2 Corinthians 2:14–7:4

14  But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in the Christ, and makes manifest the odour of his knowledge through us in every place. 15  For we are a sweet odour of Christ to God, in the saved and in those that perish: 16  to the one an odour from death unto death, but to the others an odour from life unto life; and who is sufficient for these things? 17  For we do not, as the many, make a trade of the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, before God, we speak in Christ.

Chapter 3

1  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or do we need, as some, commendatory letters to you, or commendatory from you? 2  Ye are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read of all men, 3  being manifested to be Christ’s epistle ministered by us, written, not with ink, but the Spirit of the living God; not on stone tables, but on fleshy tables of the heart. 4  And such confidence have we through the Christ towards God: 5  not that we are competent of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our competency is of God;

6  who has also made us competent, as ministers of the new covenant; not of letter, but of spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens. 7  (But if the ministry of death, in letters, graven in stones, began with glory, so that the children of Israel could not fix their eyes on the face of Moses, on account of the glory of his face, a glory which is annulled; 8  how shall not rather the ministry of the Spirit subsist in glory? 9  For if the ministry of condemnation be glory, much rather the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory. 10  For also that which was glorified is not glorified in this respect, on account of the surpassing glory. 11  For if that annulled was introduced with glory, much rather that which abides subsists in glory.

12  Having therefore such hope, we use much boldness: 13  and not according as Moses put a veil on his own face, so that the children of Israel should not fix their eyes on the end of that annulled. 14  But their thoughts have been darkened, for unto this day the same veil remains in reading the old covenant, unremoved, which in Christ is annulled. 15  But unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil lies upon their heart. 16  But when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.) 17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, but where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18  But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit.

Chapter 4

1  Therefore, having this ministry, as we have had mercy shewn us, we faint not. 2  But we have rejected the hidden things of shame, not walking in deceit, nor falsifying the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God. 3  But if also our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those that are lost; 4  in whom the god of this world has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine forth for them. 5  For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus Lord, and ourselves your bondmen for Jesus’ sake. 6  Because it is the God who spoke that out of darkness light should shine who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:

8  every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up; 9  persecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed; 10  always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body; 11  for we who live are always delivered unto death on account of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh; 12  so that death works in us, but life in you. 13  And having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I have believed, therefore have I spoken; we also believe, therefore also we speak; 14  knowing that he who has raised the Lord Jesus shall raise us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15  For all things are for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16  Wherefore we faint not; but if indeed our outward man is consumed, yet the inward is renewed day by day. 17  For our momentary and light affliction works for us in surpassing measure an eternal weight of glory; 18  while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are for a time, but those that are not seen eternal.

Chapter 5

1  For we know that if our earthly tabernacle house be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2  For indeed in this we groan, ardently desiring to have put on our house which is from heaven; 3  if indeed being also clothed we shall not be found naked. 4  For indeed we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; while yet we do not wish to be unclothed, but clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5  Now he that has wrought us for this very thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit. 6  Therefore we are always confident, and know that while present in the body we are absent from the Lord, 7  (for we walk by faith, not by sight;) 8  we are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. 9  Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent, to be agreeable to him. 10  For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body, according to those he has done, whether it be good or evil. 11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men, but have been manifested to God, and I hope also that we have been manifested in your consciences.

12  For we do not again commend ourselves to you, but we are giving to you occasion of boast in our behalf, that ye may have such with those boasting in countenance, and not in heart. 13  For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God; or are sober, it is for you. 14  For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died; 15  and he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them and has been raised.

16  So that we henceforth know no one according to flesh; but if even we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we know him thus no longer. 17  So if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new: 18  and all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation: 19  how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their offences; and putting in us the word of that reconciliation. 20  We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as it were beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God. 21  Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God’s righteousness in him.

Chapter 6

1  But as fellow-workmen, we also beseech that ye receive not the grace of God in vain: 2  (for he says, I have listened to thee in an accepted time, and I have helped thee in a day of salvation: behold, now is the well-accepted time; behold, now the day of salvation:) 3  giving no manner of offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; 4  but in everything commending ourselves as God’s ministers, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits, 5  in stripes, in prisons, in riots, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, 6  in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, 7  in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the arms of righteousness on the right hand and left, 8  through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, and true; 9  as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as disciplined, and not put to death; 10  as grieved, but always rejoicing; as poor, but enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

11  Our mouth is opened to you, Corinthians, our heart is expanded. 12  Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your affections; 13  but for an answering recompense, (I speak as to children,) let your heart also expand itself. 14  Be not diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? or what fellowship of light with darkness? 15  and what consent of Christ with Beliar, or what part for a believer along with an unbeliever? 16  and what agreement of God’s temple with idols? for ye are the living God’s temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people. 17  Wherefore come out from the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and touch not what is unclean, and I will receive you; 18  and I will be to you for a Father, and ye shall be to me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Chapter 7

1  Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God’s fear. 2  Receive us: we have injured no one, we have ruined no one, we have made gain of no one. 3  I do not speak for condemnation, for I have already said that ye are in our hearts, to die together, and live together. 4  Great is my boldness towards you, great my exulting in respect of you; I am filled with encouragement; I overabound in joy under all our affliction.