I Tertius, who have written this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

But I speak of this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ.

Where is the wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

But we speak wisdom among the perfect; but wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who come to nought.

which none of the princes of this age knew, (for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;)

Now if any one build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw,

Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He who takes the wise in their craftiness.

For I am conscious of nothing in myself; but I am not justified by this: but he that examines me is the Lord.

For this reason I have sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in mind of my ways as they are in Christ, according as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

And ye are puffed up, and ye have not rather mourned, in order that he that has done this deed might be taken away out of the midst of you.

to deliver, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (ye and my spirit being gathered together, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ), him that has so wrought this:

not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the avaricious and rapacious, or idolaters, since then ye should go out of the world.

Do ye not know that we shall judge angels? and not then matters of this life?

If then ye have judgments as to things of this life, set those to judge who are little esteemed in the assembly.

But ye do wrong, and defraud, and this your brethren.

But this I say, as consenting to, not as commanding it.

I think then that this is good, on account of the present necessity, that it is good for a man to remain so as he is.

But this I say, brethren, the time is straitened. For the rest, that they who have wives, be as not having any:

and they that use the world, as not disposing of it as their own; for the fashion of this world passes.

But I say this for your own profit; not that I may set a snare before you, but for what is seemly, and waiting on the Lord without distraction.

But he who stands firm in his heart, having no need, but has authority over his own will, and has judged this in his heart to keep his own virginity, he does well.

But see lest anywise this your right to eat itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.

My defence to those who examine me is this:

If others partake of this right over you, should not rather we? But we have not used this right, but we bear all things, that we may put no hindrance in the way of the glad tidings of the Christ.

For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with an administration.

But if any one say to you, This is offered to holy purposes, do not eat, for his sake that pointed it out, and conscience sake;

But in prescribing to you on this which I now enter on, I do not praise, namely, that ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse.

Have ye not then houses for eating and drinking? or do ye despise the assembly of God, and put to shame them who have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this point I do not praise.

and having given thanks broke it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.

In like manner also the cup, after having supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.

For as often as ye shall eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye announce the death of the Lord, until he come.

On this account many among you are weak and infirm, and a good many are fallen asleep.

If the foot say, Because I am not a hand I am not of the body, is it on account of this not indeed of the body?

And if the ear say, Because I am not an eye I am not of the body, is it on account of this not indeed of the body?

It is written in the law, By people of other tongues, and by strange lips, will I speak to this people; and neither thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are the most miserable of all men.

But this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God's kingdom, nor does corruption inherit incorruptibility.

For this corruptible must needs put on incorruptibility, and this mortal put on immortality.

But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word written: Death has been swallowed up in victory.

For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and sincerity before God, (not in fleshly wisdom but in God's grace,) we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly towards you.

And with this confidence I purposed to come to you previously, that ye might have a second favour;

Having therefore this purpose, did I then use lightness? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to flesh, that there should be with me yea yea, and nay nay?

But I have judged this with myself, not to come back to you in grief.

And I have written this very letter to you, that coming I may not have grief from those from whom I ought to have joy; trusting in you all that my joy is that of you all.

Sufficient to such a one is this rebuke which has been inflicted by the many;

For to this end also I have written, that I might know, by putting you to the test, if as to everything ye are obedient.

For also that which was glorified is not glorified in this respect, on account of the surpassing glory.

But their thoughts have been darkened, for unto this day the same veil remains in reading the old covenant, unremoved, which in Christ is annulled.

But unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil lies upon their heart.

Therefore, having this ministry, as we have had mercy shewn us, we faint not.

in whom the god of this world has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine forth for them.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:

For indeed in this we groan, ardently desiring to have put on our house which is from heaven;

Now he that has wrought us for this very thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died;

For, behold, this same thing, your being grieved according to God, how much diligence it wrought in you, but what excusing of yourselves, but what indignation, but what fear, but what ardent desire, but what zeal, but what vengeance: in every way ye have proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

For this reason we have been encouraged. And we the rather rejoiced in our encouragement more abundantly by reason of the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;

but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.

And I give my opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.

and not only so, but is also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and a witness of our readiness;

avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us;

But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made void in this respect, in order that, as I have said, ye may be prepared;

lest haply, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, that we say not ye, may be put to shame in this confidence.

I thought it necessary therefore to beg the brethren that they would come to you, and complete beforehand your fore-announced blessing, that this may be ready thus as blessing, and not as got out of you.

But this is true, he that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows in the spirit of blessing shall reap also in blessing:

Because the ministration of this service is not only filling up the measure of what is lacking to the saints, but also abounding by many thanksgivings to God;

they glorifying God through the proof of this ministration, by reason of your subjection, by profession, to the glad tidings of the Christ, and your free-hearted liberality in communicating towards them and towards all;

Do ye look at what concerns appearance? If any one has confidence in himself that he is of Christ, let him think this again in himself, that even as he is of Christ, so also are we.

Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when absent, such also present in deed.

The truth of Christ is in me that this boasting shall not be stopped as to me in the regions of Achaia.

What I speak I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of boasting.

For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me.

For in what is it that ye have been inferior to the other assemblies, unless that I myself have not been in laziness a charge upon you? Forgive me this injury.

Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; for I do not seek yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

This third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established.

For we rejoice when we may be weak and ye may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting.

On this account I write these things being absent, that being present I may not use severity according to the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for overthrowing.

This only I wish to learn of you, Have ye received the Spirit on the principle of works of law, or of the report of faith?

Now I say this, A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which took place four hundred and thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

above every principality, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name named, not only in this age, but also in that to come;

in which ye once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience:

For ye are saved by grace, through faith; and this not of yourselves; it is God's gift:

For this reason I Paul, prisoner of the Christ Jesus for you nations,

To me, less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ,

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye should no longer walk as the rest of the nations walk in the vanity of their mind,

For this ye are well informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what is the will of the Lord.

Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.

This mystery is great, but I speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just.

knowing that whatever good each shall do, this he shall receive of the Lord, whether bond or free.

because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual power of wickedness in the heavenlies.

For this reason take to you the panoply of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having accomplished all things, to stand.

praying at all seasons, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching unto this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

whom I have sent to you for this very thing, that ye may know of our affairs and that he may encourage your hearts.

having confidence of this very thing, that he who has begun in you a good work will complete it unto Jesus Christ's day: