For Jesus Christ the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, by me, and Silvanus, and Timotheus was not yea and nay; but was yea in him.

For from much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that ye might be grieved, but that ye might know the abundant love which I have toward you.

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye were obedient in all things.

Now when I came to Troas, to preach the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord,

I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; so taking leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.

Now thanks be to God, who causeth us always to triumph through Christ, and manifesteth by us in every place the odour of his knowledge.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

For even that which was made glorious, had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excelleth.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

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

So that we from this time know no one after the flesh; yea, if we have known even Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

Therefore if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation: the old things are passed way; behold, all things are become new:

For he hath made him, who knew no sin, a sin-offering for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God through him.

(For he saith, I have heard thee in an acceptable time, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed, But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,

Now for a recompence of the same, (I speak as to my children) be ye also inlarged.

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? Now ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

Receive 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: from without were fightings, from within were fears.

Now I rejoice, not that ye grieved, but that ye grieved to repentance; for ye grieved in a godly manner, so that ye received damage by us in nothing.

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

Now therefore compleat the work, that as there was a ready will, so there may be also a performance, in proportion to what ye have.

And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, through his great confidence in you.

For I know your readiness, which I boast concerning you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

Now I Paul myself, who when present am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you, intreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,

And being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, now your obedience is fulfilled.

Not boastingly extending ourselves beyond our measure, in the labours of others; but having hope, now your faith is increased, to be inlarged by you,

I spoiled other churches, taking wages of them, to serve you: and when I was present with you and wanted, I was chargeable to no man.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing, if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose ends shall be according to their works.

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; but if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I also may boast a little.

I knew a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not, or out of the body I know not; God knoweth) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Yea, I knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) That he was caught up into paradise,

I told you before, and do tell before-hand (though now absent, as if I were present the second time) those who had sinned before, and all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith: prove yourselves. Do ye not know yourselves? That Jesus Christ is in you? unless ye are reprobates.

And I trust, ye shall know, that we are not reprobates.

Now I pray God, that ye may do no evil: not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is good, though we should be as reprobates.

As we have said before, so I say now again, if any preach to you another gospel than that ye received, let him be accursed.

For do I now satisfy men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Now the things which I write to you, behold before God, I lie not.

Only they had heard, He that persecuted in time past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

To whom we did not yield by submission, no, not an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.)

And they who undoubtedly were something, (but whatsoever they were, it is no difference to me; God accepteth no man's person) they who undoubtedly were something in conference, added nothing to me.

) And when James, and Cephas, and John, who undoubtedly were pillars, knew the grace that was given to me, they gave the right-hands of fellowships to me and Barnabas, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision: Only they desired that we would be mindful of the poor,

and not sinners of the Gentiles, Even we (knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ) have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

I am crucified with Christ, and I live no longer, but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Are ye so thoughtless? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Know then, that they who are of faith, these are the sons of Abraham.

Now the law is not of faith; but the man that doeth them, shall live by them.

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

And this I say, the covenant which was before confirmed of God through Christ, the law which was four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

For if the inheritance be by the law, it is no more by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Now the mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.

But faith being come, we are no longer under a school-master.

Now I say the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Indeed then, when ye knew not God, ye served them that by nature are not gods.

But now having known God, or rather being known of God, how turn ye back to the weak and beggarly elements, to which ye desire to be in bondage again?

Ye know how though infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you at first.

Now it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only while I am present with you.

I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem that now is, and is in bondage with her children.

Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so it is now also.

Christ is become of no effect to you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be no otherwise minded; but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication,

Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

The eyes of your understanding being inlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

who were dead in trespasses and sins, Wherein ye formerly walked, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in time past,

being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise; having no hope, and without God in the world.

But now through Christ Jesus, ye who were once far off are brought nigh by the blood of Christ.

having broken down the middle wall of partition, Having abolished by his flesh the enmity, the law of commandments, through his decrees, that he might make the two one new man in himself, so making peace:

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

Therefore ye are no longer strangers, and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the houshold of God,

Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed to the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

That the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places,

ye may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge,

Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

(Now that he ascended, what is it, but that he also descended first to the lower parts of the earth?

That we may be no longer children, fluctuating to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, by cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive:

This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles, in the vanity of your mind:

And to put on the new man, which is created after God, in righteousness and true holiness.

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

Let no corrupt discourse proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, or unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with vain words; for because of these things the wrath of God cometh upon the sons of disobedience.

For ye were once darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord:

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Now no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also the Lord the church.

And ye masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatning, knowing that your master is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.

But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things.

Whom I have sent to you for this very thing, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

For your fellowship in the gospel, from the first day until now:

Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things concerning me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ:

According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

But if I am to live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour, and what I should chuse, I know not.