For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;

and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.

(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):

Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.

Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

I say it not to condemn you : for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.

For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more.

For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret it (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season),

I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.

For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

So although I wrote unto you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God.

Therefore we have been comforted: And in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed by you all.

For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.

And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.

And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.

For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;

but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.

for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.

Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.

And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings 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 unto all;

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh

(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),

For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:

For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.

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.

For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

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 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 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 him .

For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

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?

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 everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and'so will I keep myself .

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.

For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves .

For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive , if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.

Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not.

how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

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 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 power of Christ may 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.

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.

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.

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.

And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But 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, whisperings, swellings, tumults;

lest again when I come 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.

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 power of God toward you.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray 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.

who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:

to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.

For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:

and I advanced in the Jews religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

(for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);

For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.

For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor.

For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.

Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect.

For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.

For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.

There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.

I beseech you, brethren, become as I am , for I also am become as ye are . Ye did me no wrong:

Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.

Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.

Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.

But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.