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of 23 Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labours more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes Of the Jews five times Thrice was I beaten 24 above measure, in deaths oft. with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered ship26 wreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false breth27 ren; in labour and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is made to 30 stumble, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is 82 blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Da mascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded 38 the city of the Damascenes, in order to take me: and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands. 12 I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up 3 even to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know 4 not; God knoweth), how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is 5 not lawful for a man to utter. On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not 6 glory, save in my weaknesses. For if I should' desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me to be or heareth 7 from me. And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations-wherefore, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I 8 should not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart 9 from me. And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may 10 rest upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11 I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong. 14 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to_come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved 16 the less? But be it so, I did not myself burden you; 17 but, being crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I 18 have sent unto you? I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not by the same Spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19 Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But 20 all things, beloved, are for your edifying. For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisper21 ings, swellings, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed. 13 This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be 2 established. I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not 3 spare; seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you-ward is not weak, but is power4 ful in you: for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the 5 power of God toward you. Try your own selves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is 6 in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate. But I hope that 7 ye shall know that we are not reprobate. Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honourable, 8 though we be as reprobate. For we can do nothing 9 against the truth, but for the truth. For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray 10 for, even your perfecting. For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down. 11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the 12 God of love and peace shall be with you. Salute one another with a holy kiss. 13 14 All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. 1 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE GALATIANS. PAUL, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, 2 who raised him from the dead), and all the brethren 3 which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord |