Now then are we messengers in the room of Christ: even as though God did beseech you through us. So pray we you, in Christ's stead, that ye be at one with God:

for he hath made him to be sin for us, which knew no sin, that we by his means should be that righteousness which before God is allowed.

For he saith, "I have heard thee in a time accepted: and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee." Behold, now is that well accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

Let us give no man occasion of evil, that in our office be found no fault:

ye are in no strait in us, but are in a strait in your own hearts.

Understand us: we have hurt no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side: Outward was fighting, inward was fear.

And not with his coming only: but also with the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you. For he told us your desire, your mourning, your fervent mind to me ward: So that I now rejoice the more.

But I now rejoice, not that ye were sorry, but that ye so sorrowed, that ye repented.

I am therefore not now ashamed, though I boasted myself to him of you. For as all things which I preached unto you are true, even so is our boasting - that I boasted myself to Titus withal - found true.

And now is his inward affection more abundant toward you, when he remembereth the obedience of every one of you: how with fear and trembling ye received him.

Now therefore, as ye are rich in all parts, in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all ferventness, and in love, which ye have to us: even so see that ye be plenteous in this benevolence.

This say I not as commanding: but because others are so fervent, therefore prove I your love, whether it be perfect or no.

Ye know the liberality of our Lord Jesus Christ, which though he were rich, yet for your sakes became poor: that ye through his poverty might be made rich.

Now therefore perform the deed, that as there was in you a readiness to will, even so ye may perform the deed, of that which ye have.

It is not my mind that other be set at ease, and ye brought into cumbrance: but that there be equalness now at this time,

We have sent with them a brother of ours, whom we have oft times proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent. The great confidence which I have in you

for I know your readiness of mind, whereof I boast myself unto them of Macedonia, and say that Achaia was prepared a year ago, and your ferventness hath provoked many.

I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and softness of Christ, which when I am present among you, am of no reputation, but am bold toward you being absent.

And when I was present with you and had need, I was grievous to no man. For that which was lacking unto me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I kept myself that I should not be grievous to you: and so will I keep myself.

And no marvel, for Satan himself is changed into the fashion of an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers fashion themselves as though they were the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their deeds.

I say again, lest any man think that I am foolish: or else even now take me as a fool, that I may boast myself a little.

That I speak, I speak it not after the ways of the Lord: but as it were foolishly, while we are now come to boasting.

It is not expedient for me, no doubt, to rejoice; Nevertheless I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I know a man in Christ above fourteen years agone - whether he were in the body I cannot tell, or whether he were out of the body I cannot tell; God knoweth - which was taken up into the third heaven.

And I know the same man - whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell; God knoweth -

how that he was taken up into paradise, and heard words not to be spoken, which no man can utter.

Behold now, the third time, I am ready to come unto you, and yet will I not be grievous unto you. For I seek not yours, but you. Also the children ought not to lay up for the fathers and mothers: but the fathers and mothers for the children.

Now come I the third time unto you: "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall everything stand."

I told you before, and tell you before, and as I said when I was present with you the second time, so write I now, being absent, to them which in time past have sinned, and to all others: that if I come again, I will not spare;

And verily, though it came of weakness that he was crucified, yet liveth he through the power of God: and we no doubt are weak in him; but we shall live with him, by the might of God among you.

Prove yourselves whether ye are in the faith or not. Examine your own selves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be castaways?

I trust that ye shall know that we are not castaways.

As I said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other thing unto you, than that ye have received, hold him accursed.

No other of the apostles saw I, save James the Lord's brother.

But they heard only, that he which persecuted us in time past, now preacheth the faith, which before he destroyed.

To whom we gave no room - no, not for the space of a hour - as concerning to be brought into subjection: and that because that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Of them which seemed to be great - what they were in time passed it maketh no matter to me: God looketh on no man's person - nevertheless they seemed great, added nothing to me:

know that a man is not justified by the deeds of the law: but by the faith of Jesus Christ - and therefore we have believed on Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the deeds of the law: because that no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law.

I am crucified with Christ. I live verily, yet now not I, but Christ liveth in me. For the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, which loved me, and gave himself for me.

Are ye so unwise, that after ye have begun in the spirit, ye would now end in the flesh?

That no man is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident. For the just shall live by faith.

Brethren, I will speak after the manner of men. Though it be but a man's testament, yet no man despiseth it, or addeth anything thereto when it is once allowed.

Is the law, then, against the promise of God? God forbid. Howbeit, if there had been a law given which could have given life: then no doubt righteousness should have come by the law.

But after that faith is come, now are we no longer under a schoolmaster.

Now is there no Jew, neither gentile, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither man nor woman: but ye are all one thing in Christ Jesus.

Wherefore now art thou not a servant, but a son. If thou be the son, thou art also the heir of God through Christ.

Notwithstanding, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them, which by nature were no gods:

But now, seeing ye know God - yea rather are known of God - how is it that ye turn again unto the weak and beggarly ceremonies, whereunto again ye desire afresh to be in bondage?

Ye know well how that through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

I would I were with you now, and could change my voice, for I stand in a doubt of you.

- For mount Sinai is called Hagar in Arabia, and bordereth upon the city which is now Jerusalem - and is in bondage with her children.

For it is written, "Rejoice thou barren, that bearest no children: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not. For the desolate hath many more children, than she which hath a husband."

But as then he that was born carnally, persecuted him that was born spiritually; Even so is it now.

Against such there is no law.

For in Christ Jesus nether circumcision availeth any thing at all nor uncircumcision: but a new creature.

From henceforth, let no man put me to business. For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

and lighten the eyes of your minds, that ye might know what thing that hope is, whereunto he hath called you, and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is upon the saints,

in the which, in time past, ye walked, according to the course of this world, and after the governor that ruleth in the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of unbelief,

remember, I say, that ye were at that time without Christ, and were reputed aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and were strangers from the testaments of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in this world.

But now in Christ Jesus, ye which a while ago were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

and hath also put away, through his flesh, the cause of hatred - that is to say, the law of commandments contained in the law written - for to make of twain one new man in himself, so making peace.

and came, and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners: but citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

whereby, when ye read ye may know mine understanding in the mystery of Christ,

which mystery in times past was not opened unto the sons of men as it is now declared unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit:

to the intent that now, unto the rulers and powers in heaven, might be known by the congregation the manifold wisdom of God,

by whom we are bold to draw nigh in that trust, which we have by faith on him.

and to know what is the love of Christ, which love passeth knowledge: that ye might be fulfilled with all manner of fullness which cometh of God.

That we henceforth be no more children, wavering and carried with every wind of doctrine, by the wiliness of men and craftiness, whereby they lay a wait for us to deceive us.

and put on that new man, which after the image of God is shapen in righteousness, and true holiness.

Let him that stole, steal no more; but let him rather labour with his hands some good thing, that he may have to give unto him that needeth.

Let no filthy communication proceed out of your mouths: but that which is good to edify withal, when need is, that it may have favour with the hearers.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, either unclean person, or covetous person, which is the worshipper of images, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words. For through such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of unbelief.

Ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather rebuke them.

For no man ever yet, hated his own flesh; but nourisheth, and cherisheth it: even as the Lord doth the congregation.

But that ye may also know that condition I am in, and what I do, Tychicus my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall show you of all things,

whom I sent unto you for the same purpose: that ye might know what case I stand in, and that he might comfort your hearts.

because of the fellowship which ye have in the gospel, from the first day unto now;

that ye might accept things most excellent, that ye might be pure and such as should hurt no man's conscience, until the day of Christ;

For I know that this shall chance to my salvation, through your prayer, and ministering of the spirit of Jesus Christ,

as I heartily look for and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed: but that with all confidence, as always in times past, even so now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be through life, or else death.

If it chance me to live in the flesh, that is to me fruitful for to work, and what to choose I know not.

and have even the same fight which ye saw me have and now hear of me.

and that no man consider his own, but what is mete for others.

Nevertheless, he made himself of no reputation, and took on him the shape of a servant, and became like unto men, and was found in his apparel as a man.

That in the name of Jesus should every knee bow, both of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under earth;

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, as ye have always obeyed - not when I was present only, but now much more in mine absence - even so work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

I trust in the Lord Jesus for to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know what case ye stand in.

For I have no man that is so like minded to me, which with so pure affection careth for your matters.

Ye know the proof of him, how that as a son with the father, so with me bestowed he his labour upon the gospel.

Him I hope to send as soon as I know how it will go with me.

and no doubt he was sick, and that nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him: not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have had sorrow upon sorrow.

because that for the work of Christ he went so far, that he was nigh unto death, and regarded not his life, to fulfill that service which was lacking on your part toward me.

For we are circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:

For many walk - of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping - that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,

I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at the last ye are revived again to care for me in that wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.