2 Corinthians 1:12-7:16

New Catholic Bible

Apostle by the Power of Jesus and for Jesus^[a]

A Visit Not Made^[b]

¹² You Are Our Boast. Indeed, this is our boast: the testimony of our conscience that in our dealings with the world, and especially with you, we have conducted ourselves with simplicity and godly sincerity, depending not on worldly wisdom but on the grace of God. ¹³ For we write nothing to you that you cannot read and comprehend. It is my hope that you will come to understand fully, ¹⁴ as you have already understood in part, that on the day of the Lord Jesus we will have as much reason to boast of you as you will have reason to boast of us.

¹⁵ Our Language Is Not “Yes” and “No.”^[c] So certain am I of this that I had originally intended to come to you first of all and thereby reward you with a double benefit. ¹⁶ I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then to come to you again on my return from Macedonia and have you send me forth to Judea.

¹⁷ Since that was my original intention, was I being impulsive, or do you believe that my plans are based on human considerations, ready to say “Yes, Yes” and “No, No” at the same time? ¹⁸ As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ The Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, that is, by Silvanus^[d] and Timothy and me, was not a mixture of “Yes” and “No.” He was never anything but “Yes.”

²⁰ In him is the “Yes” to every one of the promises of God. Indeed, it is through him that we say “Amen” to give glory to God. ²¹ However, it is God who enables both us and you to stand firm in Christ. He has anointed us ²² and marked us with his seal and given us the Spirit in our hearts, as a down payment of what is to come.

²³ The Delay Was Intended Merely To Spare Them.^[e] I call upon God as a witness that it was only to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. ²⁴ We do not wish to lord it over your faith, but to work together with you for your joy, because you are standing firm in your faith.

Chapter 2

¹ Therefore, I made up my mind not to have you endure another painful visit. ² For if I cause you pain, then who would be there to cheer me up aside from you whom I offended? ³ And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not suffer distress from those who should have made me rejoice. I know all of you well enough to be certain that we both share the same joy. ⁴ It was with great distress and anguish of heart and many tears that I wrote to you, not to grieve you but to let you know how abundant is the love I have for you.

Forgiveness for the Offender. ⁵ If anyone has caused distress, he has done so not only to me but to some extent—not to exaggerate—to all of you. ⁶ The punishment that was imposed by the majority was appropriate. ⁷ But now you should forgive and encourage him so that he may not be overwhelmed by the burden of his distress. ⁸ Therefore, I urge you to reassure him of your love.

⁹ I wrote to you to test your obedience in all matters. ¹⁰ Anyone whom you forgive I forgive as well. Whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I have done for your sake in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that we may avoid being outwitted by Satan, for we are not unaware of his schemes.

¹² Paul’s Anguish.^[f] When I came to Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, and a door of opportunity was opened for me in the Lord, ¹³ my mind knew no relief because I could not find my brother Titus in that place. And so I said farewell to them and moved on to Macedonia.

Greatness and Weakness of the Apostles^[g]

¹⁴ Ambassadors of God. But thanks be to God, for he brings us to victory in Christ and through us he manifests the fragrance of the knowledge of him throughout the world. ¹⁵ We are indeed the aroma of Christ to God both among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: ¹⁶ to the latter, the odor of death that leads to death; to the former, a fragrance of life leading to life.

Who is truly qualified for such a task? ¹⁷ For we are not like so many others who adulterate the word of God for profit. When we speak, we do so in Christ and in all sincerity, as men sent from God and standing in God’s presence.

Chapter 3

A Letter from God.^{[h] 1} Are we beginning once again to commend ourselves to you? Surely, as is true in some cases, we do not need letters of recommendation to you or from you. ² You yourselves are our letter, one that is written on our hearts, so that it may be known and read by all. ³ And you make it clear that you are a letter from Christ entrusted to our care, a letter written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and written not on tablets of stone^[i] but on tablets of the human heart.

⁴ Such is the complete confidence in God that we have through Christ. ⁵ Obviously, we are not competent of ourselves to take credit for anything as coming from us. Our competence comes from God ⁶ who has empowered us to be the ministers of a new covenant, not written but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Ministers of a New Covenant.^{[j] 7} Now if the ministry of death, engraved with letters on stone, was so glorious that the Israelites could not fix their glance on the face of Moses because of its glory, a glory that would soon fade, ⁸ how much greater will be the glory of the ministry of the Spirit?

⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much richer in glory will be the ministry of righteousness! ¹⁰ Indeed, what was once glorious is now without any glory in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ For if what was destined to fade away was glorious, how much greater will be the glory of that which endures!

¹² The Lord Is the Spirit.^[k] Therefore, since we have such hope, we can act with complete confidence, ¹³ and not like Moses who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites could not observe the radiance that was fading away. ¹⁴ However, their minds were hardened. Even to this very day, the same veil remains unlifted during the reading of the old covenant,^[l] since only in Christ is it set aside. ¹⁵ Indeed, to this very day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts.

¹⁶ However, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. ¹⁷ Now this Lord is the Spirit,^[m] and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And as we gaze upon the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, all of us are being transformed into that same image from glory to glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Chapter 4

The Gospel of the Glory of Christ.^{[n] 1} Therefore, since we are engaged in this ministry through the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced all shameful and hidden ways. We do not engage in deception or falsify the word of God. By stating the truth in an open manner, we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.

³ If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, ⁴ those unbelievers whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world to prevent them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

⁵ We do not proclaim ourselves. Rather we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus. ⁶ For the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has enabled his light to shine in our hearts in order to enlighten them with the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The State of an Apostle.^{[o] 7} However, we hold this treasure in earthen vessels so that it may be clear that this immense power belongs to God and does not derive from us. ⁸ We are afflicted on all sides but not crushed, bewildered but not sunk in despair, ⁹ persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.

¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For in our lives we are constantly being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. ¹² As a result, death is at work in us, but life in you.

¹³ Therefore, since we have that spirit of faith about which it has been written: “I believed, and therefore I spoke,” we also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴ For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us side by side with you into his presence. ¹⁵ Indeed, everything is for your sake, so that the grace that is abundantly bestowed on more and more people may cause thanksgiving to superabound, to the glory of God.

¹⁶ An Eternal Dwelling in Heaven. Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outer self is continuing to decay, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ Our temporary light afflictions are preparing for us an incomparable weight of eternal glory, ¹⁸ for our eyes are fixed not on what is seen but rather on that which cannot be seen. What is visible is transitory; what is invisible is eternal.

Chapter 5

¹ Now we know that if the earthly tent in which we live is destroyed, we have a dwelling prepared for us by God, a dwelling in the heavens, not made with human hands, that will be eternal. ² While we are in this earthly tent, we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling; ³ for when we have put it on, we will not be naked.^[p]

⁴ While we are enclosed in this earthly tent we groan, burdened because we do not wish to be stripped naked but rather to be further clothed, so that our mortal state may be swallowed up by immortality. ⁵ God is the one who has prepared us for this destiny, and he has given us the Spirit as a pledge of this.

⁶ Therefore, we are always confident, even though we realize that as long as we are at home in the body, we are exiles from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ Yet we are filled with confidence, even as we long to be exiled from the body and be at home with the Lord.

⁹ For this reason, whether at home or away, we strive to please him. ¹⁰ For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive suitable recompense for his conduct in the body, whether good or bad.

¹¹ Well Known to God. And so, with this fear of the Lord always foremost in our thoughts, we try to persuade others. We ourselves are well known to God, and I hope we are also well known to your consciences. ¹² We are not once again commending ourselves to you, but we are rather affording you an opportunity to boast about us. Then you will have an answer to those who boast of external appearances and not the heart. ¹³ If, indeed, we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are rational, it is for your sake.

¹⁴ The Ministry of Reconciliation. For the love of Christ urges us forward, once we conclude that one has died for all, and therefore all have died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sakes died and was raised to life.

¹⁶ Therefore, from now on we will not regard anyone according to human standards. Even though we once judged Christ from a human point of view,^[q] we no longer do so. ¹⁷ Consequently, anyone united to Christ is a new creation. The old order has passed away. Behold, all has become new.

¹⁸ All this has been done by God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. ¹⁹ In other words, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, and not holding people’s transgressions against them, and he committed to us the message of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is appealing to you through us. We implore you through Christ to be reconciled to God. ²¹ He made him who did not know sin to be sin for our sake, so that through him we might become the righteousness of God.^[r]

Chapter 6

¹ As his coworkers, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For he says,

Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.^[s]

Ministers of God. ³ We avoid placing obstacles in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. ⁴ On the contrary, in everything we do we present ourselves as ministers of God: in steadfast perseverance; in afflictions, hardships, and distress; ⁵ in floggings, imprisonments, and riots; in labors, sleepless nights, and fasts; ⁶ in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in holiness of spirit, genuine love, ⁷ truthfulness, and the power of God.

We wield weapons of righteousness with right hand and left,^{[t] 8} in times of honor or dishonor, praise or insult. We are regarded as impostors, and yet we speak the truth; ⁹ as unknown men, and nevertheless we are well known; as dying, and behold we live on; as scourged, but we are not put to death; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, and yet we are always rejoicing; as poor, and yet we make many rich;^[u] as having nothing, and yet we possess everything.

Relations Have Been Established^[v]

¹¹ Paul’s Heart Is Wide Open. O Corinthians, we have spoken frankly to you, and we have opened our heart to you. ¹² We are not withholding our love from you, but you have withheld yours from us. ¹³ I speak to you as my children. In return, also open wide your hearts to us.

¹⁴ What Relation Can There Be between Righteousness and Iniquity? Do not associate with unbelievers.^[w] For what basis can there be for a partnership between righteousness and lawlessness? What do light and darkness have in common? ¹⁵ Can Christ ever be in accord with Beliar?^[x] What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ Can there be an agreement between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God, and for this we have God’s word:

Chapter 7

¹ Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from anything that can defile flesh or spirit, and thereby make our holiness perfect in the fear of God.

Trust Reestablished. ² Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. ³ I do not say this to condemn you, for I have already told you that your place in our hearts is secure, so that we will live together and we will die together. ⁴ I have great confidence in you, and I boast about you with intense pride. Despite all of our afflictions, I am greatly encouraged and overflowing with joy.

^5 [y]Even when we arrived in Macedonia, we were unable to rest our bodies, for we were afflicted in every way: conflicts on the outside and fears on the inside. ⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus— ⁷ and not merely by his arrival but also by the encouragement he received from you. He told us of your longing for me, your deep regrets, and your zeal for me, all of which cause me even greater joy.

⁸ Even if I did cause you sorrow with my letter, I do not regret it. I did regret this letter briefly, but, having come to realize that you were sorrowful only for a short time, ⁹ I now am able to rejoice, not because you were grieved but because your sorrow led to repentance. For you were sorrowful in a godly way and so received no harm because of us. ¹⁰ Such godly sorrow results in repentance that leads to salvation and causes no regret, whereas worldly sorrow produces death.

¹¹ For see what earnestness this godly sorrow has produced for you, what eagerness to repent, what indignation, what fear, what yearning, what zeal, what desire to see justice done. In every way, you have proved your innocence in this matter.

¹² Therefore, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who committed the offense or on account of the one who was wronged, but rather that you should be fully aware of your zeal for us in the sight of God. ¹³ In this we have been greatly encouraged.

In addition to being encouraged ourselves, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been completely refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴ Anything I may have said to him in boasting about you has not caused me to feel ashamed. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved equally true. ¹⁵ And his affection for you grows even more as he recalls the obedience of all of you and how you welcomed him in fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I rejoice because I can rely completely on you.