1 1 From Paul to the church in Corinth.
2 15-16 We who are saved smell good to God, just like Christ did.
But to those who die, we smell like death.
3 17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
4 3 If our gospel is hidden, it's hidden to those who are lost.
4 The god of this world has blinded the minds of nonbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of Christ.
18 We don't look at the things that can be seen. We look at the things that can't be seen.
5 7 We walk by faith, not by sight.
11 We know the terror of the Lord.
13 If we are insane, we are insane for God.
21 God made Jesus, who was without sin, into sin, to make us righteous.
6 11-12 Oh Corinthians, our mouths are open to you, our hearts are enlarged, and your bowels are straightened.
14 Don't associate with nonbelievers.
15 What business does Christ have with Belial?
17 God says, “Stay away from them and be separate. Don't touch the unclean thing.”
7 8 I made you sorry with a letter, but I don't repent, though I did repent.
11 You were sorry in a godly way, with great zeal and revenge!
8 14 Let there be an equality among you. If you have more than you need, give it to those in need. Then when you're in need, they will help you.
9 7 Give, but not grudgingly. God loves a cheerful giver!
13-15 Thank God for your liberal distribution to everyone.
10 5 Bring every thought into the captivity of obedience to Christ.
6 Be ready to take revenge on anyone who disobeys.
8 I’m not ashamed of boasting about the authority God has given me.
9 I'm not trying to terrify you with letters.
10 They say, “Paul's letters are powerful, but his presence is weak, and he isn't a good speaker.”
11 But when I'm there, I'll do what I say in my letters.
111 Bear with me a little in my folly.
2 I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy.
So I can present you as a virgin bride of Christ.
3 I worry that the serpent will trick you, as he did Eve.
4 When someone preaches another Jesus, Spirit, or gospel than the one I preached to you, you accept their preaching.
5 But I think I'm just as good as these super apostles.
6 I may not speak as well, but my knowledge is greater.
7 I didn't charge you for my preaching.
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages that they paid me, to serve you.
10 No one will stop me from this boasting.
13 They are deceitful workers, pretending to be the apostles of Christ.
14 And it's no wonder. Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Their end will be according to their works.
16 Don't think I'm a fool. But if you do, let me boast a little.
17 I'm not saying any of this for the Lord, I'm just foolishly boasting.
18 Many glory after the flesh, so I'll glory too.
19 You think you are wise, so you suffer fools gladly.
20 You let them enslave you, devour you, steal from you, and hit you on the face.
21 Well, I'm as bold as they are.
22 Are they Hebrews, Israelites, the seed of Abraham, well so am I?
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool.) I am more.
I've worked harder, been beaten and imprisoned more frequently, and I've often been in danger of death.
24 The Jews gave me 39 lashes five times.
25 I've been beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked three times, and spend a night and a day in the depths of the sea.
26 I've been endangered by robbers, countrymen, and heathens. In the city, wilderness, and at sea.
27 I've suffered pain, hunger, thirst, fasting, cold, and nakedness.
28 And I through it all I took care of the churches.
31 God has blessed me, knowing that I don't lie.
33 I even escaped through a window once in a basket while being lowered down a wall.
12 1 But I shouldn't glorify myself. Instead, I'll speak of visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man more than fourteen years ago, (either in the body or out of the body, I can't tell. God knows) who was caught up in the third heaven.
3-4 And I knew a man, (in the body or out of the body, I can't tell. God knows) who was caught up in paradise and heard unspeakable words, words which are against the law to utter.
6 I'd like to glory, but I won't be a fool.
7 To keep me from being exalted by revelations, God gave me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to constrain me.
8 I asked the Lord three times to remove it.
9 He said, “My grace is enough for you. My strength is perfect in weakness.”
11 I'm a fool for glorifying myself, but you made me do it.
You should have praised me, since I'm at least as good as those super apostles.
12 I did many signs, wonders, and mighty deeds among you.
13 And I didn't ask you to pay me for it.
14 I'm ready to come visit you a third time. I promise not to be a burden to you.
15 I'll gladly spend for you. Though the more I love you, the less you love me.
16 Anyway, I didn't burden you. But I tricked you with deceit.
20 I worry, though, that when I come, I'll find debates, envying, wrath, strife, backbiting, whisperings, swellings, and tumults.
21 You'll embarrass me before God with your fornication and indecent behavior.
13 1 I'm coming to visit you for the third time.
2 I told you before and I'm telling you again, I'll punish those of you who have sinned.
5 Test yourself to see if you are a reprobate. If you know for sure that Jesus Christ is in you, you're not a reprobate. Otherwise, you are.
11 Farewell. Be perfect. Agree with everyone about everything. Live in peace.
The God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet everyone with a holy kiss. Amen.
One of the most-quoted verses in the Bible. It is also one of the most absurd.
Donald Trump: "Two Corinthians, right?, 3:17. That's the whole ballgame."
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