the heart of Titus. (17)For he accepted indeed the exhortation; but
being very zealous, he went to you of his own accord. (18)And together
with him we sent the brother, whose praise in the gospel is throughout
all the churches; (19)and not that only, but who was also appointed by
the churches, as our fellow-traveler with this gift[8:19] which is
administered by us, to further the glory of the Lord, and our zeal;
(20)being careful of this, that no one should blame us in this
abundance which is administered by us; (21)for we provide for what is
honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of
men.
(22)And we sent with them our brother, whom we have often in many
things proved to be diligent, but now much more diligent, through the
great confidence which he has toward you. (23)As to Titus, he is my
partner, and in regard to you a fellow-laborer; as to our brethren,
they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
(24)Therefore show toward them, and before the churches, the proof of
your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
IX.
FOR concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me
to write to you. (2)For I know your readiness of mind, of which I
boast for you to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared since
a year ago; and your zeal stirred up the greater part of them. (3)But
I sent the brethren, that our boasting of you might not be made in
vain in this respect; that, as I said, ye may be prepared; (4)lest
haply, if Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that
we say not, ye) should be put to shame in respect to this confidence.
(5)I thought it necessary, therefore, to exhort the brethren, that
they should go before to you, and make up beforehand your bounty
before promised, that this may be ready, in manner as a bounty and not
as covetousness. (6)But as to this, he that sows sparingly shall also
reap sparingly; and he that sows with blessings shall also reap with
blessings; (7)but each as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or
of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(8)And God is able to make every grace abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound toward every
good work; (9)(as it is written:
He dispersed abroad, he gave to the poor;
His righteousness abides forever;)
(10)and he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will
supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your
righteousness; (11)being enriched in everything to all liberality,
which works through us thanksgiving to God. (12)Because the
ministration of this service not only supplies the wants of the
saints, but also abounds through many thanksgivings to God; (13)while
by the proof of this ministration they glorify God for the obedience
to your profession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of
the contribution to them, and to all; (14)they also, with supplication
for you, longing after you on account of the exceeding grace of God in
you. (15)Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
X.
NOW I, Paul, myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of
Christ, who in presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent am
bold toward you; (2)but I entreat, that I may not when I am present be
bold with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some,
who think of us as walking according to the flesh. (3)For though
walking in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; (4)(for the
weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty before God to the
pulling down of strongholds) (5)casting down imaginations, and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
(6)and being in readiness to punish every disobedience, when your
obedience is made perfect.
(7)Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man
trusts to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself consider
this again, that, as he is Christ's, so also are we. (8)For even if I
should boast somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord
gave us for edification, and not for your destruction[10:8], I shall
not be put to shame; (9)that I may not seem as if I would terrify you
by my letters. (10)For his letters, says one, are weighty and strong;
but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. (11)Let
such a one consider this, that such as we are in word by letters when
absent, such will we be also in deed when present.
(12)For we venture not to reckon ourselves among, or to compare
ourselves with, some of those who commend themselves; but they,
measuring themselves among themselves, and comparing themselves with
themselves, are not wise. (13)But we will not boast of things without
measure, but according to the measure of the line which God
apportioned to us, a measure to reach even to you. (14)For we do not
stretch ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not to you;
for as far as to you also did we come, in the gospel of Christ;
(15)not boasting of things without measure in other men's labors; but
having hope, when your faith increases, that we shall be enlarged
among you according to our line abundantly, (16)to preach the gospel
in the regions beyond you, not to make our boast, in another's line,
of things made ready to our hand. (17)But he that boasts, let him
boast in the Lord. (18)For not he that commends himself is approved,
but he whom the Lord commends.
XI.
WOULD that ye could bear with me in a little folly! Nay, ye do bear
with me. (2)For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy; for I
espoused you to one husband, that I may present a chaste virgin to
Christ. (3)But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve
by his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from your
simplicity toward Christ. (4)For if indeed he that comes preaches
another Jesus, whom we preached not, or if ye receive a different
spirit, which ye received not, or a different gospel, which ye
accepted not, ye might well bear with it. (5)For I reckon that I am in
no respect behind these overmuch apostles. (6)And though I be rude in
speech, yet not in knowledge; but in everything we have been made
manifest among all, in respect to you.
(7)Did I commit an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted,
because I preached to you the gospel of God without charge. (8)I
robbed other churches, taking wages of them, in order to do you
service. (9)And when I was present with you, and in want, I was a
charge to no one; for what was lacking to me the brethren who came
from Macedonia supplied; and in every thing I kept myself from being
burdensome to you, and so will keep myself.
(10)As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting shall not be shut
up against me in the regions of Achaia. (11)Wherefore? Because I love
you not? God knows. (12)But what I do, and will do, is that I may cut
off the occasion of those who desire an occasion, that wherein they
boast they may be found even as we. (13)For such are false apostles,
deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
(14)And no wonder; for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel
of light. (15)It is no great thing then, if also his ministers
transform themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works.
(16)I say again, let no one think me foolish; but if it can not be so,
yet receive me even if as foolish, that I too may boast myself a
little. (17)What I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in
foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. (18)Seeing that many
boast after the flesh, I also will boast. (19)For ye gladly bear with
the foolish, being yourselves wise. (20)For ye bear with it, if one
brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes you, if one
exalts himself, if one smites you on the face.
(21)I say it as a reproach, that we were weak. But in whatever any one
is bold (I say it in foolishness), I also am bold. (22)Are they
Hebrews? So am I Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's
seed? So am I. (23)Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as beside
myself,) I am more; in labors more abundantly, in stripes above
measure, in prisons more abundantly, in deaths often; (24)of the Jews
five times I received forty stripes save one; (25)thrice I was beaten
with rods; once I was stoned; thrice I suffered shipwreck; a night and
a day I have spent in the deep; (26)by journeyings often, by perils of
rivers, by perils of robbers, by perils from my countrymen, by perils
from the heathen, by perils in the city, by perils in the wilderness,
by perils in the sea, by perils among false brethren; (27)by weariness
and painfulness, 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 comes upon me daily, the care of all the
churches. (29)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I
do not burn? (30)If I must needs boast, I will boast of things which
belong to my infirmity. (31)God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is blessed forevermore, knows that I lie not. (32)In Damascus, the
governor under Aretas the king kept guard over the city of the
Damascenes, wishing to apprehend me; (33)and through a window I was
let down in a basket through the wall, and escaped his hands.
XII.
TO boast is surely not expedient for me; for I will come to visions
and revelations of the Lord.
(2)I know a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago (whether in the
body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not, God knows)
such a one caught up even to the third heaven. (3)And I know such a
man (whether in the body or without the body I know not, God knows),
(4)that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
(5)Of such a one I will boast; but of myself I will not boast, save in
my infirmities. (6)For if I should desire to boast, I shall not be
foolish, for I shall speak truth; but I forbear, lest any one should
reckon of me above what he sees me to be, or hears from me.
(7)And that I might not be exalted overmuch through the abundance of
the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a
messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.
(8)Concerning this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart
from me. (9)And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for my
power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather
boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may abide upon me.
(10)Wherefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for
when I am weak, then I am powerful.
(11)I have become foolish; ye compelled me. For I ought to have been
commended by you; for in nothing was I behind these overmuch apostles,
though I am nothing. (12)Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought
among you in all patience, by signs, and wonders, and miracles.
(13)For what is there, wherein ye were inferior to the rest of the
churches, except that I myself was not a charge to you? Forgive me
this wrong.
(14)Behold, I am ready to come to you the third time; and I will not
be a charge 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; though
the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. (16)But be it so,
I was not myself a charge to you[12:16]; but yet, being crafty, I
caught you with guile. (17)Did I make gain of you, by any of those
whom I have sent to you? (18)I exhorted Titus [to go], and sent with
him the brother. Did Titus make gain of you? Did we not walk in the
same spirit; did we not in the same steps?
(19)Do ye again suppose that we are excusing ourselves to you[12:19]?
Before God in Christ we speak; and all, beloved, for your edification.
(20)For I fear, lest haply, when I come, I shall find you not such as
I would, and I too shall be found by you such as ye would not; lest
there be wranglings, envyings, wraths, rivalries, backbitings,
whisperings, swellings, tumults; (21)lest, when I come again, my God
shall humble me among you, and I shall bewail many of those who have
sinned before, and repented not of the uncleanness, and fornication,
and wantonness, which they committed.
XIII.
THIS third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two witnesses, and
of three, shall every word be established. (2)I have before said, and
now say beforehand, as when present the second time, so also now when
absent, to those who heretofore have sinned, and to all the rest, that
if I come again I will not spare; (3)since ye seek a proof of Christ
speaking in me, who toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you.
(4)For even if he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the
power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him
by the power of God toward you.
(5)Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own
selves. Know ye not your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you,
except ye are reprobate? (6)But I trust that ye shall know, that we
are not reprobate.
(7)Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear
approved, but that ye may do what is good, though we be as reprobate.
(8)For we have no power against the truth, but for the truth. (9)For
we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are powerful; this also we pray
for, even your perfection.
(10)For this cause I write these things being absent, that when
present I may not use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord
gave me for edification, and not for destruction.
(11)Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of
the same mind, be at peace; and the God of love and peace will be with
you.
(12)Salute one another with a holy kiss. (13)All the saints salute
you.
(14)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE GALATIANS.
I.
PAUL, an apostle, not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus
Christ, and God the Father who raised him from the dead, (2)and all
the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: (3)Grace to
you, and peace, from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ; (4)who
gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present
evil world, according to the will of God and our Father; (5)to whom be
the glory forever and ever. Amen.
(6)I marvel that ye are so soon removing from him who called you in
the grace of Christ, to a different gospel; (7)which is not another,
except that there are some who trouble you, and wish to pervert the
gospel of Christ. (8)But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should
preach a gospel to you contrary to that which we preached to you, let
him be accursed. (9)As we have said before, so I now say again, if any
one preaches a gospel to you contrary to that which ye received, let
him be accursed. (10)For do I now seek the favor of men or of God? Or
am I seeking to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not
be Christ's servant.
(11)Now I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was
preached by me is not according to man; (12)for I also did not receive
it from man, nor was I taught it, but through the revelation of Jesus
Christ. (13)For ye heard of my conduct formerly in Judaism; that
beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and was destroying it,
(14)and pressed forward in Judaism beyond many companions of the same
age in my nation, being more exceedingly a zealot for the traditions
of my fathers.
(15)But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb,
and called me through his grace, (16)to reveal his Son in me, that I
should make known the glad news of him among the Gentiles; immediately
I conferred not with flesh and blood; (17)neither went up to Jerusalem
to those who were apostles before me, but went away[1:17] into Arabia,
and returned again to Damascus.
(18)Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to become
acquainted with Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. (19)But no
other of the apostles did I see, save James, the brother of the Lord.
(20)Now as to the things which I write to you, behold before God, I
lie not.
(21)Afterward, I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; (22)and
was unknown by face to the churches of Juda which were in Christ;
(23)but they were only hearing, that he who was once our persecutor
now preaches the faith which once he was destroying; (24)and they
glorified God in me.
II.
THEN, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, taking also Titus with me. (2)And I went up by revelation,
and communicated to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles;
but privately, to those of reputation, lest by any means I should run,
or had run in vain. (3)But not even Titus, who was with me, being a
Greek, was compelled to be circumcised; (4)and that because of the
false brethren stealthily brought in, who crept in to spy out our
liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into
bondage; (5)to whom not even for an hour did we yield by the
[required] submission, that the truth of the gospel might continue
with you. (6)But from those reputed to be something,--whatever they
were[2:6], it matters not to me, God accepts not man's person,--for to
me those of reputation communicated nothing in addition. (7)But, on
the contrary, seeing that I have been entrusted with the gospel of the
uncircumcision, as Peter was with that of the circumcision; (8)(for he
who wrought for Peter in behalf of the apostleship of the
circumcision, wrought also for me in behalf of the Gentiles;) (9)and
having learned the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and
John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas right
hands of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to
the circumcision; (10)only, that we should remember the poor, which
very thing also I was forward to do.
(11)But when Cephas came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face,
because he was blamed. (12)For before certain ones came from James, he
ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated
himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. (13)And the other
Jews also dissembled with him, so that Barnabas also was carried away
with their dissimulation. (14)But when I saw that they walk not
uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in the
presence of all: If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of
Gentiles and not that of Jews, how dost thou compel the Gentiles to
become as Jews? (15)We are Jews by nature, and not sinners from among
the Gentiles; (16)but knowing that a man is not justified by works of
law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, we also believed on Christ
Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works
of law; because by works of law no flesh shall be justified. (17)But
if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were
found sinners, is then Christ a minister of sin? Far be it! (18)For if
the things which I pulled down these I build up again, I make myself a
transgressor. (19)For I through law died to law, that I might live to
God. (20)I have been crucified with Christ; and no longer do I live,
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me. (21)I do not set aside the grace of God; for if there be
righteousness through law, then Christ died without cause.
III.
O FOOLISH Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ
was evidently set forth[3:1], crucified among you? (2)This only I
desire to learn from you: Was it from works of law that ye received
the Spirit, or from the hearing of faith? (3)Are ye so foolish? Having
begun with the Spirit, are ye now being made perfect[3:3] with the
flesh? (4)Did ye suffer so many things in vain? If indeed it be in
vain. (5)Does he, therefore, who supplies to you the Spirit, and works
miracles among you[3:5], do it from works of law, or from the hearing
of faith? (6)As Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for
righteousness. (7)Know then that they who are of faith, these are sons
of Abraham. (8)And the Scripture, foreseeing that God justifies the
Gentiles by faith, announced beforehand the glad tidings to Abraham,
saying: In thee shall all the nations be blessed. (9)So that they who
are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
(10)For as many as are of works of law are under a curse; for it is
written: Cursed is every one that continues not in all the things
written in the book of the law, to do them. (11)And that in the law no
one is justified with God, is evident; because, the just shall live by
faith. (12)Now the law is not of faith; but, he that has done them
shall live in them. (13)Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law,
having become a curse for us; because it is written: Cursed is every
one that is hanged on a tree; (14)that unto the Gentiles the blessing
of Abraham might come in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith.
(15)Brethren, I speak after the manner of men. If a covenant has been
confirmed, though it be a man's, no one sets it aside, or adds
thereto. (16)Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed.
He says not, and to seeds, as concerning many; but as concerning one,
and to thy seed, which is Christ. (17)But this I say, that a covenant
before confirmed by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty
years after, does not annul, to make the promise of no effect. (18)For
if the inheritance is of law, it is no more of promise; but God has
freely given it to Abraham by promise.
(19)What then is the law? It was added because of the transgressions,
until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made; having
been ordained through angels, by the hand of a mediator. (20)Now the
mediator is not of one; but God is one. (21)Is then the law against
the promises of God? Far be it! For if a law had been given which is
able to make alive, truly righteousness would have been of law.
(22)But the Scripture shut up all under sin, that the promise by faith
in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (23)But before
faith came, we were guarded under law, shut up unto the faith which
was to be revealed. (24)So that the law has become our schoolmaster,
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25)But faith having
come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (26)For ye are all sons
of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27)For all ye who were immersed unto
Christ[3:27], did put on Christ. (28)There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free, there is no male and female; for ye
are all one in Christ Jesus. (29)And if ye are Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise.
IV.
NOW I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differs in nothing from
a servant though he is lord of all; (2)but is under guardians and
stewards, until the time appointed by the father. (3)So also we, when
we were children, were held in bondage under the elements[4:3] of the
world. (4)But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his
son, born of a woman, born under law, (5)that he might redeem those
under law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6)And because
ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying, Abba, Father. (7)So that thou art no longer a servant, but a
son; and if a son, also an heir through God. (8)But at that time
indeed, when ye knew not God, ye served those which are not in their
nature gods. (9)But now, after having known God, or rather having been
known by God, how is it that ye turn back again to the weak and poor
elements[4:9], to which ye desire to be in bondage again anew? (10)Do
ye carefully observe days, and months, and seasons, and years? (11)I
am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in
vain.