J. Vernon McGee Thru the Bible Radio - (47) Book of 2Corinthians

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The Book of 2 Corinthians - Summary

This letter is in the Bible's New Testament. Paul wrote this letter to Christians in Corinth because there were false teachers in the church. They spoke badly about Paul. They said he kept changing his mind. This was because he did not visit Corinth. They also said he was not a genuine apostle*. Unlike the false teachers, Paul was not a great speaker. Also unlike them, Paul did not ask the church for money.

Paul explained why he had not visited them. He also explained why he had been so severe towards the Christians in Corinth. But he was happy that they had confessed their evil deeds to God. And now, they accepted Paul as a friend again. He was not a powerful person like the false teachers. But because he was weak, people saw God's power through him. He had not come to talk about himself. He had come to tell them about Jesus. By the death of Jesus, God had changed them from enemies into friends. Then he asked them for a generous gift for the poor Christians in Judea.

Finally he gave reasons why he was a genuine apostle*. God chose him to be an apostle*. And he had suffered many troubles because he taught God's message. But Paul was glad to work for God. This was his answer to those who spoke badly about him.

*Apostle: a person whom God sent to teach the Christian message to the world.
http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-outline/2-corinthians-summary.htm

Listen	Download	Introduction
Listen	Download	Chapter 1 Greeting; The God of Comfort; A Clear Conscience; A Visit Postponed.
Listen	Download	Chapter 2 A Sinner Forgiven; A Trip to Macedonia; A Ministry of Life or Death.
Listen	Download	Chapter 3 Living Letters; Paul's Competence; New Covenant Ministry.
Listen	Download	Chapter 4 The Light of the Gospel; Treasure in Clay Jars.
Listen	Download	Chapter 5 Our Future After Death; The Ministry of Reconciliation.
Listen	Download	Chapter 6 The Character of Paul's Ministry; Separation to God.
Listen	Download	Chapter 7 Joy and Repentance.
Listen	Download	Chapter 8 Appeal to Complete the Collection; Administration of the Collection.
Listen	Download	Chapter 9 Motivations for Giving.
Listen	Download	Chapter 10 Paul's Apostolic Authority.
Listen	Download	Chapter 11 Paul and the False Apostles; Paul's Sufferings for Christ.
Listen	Download	Chapter 12. Sufficient Grace; Signs of an Apostle; Paul's Concern for the Corinthians.
Listen	Download	Chapter 13. Final Warnings and Exhortations.

Book of 2Corinthians Outlines by J.Vernon McGee PDF format <Link>

========================================================== http://www.easyenglish.info/english-learners-bible/2-corinthians-taw.htm

About 2 Corinthians

Chapter 1

v1 This letter is from me, Paul, and from our friend Timothy, who is like a brother to us. God chose me to be a special worker and teacher on behalf of Christ Jesus. He sent me to tell people about Christ. I am sending this letter to you believers, who are God’s church in Corinth city. I am sending it also to all of God’s people who are in Achaia. v2 I pray that God, our Father, and the *Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to you. I pray that they will cause you to be without trouble deep inside yourselves.

God himself *comforts us

v3 We thank God, the Father of our *Lord Jesus Christ, because he is so good to us. He is such a very, very kind Father, and only he himself can really *comfort us. v4 He *comforts us during all things that cause trouble and pain for us. So then, as a result, we ourselves can *comfort other people who have any kind of trouble or pain. We can *comfort them because God himself has *comforted us. v5 We have very much trouble and pain, as Christ did. We have very much trouble and pain because we are his. But, in the same way, we know also how very much Christ *comforts us.

v6 If we are sad because of troubles and pain, that helps you. It helps to *comfort you, and it helps to save you. Or, if God *comforts us, that helps to *comfort you also. It helps you to be patient and strong during the same kind of troubles and pain as we have. v7 So, we continue to be completely sure about you. You have the same troubles and pain as we have. And, in the same way also, God will *comfort you as he *comforts us. We know this.

v8 Friends, we want you to know about the great trouble that we had in Asia. It was very, very difficult, like a heavy weight that was much too heavy for us to carry. We ourselves were not strong enough to carry it. We thought that we were going to die.

v9 Deep inside ourselves, we thought that we would certainly die. But these things happened so that we would learn not to believe in ourselves. No, but instead, we would learn to believe God, who causes dead people to live again. We would learn to believe that God would certainly help us. v10 And God did save us from such great danger that would have killed us. And he will save us. We believe strongly that he will continue to save us at future times. v11 Also, you help us because you join together to pray for us. Many people pray for us. And God will answer what they pray. He will be good to us. And so, many people will thank him on our behalf.

Paul explains why he did not visit Corinth earlier

v12 We have lived in this world as God’s people should live. We have been careful to be honest and good with everyone. And we have been like that very much with you. We ourselves are sure that this is true. And we are very happy about it. We have not tried to be clever as human people can be clever. But instead, we have done only what God has made us able to do. v13 We are writing to you only things that you yourselves can read and understand. And I hope that you will understand completely. v14 You do not understand us completely yet. But I hope that you will understand. On the day when our *Lord Jesus will return, you will be very happy because of us. You will be as happy because of us as we will be happy because of you. I hope that you will understand this completely.

v15-16 And because I was so sure about you, I decided to visit you first. I decided to visit you on my way to Macedonia. And then I would visit you again on my way back from Macedonia. So then you would see me twice and I could help you twice. And then you could help to send me on my journey to Judea. v17 When I decided this, I was serious about it. I do not decide to do things only because I myself want to do them. I am not ready to say ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ at the same time, like someone who does not know God.

v18 As certainly as God is true, our message to you was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. v19 Silas, Timothy and I told you about Jesus Christ, who is God’s Son. He is not someone who is ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. Instead, by him God was and is saying ‘Yes’ to us. v20 Everything that God has promised becomes ‘Yes’ because of Christ. That is why, by Christ, we can thank God. By him, we can agree that all God’s promises are true. And we can say how very great and good God is.

v21 God causes both us and you to be sure and strong because we are united with Christ. It is God himself who does this. And he has chosen us to be his own special servants. v22 God has also put his mark on us, to show that we are his. He has given his Spirit to us, to live deep inside us. And his Spirit causes us to be sure about what we will receive from God.

v23 I decided not to come to Corinth at that time, for this reason. It was because I wanted to be kind to you. I did not want to be angry with you. God knows that this is true! v24 We are not trying to be like masters. Masters would tell you what to believe about everything. We are not trying to have authority over you like that. We know that you believe the right things. And you are strong because you believe those things. But instead, we are working with you so that you will be happy.

Chapter 2

v1 So, I thought about what would be the best thing to do. And I decided not to visit you again at that time, because I did not want to make you sad. v2 If I make you sad, there will be nobody to make me happy. Only you, the people that I had made sad, could make me happy. v3 That is why I wrote that letter to you. I did not want you to make me sad when I visited you. But instead, you ought to make me happy. I felt sure about all of you. If I was happy, then all of you would be happy too. I was sure about that.

v4 When I wrote that letter, I was very, very sad. I had very much trouble and pain deep inside myself, and I cried very much. I did not want to make you sad. Instead, I wanted you to know how very, very much I love you.

*Forgive the person who did wrong things

v5 Someone has done things that have made other people sad. And that person has made not only me sad. No, but really he has made all of you sad too. I do not want to say too much about the wrong things that he did. v6 Most of you have *punished him, and that is enough for him. v7 Now, instead, you ought to *forgive him and you ought to *comfort him. So then, as a result, he will not become so very sad that he stops hoping to get better. v8 So, I ask you strongly to show him that you really do love him. v9 It was for this reason that I wrote to you. I wanted to know what you would do. I wanted to know whether you would obey me always. v10 When you *forgive somebody for anything, I *forgive that person also. Anything that I have *forgiven, I have *forgiven because of you, with Christ present. v11 I have done that so that *Satan has no chance to be cleverer than us. We know very well the ways by which he tries to beat us.

God makes us winners in Christ

v12 When I arrived at Troas city to tell the good news about Christ, the way was open for me. I discovered that the *Lord had opened the way for my work there. v13 But in my *spirit I could not rest, because I could not find my friend Titus. So, I said goodbye to the people there and I travelled on to Macedonia.

v14 But I thank God, who leads us always as winners. He makes us winners because we are united with Christ. And by us, God shows people everywhere about Christ. In every place, like a lovely smell that comes to them, people come to know Christ. v15 Because, to God, we ourselves are the lovely smell that brings Christ. We are like that among those people that God is saving. And we are like it among those people who are dying. They are dying because they are far from God. v16 To the people that God is saving, we are like a lovely smell. We are like a lovely smell that causes them to live. To the people who are dying, far from God, we are like a bad smell from a dead thing. That bad smell leads them to death.

No person could think that he himself was able enough to do this work! v17 But we are not like so many other people, who sell God’s message for money. No, God himself has sent us. And God sees what we are doing. So, we speak honestly because we really want people to know God’s message. We speak as those who are united with Christ.

Chapter 3

God’s new *agreement is much greater than the old one

v1 We are not trying again to make you think good things about us. We do not need letters, either to you or from you, that say good things about us. Some other people need letters like that, but we do not need them. v2 You yourselves are our letter, that God has written deep inside us. Everybody can know and can read this letter. v3 It is clear that you are a letter from Christ. And he has given this letter to us to deliver. Nobody wrote this letter with a pen. Instead, the Spirit of God, who is alive, wrote it deep inside us. He did not write it on flat pieces of stone. Instead, he wrote it deep inside us.

v4 We say these things only because, by Christ, we are sure about our work. We are sure that God makes us able to do it. v5 We are not able by ourselves even to think that we could do this work. No, but it is God who makes us able to do it. v6 God has made us able to be his servants, who tell people about his new *agreement. This new *agreement is not only rules. Rules tell people what to do. But this new *agreement is not like that. No, instead it is something that happens by God’s Spirit. Rules like that kill. But the Spirit causes us to live.

v7 Moses wrote down on stones the words of the old *agreement, that caused people to die. But that *agreement was still great and good, because it came from God. And Moses’ face shone so brightly with God’s light that Israel’s people could not continue to look at it. The light on his face was becoming less bright, but still Israel’s people could not look at it. That old *agreement came by words that someone wrote on stones. v8 So certainly, the new *agreement, which comes by God’s Spirit, will be even greater and better. v9 As a result of the old *agreement, God had to *punish people. But still, that *agreement was great and good. So, how very much greater and better must the new *agreement be, that makes people right with God!

v10 The old *agreement was great and good once. But the new *agreement is so very, very much greater and better than the old one. So, as a result, the old *agreement does not seem to be anything now. v11 The old *agreement, that had to come to an end, was great and good. So, how much greater and better must the new *agreement be, that will continue always!

v12 So, because we hope certainly for such great things, we speak bravely. v13 We are not like Moses. He covered his face with a cloth because the light from God was becoming less bright. So then Israel’s people could not see that the light was coming to an end. v14 But those people could not understand anyway. Even until this day, they cannot understand the old *agreement when they read it. They are like people who have a cloth over their minds. The cloth is still there because only Christ can remove it. He removes it when a person is united with him. v15 Even today, when they read Moses’ rules, a cloth still covers their minds. v16 But when a person turns to the *Lord, then the *Lord takes the cloth away.

v17 The *Lord is the Spirit. And where the *Lord’s Spirit is, there people are free. v18 But all of us are like people who have no cloth over our faces. Like mirrors, we shine with God’s bright light. And he is changing us so that we become more and more like him. We become brighter and brighter as the *Lord’s Spirit changes us.

Chapter 4

The good news brings light

v1 God has given this work to us because he is so very kind. So, we do not let ourselves become sad about it. v2 We have turned away completely from secret things that people should be ashamed to do. We refuse to do anything that is not honest. We refuse to say anything that is not true. We do not change God’s message, to include things that are not really true. God is watching us. And we tell clearly only what is true. So, everyone should know that we are honest and good. v3 Not everyone can understand the good news that we tell. People who are dying because they are far from God cannot understand it. v4 Those people do not believe it, because the god of this world has kept their minds in the dark. He stops them from seeing the light. Christ is completely like God. And that light shines from the good news about how great Christ is.

v5 We tell people about Christ Jesus because we want them to know him as *Lord. We do not want anyone to think that we ourselves are *Lord. We say only that we ourselves are your servants because of Jesus. v6 God said: ‘Let light shine in the dark.’ And the same God has caused his light to shine deep inside us. He has given light to us because he has caused us to know him. He has caused us to know how great and good he is. And this light is in Christ’s face. In Christ, we see how great and good God is.

We are like weak pots that contain something very valuable and powerful from God

v7 But we, who have this very valuable gift in us, are quite like weak *clay pots. And, as a result, it is clear that this very great *power is from God, and not from ourselves. v8 We have every kind of bad trouble and pain, but those things do not beat us. Sometimes we do not understand what to do, but we never stop believing God. v9 We have many enemies, but we are never completely alone. People hurt us badly, but they never destroy us. v10 We carry Jesus’ death in our bodies always. And so, we can show also in our bodies that Jesus is alive. v11 Yes, God is always sending us, who are alive, to death because of Jesus. So then, as a result, people can see in our weak, human bodies that Jesus is alive. v12 So, death is working in us but you are becoming more and more alive.

v13 It says in the *Old Testament: ‘I believed, and so I spoke.’ [Psalm 116:10] And we believe by the same Spirit. So, we also speak because we believe. v14 God, who raised the *Lord Jesus, to become alive again after his death, will also raise us with Jesus. God will bring us, together with you, to the place where he is. We know that. v15 All this is helping you. God is showing to more and more people how very, very kind he is. And so, people will thank God more and more. They will show how very great and good God is.

v16 That is why we do not let ourselves become sad about our work. The person that we are on the outside is getting older and less able. But the person that we are on the inside is becoming newer day by day. v17 We have these little troubles that continue only during this time now. But these troubles are preparing something much, much greater for us, which will continue always. As a result of them, we will enjoy something much better always with God, who is so great and so good. v18 So, we do not look at the things that we can see. But instead, we look at the things that we cannot see. The things that we can see are there for only a short time. But the things that we cannot see continue always.

Chapter 5

God has prepared a new body for us

v1 Our body that we live in here on earth is like a *tent. It is like a tent that God will tear down one day. But we have a building that God has made for us to live in. No human person made that house. It will always be there, in *heaven. We know that. v2 Now, while we are in our body here, we cry inside ourselves. We want to put our house from *heaven over us, like someone puts on new clothes. We want that very much. v3 We want to put on that new house, and then we will never be like people without clothes. v4 While we still live in our body here on earth, as in a tent, we cry inside ourselves. We do not really want to take off our old body. But instead, we want to put our new body over us, like new clothes. So then our new body, that will live always, will completely take the place of our old body. It will take the place of our old body, which had to die. v5 God is the one who has prepared us for this change. He has prepared us because he has given his Spirit to us. And his Spirit causes us to know that this change will certainly happen.

v6 So, we are happy and brave because we are always sure. While we are at home in this body, we are away from the *Lord. We know that. v7 We know it because we believe God. We believe him, and so we obey him. We do not live by the things that we can see. v8 I say again that we are always sure. It would be better if we could leave our home in this body. That is what we think. So then, we could be at home with the *Lord. v9 But, more than anything else, we want to make God happy. We want to do that, whether we are at home in our body here or away from it. v10 Because all of us must stand in front of Christ when he decides about us. He will decide about the things that we have done during our lives. So then, each person will receive from God as a result of the things that they have done. What each person has done while they lived in the body here may be either good or bad. And each person will receive from God what they ought to have as a result of those things.

God makes us new people in Christ

v11 We know what it means to be afraid of the *Lord. And so, because of this, we try to tell other people, so that they turn to him. But God himself knows what we really are. And I hope that, deep inside yourselves, you know us clearly also. v12 We are not trying again to make you think great things about us. No, but instead we want to give you the chance to show that you are happy about us. So then you will be able to answer those people who look at the outside of a person. To those people, the important thing is what somebody is like on the outside. But they do not think about what a person is like on the inside. v13 If we seem crazy, that is because we are God’s. Or, if we are serious, and not crazy, that is to help you.

v14 We want to obey only Christ, because he loves us so very much. And we are completely sure that one man died on behalf of all people. This means that all people died with him. v15 He died on behalf of all people, so that they should not live for themselves any more. But instead, all those people who live should live for him. They should live for him, who died on their behalf. He died and then he rose, to live again.

v16 So, from now on, we do not know anyone only because they are human like us. We have even known Christ as a human person, but we do not know him like that any more. v17 When anyone is united with Christ, they become a new person. God makes them new. Old things have gone. See, they have become new! v18 All this is the work of God, who, because of Christ, has stopped being angry with us. By Christ, we have become God’s friends instead of his enemies. And he wants us to bring other people to be his friends also. This is the job that he has given to us. v19 God wants us to tell people that, by Christ, he was bringing the world to himself. He was bringing all people in the world back to himself, to be his friends. God was not continuing to remember all the wrong things that people do. This is the message that God has given to us. He wants us to tell people that he has brought them back to himself.

v20 So, we are speaking on behalf of Christ. It is quite as if God himself is asking you strongly by us. On behalf of Christ, we are asking you very strongly to become God’s friends. v21 Christ never thought or did any wrong things. But God *punished Christ as if, like us, he was wrong. God *punished him on our behalf. So then, as a result, we become right with God when we are united with Christ.

Chapter 6

v1 So we, who work together with God, ask you strongly to be careful. God is very good to us because he is so very kind. But be careful not to waste the good things that God has done for you. v2 In the *Old Testament God says:

                        ‘I listened to you at the time when I was ready to be kind.

                                    I helped you on the day when I was ready to save you.’

                                                                                                [Isaiah 49:8]

Listen! Now is the time when God is ready to be kind! Now is the day when he is ready to save you!

v3 We do nothing that might cause anyone to be angry or sad because of us. We do not want anyone to think bad things about our work. v4 Instead, we want to show, by everything, that we are God’s servants. We show that because we are very patient and brave during bad troubles and pain. Sometimes we have many difficulties and so we are very sad. v5 Sometimes people hit us. Sometimes they put us in prison. Sometimes people attack us. Sometimes we work very, very much. Sometimes we stay awake at night to watch. Sometimes we have no food. v6 But still we show that we are God’s servants. We are good and clean inside ourselves and we have no bad purposes. We know what is true. We are patient and kind. We have God’s Spirit, who is completely good. And we really love God and other people.

v7 We speak only words that are true. We have God’s *power in us. We are right with God, and that makes us strong to fight on his behalf. It makes us strong, like people who fight with both their right hand and their left hand. v8 Sometimes people think that we are great and important. And sometimes they think that we are worth nothing. Sometimes people say bad things about us and sometimes they say good things. Sometimes people think that we are not honest about ourselves. But we are always honest and we say only true things. v9 People say that they do not know us. But really, everybody knows what we are. People think that we are dying. But see, we are still alive! People *punish us but they do not kill us. v10 We seem sad, but we are always happy really. We seem poor, but we make many people rich. We seem to have nothing, but really we have everything.

v11 Our friends at Corinth, we have spoken to you very honestly. We have hidden nothing from you. You know everything that we feel. v12 We have done nothing to stop you from being our friends that we know well. No, but you yourselves have not been completely honest with us. It is you yourselves who have not told us everything. v13 I am speaking to you as I would speak to my own children. Be fair to us! Be completely honest with us also. Tell us everything that you feel.

God’s people are separate from people who do not believe God

v14 Do not try to be united with people who do not believe Christ. God has made you right with himself. So, you cannot work together with people who are not right with him. Light and dark are completely different. v15 Christ and the *Devil cannot agree. People who believe Christ have nothing in common with other people. Christ’s people have nothing in common with people who do not believe Christ. v16 God’s house has nothing in common with false gods. And we are the house of the God who is alive. As God has said:

                        ‘I will live with them and I will be among them.

                                    I will be their God and they will be my people.’

                                                                        [Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27]

v17 And so, the *Lord says:

                                    ‘Come out from among them and be separate.

                                    Touch nothing that is not good and clean.

                                    And I will accept you.’

                                                                        [Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41]

v18                  ‘I will be a Father to you,

                                    and you will be my sons and my daughters.

                        This is what the *Lord with all authority says.’

                                                                        [2 Samuel 7:14 and 7:8]

Chapter 7

v1 So, my friends, that I love, God has promised these things to us. And so we must keep ourselves clean from everything that makes our bodies or our *spirits dirty. We must remember always how very great and powerful God is. And, as a result, we should become more and more completely as God wants his own people to be.

v2 Make room deep inside yourselves to love us. We have done nothing wrong to anyone. We have not hurt anyone. We have not used anyone for any wrong purposes of our own. v3 I am not saying this to show that you have done anything wrong. As I have told you before, you are very special to us. We love you so very much that, deep inside ourselves, you are always with us. And so, we live or die with you. v4 I am very sure about you. I am very happy because of you. God has *comforted me very much. Even in all our troubles, I am still very, very happy.

v5 When we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies did not rest at all. We had troubles everywhere. On the outside, other people were quarrelling with us. On the inside, we were afraid. v6 But God *comforts people who are feeling sad and weak. And God *comforted us because Titus arrived to be with us. v7 God *comforted us not only because Titus came to us. He *comforted us even more by what Titus told us about you. Titus said that you had *comforted him. He told us how very much you want to see me. He told us how very sorry you are. He told us also how ready you are to help me. And so, I am even happier now.

v8 But even if I made you sad by my letter, I am not sorry about that. I was sorry about it before. I saw that my letter made you sad for a short time. v9 But now I am happy, not because my letter made you sad. No, instead I am happy because it made you sad enough to turn away from wrong things. You became sad as God wanted you to be sad. So, as a result, we did not really hurt you or cause you loss in any way by our letter. v10 People need to become sad in the way that God wants. When they are sad like that, it causes them to turn away from wrong things. It causes them to turn to God, who saves them. And they will never be sorry that they did that! But this world makes people sad only because they have troubles or pain. It does not make them sad in a way that leads them to God. When the world makes people sad like that, it only causes them to die.

v11 You became sad as God wanted you to be sad. And see what good results that has brought! It has made you think so seriously and so carefully. It has made you want so much to show that you have turned away from wrong things. It has made you so angry, so afraid, and so ready to change. It has made you want so very much to do better things. It has made you want to *punish someone who was doing wrong things. You have shown that you yourselves have done everything possible to make things right.

v12 I did not write that letter to you because of the person who had done something wrong. I did not write it to help that person. Neither did I write it to help the person that somebody had done something wrong to. Instead, I wrote the letter so that you could understand something. I wanted you to understand clearly how very much you yourselves love us. And God knows how much you love us. v13 That is what has *comforted us.

Yes, that *comforted us. And Titus made us even happier, because he himself was so happy. Titus was happy because all of you had helped him to feel stronger and braver. v14 I did say good things about you to Titus, and you have not disappointed me. We have always spoken only true things to you. And, in the same way, when we said good things about you to Titus, those things were true also. It has become clear that those things are true. v15 And Titus loves you even more when he thinks about you. He remembers how ready all of you were to obey. You were happy that he had come to visit you. But you were also very afraid. v16 I am happy because I am sure about you. I am completely sure that you will do only what is good and right.

Chapter 8

Paul wants the Christians at Corinth to give money for the poor people at Jerusalem

v1 Friends, we want you to know how very good God has been to the groups of believers in Macedonia. v2 They have had very bad troubles. But those troubles caused them to show how much they really believed God. They were so very, very happy, and so they gave a lot of money to help other people. They themselves were very poor, but still they gave so much money. v3 I tell you this, which is certainly true. They gave as much money as they were able to give. They even gave more than they could. They themselves wanted to give that much money. v4 They asked us very strongly to receive their gift of money. They wanted very much to do something that would help God’s people. v5 They did more than we had even hoped for! They gave themselves first to the *Lord, and then they gave themselves to us also. They did that because God wanted them to do it.

v6 So, because of this, we asked Titus if he would continue to help you. He is the person who started this good work. So, he will help you to finish it. He will help you to be kind in this way. v7 You have so very much of everything. You believe God very much. You speak well and you understand a lot. You want very much to help, and you love us. So, be ready also to give plenty so that you can be good and kind in this way.

v8 I am not telling you that you must do this. But I have told you how very much other groups of believers want to help. And this is a way to show how much you really love other people. v9 You know how very, very kind our *Lord Jesus Christ is. He was rich, but he made himself poor to help you. So then, because he became poor, as a result you could become rich.

v10 Last year, you were the first people who wanted to give. And you were the first to begin that work. So, the best thing for you to do is to finish that work. That is what I think. v11 Now finish the work. When you started, you wanted very much to do it. Now be as ready to finish it. Give what you can give. v12 If you really want to give, then God will accept your gift. He will not want you to give more than you are able to give. But he will be happy because you have given. You have given as much as you can give.

v13 You will make other people’s lives easier because of your gift. But my purpose is not that your lives should become more difficult as a result. No, instead I want things to be equal. v14 At this time now, you yourselves have plenty. So, you should give to those people who do not have enough. Then, at a future time when they have plenty, they will be able to give to you. They will be able to help you when you do not have enough. So then, they will help you in the same way as you helped them. v15 As it says in the *Old Testament:

                        ‘The person who brought back a lot did not have too much.

                                    And the person who brought back a small amount still had enough.’

                                                                                                [Exodus 16:18]

Paul is sending Titus and other Christian men to Corinth

v16 God has caused Titus to love you so much that he really wants to help you. So, we thank God because of this. Titus wants to help you as much as we ourselves want to help you. v17 He was so happy when we asked him to help you. He already wanted so much to help you that he himself had decided to visit you. v18 We are sending another man, who is a believer like us, with Titus. All the groups of believers say very good things about this other man. He is famous among them because he tells the good news about Christ so very well. v19 And that is not everything. Also, the groups of believers have chosen this man to travel with us. They wanted him to help us when we take your gifts. They wanted him to help with this work that we do for God. We are doing it to show how great and good God is. We are doing it also because we want to help people.

v20 We are being very careful about this large gift of money that we will take to people. We do not want anyone to say that we have done anything wrong. We want everyone to see that we are honest. v21 We want to do only what is right. We want the *Lord to see that we are doing the right thing. Also, we want people to see that we are doing the right thing.

v22 We are sending another man also, with these men. Many times, in many ways, this man has shown certainly that he wants very much to help. And now that he is so very sure about you, he wants to help even more. v23 If anyone asks about Titus, he works with me. He works together with me, to help you. If anyone asks about the other men, they are coming on behalf of the groups of believers. And those men are good servants of Christ. They show how great and good Christ is. v24 So, show these men certainly that you love them. Then all the groups of believers will be sure about you. They will be sure that we are right to say good things about you.

Chapter 9

v1 I do not need to write to you about the money that we are sending to help God’s people. v2 I know how much you want to help. I say good things about you to the people in Macedonia. I tell them that you people in Achaia have been ready to help since last year. And because you are so ready to help, most of them now want very much to help also. v3 But still, I am sending these men, who are believers like us. I am sending them to you so that you will really be ready to give your money. I have told people that you were ready. And now everyone will know that I spoke true words.

v4 Perhaps some people from Macedonia might come with me. And I would not want them to find that you are not ready to help. Then I would be ashamed that I had been sure about you. And I am saying nothing about how ashamed you yourselves would be! v5 So, I thought that I must ask these men to visit you first. They will visit you before I myself come. They will help you to prepare the gift that you promised. Then it will be ready when I arrive. So, everyone will know that you really want to give this gift. You are not giving it because anyone is making you give it. Everyone will know that.

It is good to give plenty

v6 Remember this: A farmer who plants only a few seeds will not get much as a result. But a farmer who plants plenty of seeds will bring plenty from his field as a result. v7 Each person should give as much as he himself has decided to give. He should not give because he has to give. He should not give if he does not really want to give. God loves a giver who is really happy to give. v8 And God is able to give you more than you need of every good thing. You will always have everything that you need for yourselves. Also, you will have enough so that you can give plenty to every good work. v9 The *Old Testament says this (about a person who lives for God):

                        ‘He has given very much to the poor people.

                                    God will always remember how good and kind that person has been.’

                                                                                                [Psalm 112:9]

v10 It is God who supplies seeds for the farmer to plant. It is God who supplies bread for food. And God will make you like a farmer who plants good seeds. He will supply your seeds, and he will give more and more seeds to you. Also, he will cause those seeds to grow, to give more and more good results. You will have good results from all the good seeds that you plant. v11 God will make you rich always, so that you will always be able to give plenty to other people. Many people will thank God because of your gifts that they have received by us.

v12 This good work that you are doing is helping God’s people. It is helping to supply what God’s people need. And it is not only doing that. It is also causing many people to thank God very, very much. v13 Your gift will show people what you are really like. You say that you believe the good news about Christ. And your gift will show how much you really want to obey God. You are happy to give so much to these people, and to everyone else. So, as a result, many people will say how good and great God is. v14 And they will pray on your behalf because they really love you very much. They will love you because God has caused you to be so very, very kind. v15 We should thank God because of the very great gift that he has given to us. His gift is so great that no words could ever describe it!

Chapter 10

Paul speaks about his work as Christ’s servant

v1 I, Paul, myself am asking you something strongly. Some people say that, when I am present there with you, I am weak. They say that I am afraid to speak strong, angry words to you. But when I am away from you, I am brave enough to speak very strongly to you. That is what they say about me. But still, it is I who am asking you this. And I am asking it because Christ himself is so patient and so kind. v2 This is what I am asking. When I come to visit you, do not make me have to say angry words to you. Do not make me angry, as some people make me angry. Some people think that we live by our own human *power. So, I am sure that I will have to speak angry words to them.

v3 It is true that we are human. We live in human bodies. But we do not fight by our own human *power. v4 We do not use human *weapons to fight God’s war. Instead, we use the weapons that come from God. These weapons are powerful enough to destroy the enemy’s strong places. With these weapons, we destroy wrong ideas that people think. v5 We pull down every high thing that tries to stop people from knowing God. With these weapons, we take hold of every thought and we bring it to obey Christ. v6 You must obey completely everything that we have explained to you. And then we will be ready to *punish anyone who will not obey God.

v7 You are looking at things only as they seem to be on the outside. Anyone who is sure that he is Christ’s should think again about himself. In the same way that he is Christ’s, so we are Christ’s. He should remember that we are Christ’s also. v8 Maybe I say too many great things about the authority that the *Lord has given to us. But I am not ashamed to say those things. He gave that authority to us so that we could help you to become stronger. He did not give it so that we could destroy you.

v9 I do not want you to think that I am trying to frighten you by my letters. v10 Some people say: ‘Paul’s letters are very serious and strong, and his words are powerful. But when he is here with us, he is weak. And it is not worth listening to the words that he speaks.’ v11 Anyone who says things like that should understand this. He should understand that there is no difference. We write certain things in our letters when we are away from you. And we will do certain things when we are present there with you. And those things are the same. There is no difference between them.

v12 Some people say how very good and clever they themselves are. But we are not brave enough to include ourselves with them. We would not even want anyone to think that we were like those people. Those people are fools. They see what each other is like. Then, as a result, they decide how good they themselves are. They decide that only among themselves. So, they are fools. v13 But we will not say any good things about ourselves that are not proper. We will say good things only about the work that God has chosen to give to us. And that includes our work among you. v14 We are not trying to do anything more than what God has given to us to do. If we had not visited you, then we would be trying to do more. But we did come as far as where you are to tell the good news about Christ.

v15 We do not say good things about ourselves as a result of other people’s work. That would not be proper. Instead, we hope that you will continue to believe more and more strongly. Then, as a result, our proper work among you will become much greater. v16 We hope to tell the good news to people in places beyond where you are. But we will not say good things about ourselves as a result of work that other people have done already. That is their proper work; it is not ours. v17 But, as it says in the *Old Testament:

                        ‘If a person says good and great things about anyone,

                                    they should speak only about the *Lord.

                        That person should say how good and great the *Lord is.’

                                                                                                [Jeremiah 9:24]

v18 If someone says good things about himself, that does not really matter. But if the *Lord says good things about a person, that does really matter. That means that the person has really done well.

Chapter 11

Paul explains how dangerous false teachers are

v1 Even if I seem to speak like a fool, please be patient with me. But you are being patient already! v2 I want you very much to continue being Christ’s, as God himself wants that, too. I have brought you to one husband, who is Christ. And I want you to be only Christ’s, like a good woman who has never had sex with any man. v3 But I am afraid that you might become like Eve. The snake told her things that were not true. And, because he was so clever, she believed him. And I am afraid that you might start to believe wrong ideas too. So then, as a result, you might stop believing and loving only Christ. v4 You are happy to listen to any other teachers who come to you. They might tell you about a different Jesus from the Jesus that we told you about. And you are happy to listen to them. You are happy to receive a different *spirit from the one that you received by us. You are happy to believe a different ‘good news’ from the one that you first believed.

v5 But I think that I am quite as good as those special teachers. I am not less able than those teachers that you enjoy listening to so much. v6 Perhaps I do not speak as well as they speak. But certainly, I do know what I am speaking about. We have made this very clear to you in every way and in all things.

v7 When I told you the good news from God, I never asked you to pay me anything. I made myself less important so that you could be more important. I do not think that I was wrong to do that. v8 Other groups of believers gave money to me so that I could work among you. Perhaps I could say that I was robbing them. I was robbing them so that I could help you. v9 When I was present with you, I never asked anyone to give anything to me. Even when I needed something, I still did not ask you to give anything to me. Instead, the believers who came from Macedonia helped me. They supplied everything that I needed. I was very careful never to ask you for anything that I needed. And I will continue to be careful like that, so that I will never be any trouble to you. v10 As certainly as Christ’s true message is in me, nothing will stop me saying these true things about myself. Nothing anywhere, in all of Achaia, will stop me. v11 I love you. That is the reason that nothing will stop me. And God knows that I love you.

v12 I will continue to do the things that I am doing now. Then there will be no chance for those other teachers to say great things about themselves. They want a chance to say that they do the same work as us. They want everyone to think that they themselves are quite like us. v13 But those people are false teachers. They say things about their work that are not true. They want people to believe that they are really Christ’s special workers and teachers. v14 And that should not surprise you! Even *Satan can make himself seem like an *angel who belongs to the light. v15 So, it should not surprise you if *Satan’s servants make themselves seem good also. They can make themselves seem to be good and right, like God’s servants. But God will *punish them in the end as a result of the bad things that they do.

Paul describes all the troubles and pain that he has had as Christ’s servant

v16 I say again: nobody should think that I am a fool. But even if you do think that, still listen to me. Listen to me as you would listen to a fool. So then I may say a few good things about myself. v17 I am not saying what the *Lord has told me to say. Instead, I am talking like a fool when I say these good things certainly about myself. v18 There are so many people who say good things about themselves. They speak about the reasons why they themselves are so important as human people. So, I will say things like that about myself too.

v19 You think that you yourselves are so very clever! You think that you understand so very much! So, you are happy to listen to fools. v20 You listen to anyone who wants to make you like slaves. You listen to anyone who uses you for his own wrong purposes. You listen to anyone who makes you believe wrong things. You listen to anyone who makes himself seem much more important than you. You listen to anyone who hits you in your face. v21 I am ashamed to say that I was too weak to do things like that to you.

But if anyone else is brave enough to say good things about himself, I will be brave enough also. But now I am talking like a fool! v22 Those other teachers may say that they are *Jews. And I am a *Jew also. They may say that they belong to Israel’s people. And I belong to Israel’s people also. They may say that they belong to Abraham’s family. And I belong to Abraham’s family also. v23 They may say that they are Christ’s servants. (I speak like a fool.) But I am a better servant than they are. I have worked much more than they have worked. I have been in prisons more often than they have been in prisons. I could not begin to count how many times people have hit me. I have nearly died many times.

v24 At five different times, the *Jews hit me with a stick 39 times. v25 Other people hit me with sticks three times. People threw stones at me to kill me once. Three times I have been on ships that broke in the sea. Once I was in the sea for a night and a day. v26 I have travelled very much. I have been in danger from rivers and from people who rob. I have been in danger from my own people and from other people, who do not know God. I have been in danger in cities and in country places. I have been in danger on the sea. And I have been in danger from people who said that they were Christ’s. But those people were not really Christ’s.

v27 I have worked very much, so that I have been very, very tired. Many times I have not slept. Many times I have been hungry and I have had nothing to drink. Many times I have had no food and I have been cold and without clothes. v28 All these troubles have happened to me. But also, every day I think about all the groups of believers, because they matter so much to me. v29 When one of these believers is weak, then I feel weak too. When something causes one of them to do something wrong, then I am very sad and angry about it.

v30 If I must say good things about myself, I will speak only about my own weakness. I will speak only about things that show my weakness. v31 I am saying only true things. And the God and Father of the *Lord Jesus, whom everyone should thank always, knows that. v32 When I was in Damascus, the ruler of that city sent soldiers to look for me. The soldiers were round the city and they were trying to catch me. The ruler of the city was under the authority of Aretas, who was king. v33 But I got away from the ruler of the city. I got away in a basket. Some friends put the basket through a window and they let it go down the wall to the ground.

Chapter 12

God has shown Paul special things in *heaven

v1 I must say more things about myself, even if I am a fool to say them. But I will tell you about some of the special, secret things that the *Lord has shown to me. v2 I know a man who is united with Christ. Fourteen (14) years ago, God took this man up to the highest *heaven. I do not know whether this man was still in his body. I do not know whether he was out of his body. Only God knows. v3-4 I know that God took this man up to *heaven. I do not know whether this man was still in his body or not. Only God knows. And when this man was in *heaven, he heard special, secret things. He heard things that no words could ever describe. God will not let any human person speak about those things.

v5 I will say good things about a man like that. But I will not say good things about myself. I will speak only about the things that show my own weakness. v6 If I did want to say good things about myself, I would not be a fool. No, because I would be saying true things. But I will not say good things about myself, because I want everyone to think properly about me. I do not want anyone to think better things about me than what they themselves see or hear.

God himself makes us strong when we are weak

v7 God showed me so many things that were very great and special. But he did not want me to start thinking, as a result, that I myself was too great or special. So, he let me have something sharp and painful in my body, to stop me from thinking like that. This painful thing is an *angel from *Satan, that he sent to hurt me. v8 I asked the *Lord three times to take this painful thing away from me. v9 But he said to me: ‘I myself will help you and I will make you strong. I am everything that you need. When you are weak, then I will be powerful in you. Then I will show more completely how powerful I myself am.’

So, I am very happy to speak about how weak I am. When I am weak, then Christ’s *power stays over me. v10 That is why I am very happy to be weak. I am happy when people say bad things about me. Sometimes I do not have things that I need. But I am happy then too. I am happy when people cause trouble and pain for me. I am happy when I am in difficulties. I am happy about these things because of Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul is afraid about what the believers at Corinth might do

v11 I am speaking like a fool but you have made me do it. You yourselves ought to be saying good things about me. You enjoy listening to those other special teachers. But even if I am nothing, I am quite as good as those teachers. v12 When I was there with you, I was very patient. I did many things to show certainly that God had sent me to be a special worker and teacher. I did powerful things that surprised you. You knew that only God could make me do things like that. v13 You were never less important to me than all the other groups of believers. I myself never asked you to give anything to me. That was because I did not want to be any trouble to you. But you should not feel less important because of that. You should not think that I did something wrong to you!

v14 This is the third time now that I am ready to visit you. I will not ask you to give anything to me. I do not want the things that are yours. Instead, I want you yourselves. Children should not have to supply what their parents need. No, but instead, parents should supply what their children need. v15 I will be very happy to give everything that I have to you. I will be happy to give myself also, because I want so very much to help you. Perhaps I love you much more than I should love you. But I hope that you will not love me less because of that.

v16 You must agree that I did not ask you for anything. But some of you say that I was not honest with you. I was clever and, like fools, you believed me. That is what some of you say. v17 I sent people to you. But I did not use any of them to get anything from you for myself. v18 I asked Titus to visit you, because I wanted him very much to do that. And I sent another friend, who is also a believer, with him. But certainly, you could not say that Titus used you to get anything for himself. And I had the same good purpose as Titus. We both wanted the same good things for you. The same Spirit led both of us.

v19 Perhaps you think like this about us. All the time, we have been trying to show you how right we ourselves are. Perhaps this is what you think. But we are not doing that. We have been speaking as people who are united with Christ. And we know that God sees us always. Our friends that we love, we want only to help you. Everything that we do is to help you. That is so that you become stronger. v20 I am hoping to see good things when I come there to visit you. I know what kind of people I want you to be. But I am afraid that you might be different from that. You might not be as I wanted you to be. Also, I might be different from what you wanted me to be.

I am afraid that you might be quarrelling. Some of you might not be happy about what other people have got. You might be angry with each other. Some of you might be enemies because you want to be better than each other. You might be saying bad things about each other. Some of you might be thinking that you are more important than other people. You might not be agreeing, nor doing things properly. I am afraid that I might discover all these things about you.

v21 I am afraid about something else also. The next time that I come to visit you, perhaps my God will cause me to feel ashamed about you. And so, I will be sad and I will weep. Many people among you did wrong things before. But still, those people are not sorry about those wrong things. So, I will be sad because of those people. Many people among you have done bad, dirty things with their bodies. They have had sex with people who were not their own wife or husband. They have wanted very much to do wrong things like that. But they have not turned away from those things.

Chapter 13

Paul is ready to be angry with the Christians at Corinth

v1 This is the third time that I will be coming to visit you. Remember this: ‘There must be two or three people to say certainly that another person has done something wrong. Two or three people must agree about the facts.’ [Deuteronomy 19:15] v2 I am speaking now to you people who did wrong things before. I am speaking also to all the other people. I said this before, when I visited you the second time. And I say it again now, while I am away from you. When I visit you again, I will make you feel sorry. I will make everyone who has done wrong things feel sorry. I will not try to be kind to anyone who has done wrong things.

v3 You are demanding to know certainly that Christ speaks by me. So, I will cause you to know that certainly. When Christ works in you, he is not weak. No, but he does powerful things among you. v4 Certainly, Christ was weak when people killed him on the cross. But he lives by God’s *power. And, because we are united with him, we are weak too. But, by God’s *power, we will live with him so that we are strong to work among you.

v5 Think carefully about how you yourselves are living. Ask yourselves whether you are really believing Christ. Decide certainly about yourselves. You ought to know that Jesus Christ is in you. You ought to know this, unless you do not really belong to him. v6 I hope that you will be sure about us. We do really belong to Jesus Christ. I hope that you will know that.

v7 Now we pray to God that you will do nothing wrong. We do not pray this to show good things about ourselves. We only want you to do what is right. We want that, even if we seem to have failed. v8 We can only work on behalf of what is true. We cannot do anything against what is true. v9 We are happy when we are weak. If our weakness helps you to be strong, then we are happy. We want you to become completely as God wants you to be. We pray for that also.

v10 I am writing these things to you while I am away from you. So then, when I arrive, I will not need to be angry with you. I will not have to use my authority to *punish you. The *Lord gave this authority to me so that I could help you to become stronger. He did not give it to me so that I could destroy you.

v11 And now I say ‘goodbye’ to you, my friends. Try to do only good things. Listen to the things that I am asking you to do. Agree with each other. Do not quarrel, but instead try to be friends with everyone. Then the God who loves will be with you. The God who causes us to be without trouble inside ourselves will be with you. v12 Say ‘hello’ to each other with a friendly kiss because you are God’s people. v13 All God’s people here say ‘hello’ to you. v14 I pray that the *Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to you. I pray that you will love God and each other as God loves you. And I pray that God’s Spirit will cause you to be united.

Word List

AD ~ AD 50 means the year that was 50 years after Jesus came, and so on.

agreement ~ when two or more people, or God and people, agree about certain things.

angel ~ *spirit *being. Good angels come from God’s home beyond the earth. They are God’s servants and they bring messages from God to people.

being ~ a person or animal that is alive.

clay ~ sticky material from the ground that people use to make pots.

comfort ~ to help someone to be strong when they have trouble or pain, or when they are sad.

Devil ~ the bad *spirit who wants to be God. He is the ruler of bad *angels and of all that is bad. He is the enemy of Christians.

forgive ~ when God (or another person) chooses to forget the wrong things that we do.

heaven ~ the place beyond the earth where God and Jesus Christ live.

Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.

Lord ~ master. Another name for God. It means that he is greater than everyone else.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, that describes events before Jesus’ life on earth.

power ~ what someone is able to do. Human power includes everything that we can think or do by ourselves, without God’s help.

punish ~ to hurt someone, or to cause trouble for them, because they have done bad things.

Satan ~ another name for the *Devil.

spirit ~ a *being that is always alive, even without a body. A person’s spirit is the part of them that will always be alive. It will be alive even after their body is dead. There are good spirits, like God’s Spirit and his *angels. And there are bad spirits, like *Satan and his *angels.

tent ~ a house that people have made out of cloth or animals’ skins. People can move a tent to different places.

weapon ~ something that people use to fight with.

Book List

A. Marshall ~ The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament

Various Bible versions

 

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Book 47	2 Corinthians

King James Version

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001:001	Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
001:002	Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
001:003	Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
001:004	Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
001:005	For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
001:006	And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
001:007	And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
001:008	For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
001:009	But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
001:010	Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
001:011	Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
001:012	For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
001:013	For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
001:014	As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
001:015	And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
001:016	And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
001:017	When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
001:018	But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
001:019	For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
001:020	For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
001:021	Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
001:022	Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
001:023	Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
001:024	Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

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002:001	But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
002:002	For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
002:003	And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
002:004	For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
002:005	But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
002:006	Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
002:007	So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
002:008	Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
002:009	For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
002:010	To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
002:011	Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
002:012	Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
002:013	I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
002:014	Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
002:015	For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
002:016	To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
002:017	For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

---

003:001	Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
003:002	Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
003:003	Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
003:004	And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
003:005	Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
003:006	Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
003:007	But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
003:008	How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
003:009	For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
003:010	For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
003:011	For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
003:012	Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
003:013	And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
003:014	But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
003:015	But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
003:016	Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
003:017	Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
003:018	But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

---

004:001	Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
004:002	But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
004:003	But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
004:004	In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
004:005	For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
004:006	For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
004:007	But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
004:008	We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
004:009	Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
004:010	Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
004:011	For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
004:012	So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
004:013	We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
004:014	Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
004:015	For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
004:016	For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
004:017	For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
004:018	While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

---

005:001	For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
005:002	For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
005:003	If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
005:004	For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
005:005	Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
005:006	Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
005:007	(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
005:008	We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
005:009	Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
005:010	For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
005:011	Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
005:012	For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
005:013	For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
005:014	For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
005:015	And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
005:016	Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
005:017	Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
005:018	And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
005:019	To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
005:020	Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
005:021	For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

---

006:001	We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
006:002	(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
006:003	Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
006:004	But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
006:005	In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
006:006	By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
006:007	By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
006:008	By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
006:009	As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
006:010	As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
006:011	O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
006:012	Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
006:013	Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
006:014	Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
006:015	And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
006:016	And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for 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 their God, and they shall be my people.
006:017	Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
006:018	And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

---

007:001	Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
007:002	Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
007:003	I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
007:004	Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
007:005	For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
007:006	Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
007:007	And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
007:008	For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
007:009	Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
007:010	For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
007:011	For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
007:012	Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
007:013	Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
007:014	For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
007:015	And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
007:016	I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

---

008:001	Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
008:002	How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
008:003	For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
008:004	Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
008:005	And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
008:006	Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
008:007	Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
008:008	I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
008:009	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 be rich.
008:010	And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
008:011	Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
008:012	For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
008:013	For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
008:014	But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
008:015	As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
008:016	But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
008:017	For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
008:018	And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
008:019	And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
008:020	Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
008:021	Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
008:022	And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
008:023	Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
008:024	Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

---

009:001	For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
009:002	For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
009:003	Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
009:004	Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
009:005	Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
009:006	But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
009:007	Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
009:008	And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
009:009	(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
009:010	Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
009:011	Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
009:012	For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
009:013	Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
009:014	And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
009:015	Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

---

010:001	Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
010:002	But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
010:003	For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
010:004	(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
010:005	Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
010:006	And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
010:007	Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
010:008	For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
010:009	That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
010:010	For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
010:011	Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
010:012	For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
010:013	But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
010:014	For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
010:015	Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
010:016	To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
010:017	But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
010:018	For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

---

011:001	Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
011:002	For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
011:003	But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
011:004	For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
011:005	For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
011:006	But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
011:007	Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
011:008	I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
011:009	And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
011:010	As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
011:011	Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
011:012	But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
011:013	For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
011:014	And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
011:015	Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
011:016	I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
011:017	That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
011:018	Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
011:019	For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
011:020	For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
011:021	I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
011:022	Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
011:023	Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
011:024	Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
011:025	Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
011:026	In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
011:027	In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
011:028	Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
011:029	Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
011:030	If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
011:031	The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
011:032	In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
011:033	And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

---

012:001	It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
012:002	I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
012:003	And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
012:004	How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
012:005	Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
012:006	For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
012:007	And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
012:008	For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
012:009	And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
012:010	Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
012:011	I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
012:012	Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
012:013	For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
012:014	Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
012:015	And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
012:016	But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
012:017	Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
012:018	I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
012:019	Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
012:020	For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
012:021	And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

---

013:001	This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
013:002	I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
013:003	Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
013:004	For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth 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.
013:005	Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
013:006	But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
013:007	Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
013:008	For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
013:009	For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
013:010	Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
013:011	Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
013:012	Greet one another with an holy kiss.
013:013	All the saints salute you.
013:014	The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

---

 

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Note: Chapter topic headings from "The Holman Illustrated Study Bible"; Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A. ISBN: 978-1-58640-275-4.

 

 

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