Bible in 90 Days
Resurrection Essential to the Gospel
15 Now brothers, I want to clarify[a] for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand(A) on it. 2 You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed for no purpose.[b](B) 3 For I passed on to you(C) as most important what I also received:
that Christ died(D) for our sins
according to the Scriptures,(E)
4 that He was buried,(F)
that He was raised on the third day(G)
according to the Scriptures,(H)
5 and that He appeared to Cephas,(I)
then to the Twelve.(J)
6 Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time;(K)
most of them are still alive,
but some have fallen asleep.
7 Then He appeared to James,(L)
then to all the apostles.(M)
8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born,[c](N)
He also appeared to me.(O)
9 For I am the least of the apostles,(P) unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted(Q) the church of God. 10 But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God’s grace that was with me.(R) 11 Therefore, whether it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.
Resurrection Essential to the Faith
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,(S) how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”?(T) 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without foundation, and so is your faith.[d] 15 In addition, we are found to be false witnesses(U) about God, because we have testified(V) about God that He raised up Christ—whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ(W) have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.
Christ’s Resurrection Guarantees Ours
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits(X) of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death(Y) came through a man,(Z) the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.(AA) 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.(AB) 23 But each in his own order:(AC) Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end,(AD) when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father,(AE) when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power.(AF) 25 For He must reign(AG) until He puts all His enemies under His feet.(AH) 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.(AI) 27 For God has put everything under His feet.(AJ)[e] But when it says “everything” is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception. 28 And when everything is subject to Christ, then the Son(AK) Himself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.(AL)
Resurrection Supported by Christian Experience
29 Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?[f] 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I affirm by the pride in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: I die every day!(AM) 32 If I fought wild animals in Ephesus(AN) with only human hope,[g] what good did that do me?[h](AO) If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.(AP)[i] 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”[j] 34 Come to your senses[k](AQ) and stop sinning, for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.(AR)
The Nature of the Resurrection Body
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” 36 Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life(AS) unless it dies. 37 And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed,[l] perhaps of wheat or another grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He wants,(AT) and to each of the seeds its own body. 39 Not all flesh(AU) is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor(AV) of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. 41 There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for one star differs from another star in splendor. 42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead:
Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption;(AW)
43 sown in dishonor,(AX) raised in glory;(AY)
sown in weakness, raised in power;(AZ)
44 sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being;(BA)[m] the last Adam(BB) became a life-giving Spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.
47 The first man was from the earth
and made of dust;(BC)
the second man is[n] from heaven.
48 Like the man made of dust,
so are those who are made of dust;
like the heavenly man,
so are those who are heavenly.(BD)
49 And just as we have borne
the image(BE) of the man made of dust,
we will also bear
the image of the heavenly man.(BF)
Victorious Resurrection
50 Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh(BG) and blood(BH) cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. 51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery:
We will not all fall asleep,
but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye,
at the last trumpet.(BI)
For the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we will be changed.
53 For this corruptible must be clothed(BJ)
with incorruptibility,(BK)
and this mortal must be clothed
with immortality.
54 When this corruptible is clothed
with incorruptibility,
and this mortal is clothed
with immortality,
then the saying that is written will take place:
Death has been swallowed up(BL) in victory.(BM)[o]
55 Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?(BN)[p]
56 Now the sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin(BO) is the law.(BP)
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory(BQ)
through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work,(BR) knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Collection for the Jerusalem Church
16 Now about the collection(BS) for the saints: You should do the same as I instructed the Galatian(BT) churches. 2 On the first day of the week,[q](BU) each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he prospers, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.(BV) 3 When I arrive, I will send with letters(BW) those you recommend to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.(BX) 4 If it is suitable for me to go as well, they can travel with me.
Paul’s Travel Plans
5 I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia(BY)—for I will be traveling through Macedonia— 6 and perhaps I will remain with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. 7 I don’t want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.(BZ) 8 But I will stay in Ephesus(CA) until Pentecost,(CB) 9 because a wide door(CC) for effective ministry has opened for me[r]—yet many oppose me. 10 If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear from you, because he is doing the Lord’s work,(CD) just as I am. 11 Therefore, no one should look down(CE) on him. Send him on his way in peace so he can come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.[s]
12 About our brother Apollos:(CF) I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity.
Final Exhortation
13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith,(CG) act like a man, be strong. 14 Your every action must be done with love.(CH)
15 Brothers, you know the household of Stephanas: They are the firstfruits(CI) of Achaia(CJ) and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you 16 also to submit to such people, and to everyone who works and labors with them. 17 I am pleased to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit(CK) and yours. Therefore recognize(CL) such people.
Conclusion
19 The churches of Asia(CM) greet you.(CN) Aquila and Priscilla(CO) greet you warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.(CP) 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.(CQ)
21 This greeting is in my own hand[t](CR)—Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Marana tha that is, Lord, come![u] 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.(CS) 24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,(CT) and Timothy(CU) our[v] brother:
To God’s church at Corinth,(CV) with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.(CW)
2 Grace to you and peace(CX) from God our Father(CY) and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The God of Comfort
3 Praise(CZ) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies(DA) and the God of all comfort.(DB) 4 He comforts us in all our affliction,[w] so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For as the sufferings(DC) of Christ(DD) overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.(DE) 6 If we are afflicted,(DF) it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.(DG) 7 And our hope(DH) for you is firm, because we know that as you share(DI) in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.
8 For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia:(DJ) we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength(DK)—so that we even despaired(DL) of life. 9 Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God(DM) who raises(DN) the dead. 10 He has delivered(DO) us from such a terrible death,(DP) and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again 11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our[x] behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.
A Clear Conscience
12 For this is our confidence: The testimony(DQ) of our conscience(DR) is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly[y] wisdom(DS) but by God’s grace.(DT) 13 Now we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely— 14 as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride,(DU) as you are ours,(DV) in the day of our[z] Lord Jesus.(DW)
A Visit Postponed
15 I planned with this confidence to come to you first,(DX) so you could have a double benefit,[aa] 16 and to go on to Macedonia(DY) with your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by you(DZ) on my journey(EA) to Judea.(EB) 17 So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human[ab](EC) way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” simultaneously? 18 As God is faithful,(ED) our message to you is not “Yes and no.” 19 For the Son of God,(EE) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus[ac](EF) and Timothy—did not become “Yes and no”; on the contrary, a final “Yes” has come in Him.(EG) 20 For every one of God’s promises(EH) is “Yes” in Him. Therefore, the “Amen”(EI) is also spoken through Him by us for God’s glory.(EJ) 21 Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed(EK) us. 22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment(EL) in our hearts.(EM)
23 I call on God as a witness,(EN) on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.(EO) 24 I do not mean that we have control of[ad] your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand(EP) by faith. 2 1 In fact, I made up my mind about this:[ae] I would not come to you on another painful visit.[af] 2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?[ag] 3 I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident(EQ) about all of you that my joy will also be yours. 4 For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.
A Sinner Forgiven
5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate(ER)—to all of you. 6 The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7 As a result, you should instead forgive(ES) and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 I wrote for this purpose: to test your character(ET) to see if you are obedient(EU) in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for you in the presence of Christ. 11 I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage(EV) of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.
A Trip to Macedonia
12 When I came to Troas(EW) to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door(EX) for me. 13 I had no rest(EY) in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus,(EZ) but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.(FA)
A Ministry of Life or Death
14 But thanks be to God,(FB) who always puts us on display[ah] in Christ[ai] and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.(FC) 15 For to God we are the fragrance(FD) of Christ among those who are being saved(FE) and among those who are perishing.(FF) 16 To some we are an aroma of death(FG) leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life(FH) leading to life. And who is competent for this? 17 For we are not like the many[aj] who market God’s message(FI) for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
Living Letters
3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, recognized and read by everyone.(FJ) 3 It is clear that you are Christ’s letter,(FK) produced[ak] by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God(FL)—not on stone tablets(FM) but on tablets that are hearts of flesh.(FN)
Paul’s Competence
4 We have this kind of confidence toward God through Christ. 5 It is not that we are competent in[al] ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God.(FO) 6 He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant,(FP) not of the letter,(FQ) but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life.
New Covenant Ministry
7 Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stones, came with glory,(FR) so that the Israelites were not able to look directly at Moses’ face because of the glory from his face—a fading glory— 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows with even more glory. 10 In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious now by comparison because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was fading away(FS) was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious.
12 Therefore, having such a hope,(FT) we use great boldness. 13 We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face(FU) so that the Israelites could not stare at the end of what was fading away, 14 but their minds were closed.[am](FV) For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant,(FW) the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ.(FX) 15 Even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, 16 but whenever a person turns(FY) to the Lord, the veil is removed.(FZ) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at[an](GA) the glory of the Lord(GB) and are being transformed(GC) into the same image(GD) from glory to glory;[ao] this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.[ap]
The Light of the Gospel
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy,(GE) we do not give up.(GF) 2 Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking(GG) in deceit or distorting God’s message,(GH) but commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in God’s sight by an open display of the truth.(GI) 3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this age(GJ) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,[aq](GK) who is the image of God.(GL) 5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,(GM) and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus. 6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”(GN) has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge(GO) of God’s glory(GP) in the face of Jesus Christ.
Treasure in Clay Jars
7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power(GQ) may be from God and not from us. 8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 10 We always carry the death of Jesus(GR) in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are always given over to death(GS) because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,(GT)[ar] we also believe, and therefore speak. 14 We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus(GU) and present us with you. 15 Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving(GV) to increase to God’s glory.
16 Therefore we do not give up.(GW) Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person(GX) is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary light affliction[as](GY) is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.(GZ) 18 So we do not focus on what is seen,(HA) but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Our Future after Death
5 For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling[at](HB) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling[au] in the heavens,(HC) not made with hands.(HD) 2 Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring(HE) to put on our dwelling from heaven, 3 since, when we are clothed,[av] we will not be found naked.(HF) 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality(HG) may be swallowed up by life. 5 And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith,(HH) not by sight,(HI) 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.(HJ) 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing(HK) to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the tribunal(HL) of Christ,(HM) so that each may be repaid(HN) for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.
11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,(HO) we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance[aw] rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind,(HP) it is for God; if we have a sound mind,(HQ) it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels[ax] us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all,(HR) then all died. 15 And He died for all(HS) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,(HT) but for the One(HU) who died for them and was raised.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
16 From now on, then, we do not know[ay] anyone in a purely human way.[az] Even if we have known[ba] Christ in a purely human way,[bb] yet now we no longer know[bc] Him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;(HV) old things have passed away, and look,(HW) new things[bd] have come.(HX) 18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:(HY) 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world(HZ) to Himself,(IA) not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors(IB) for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,(IC) “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin(ID) to be sin[be] for us,(IE) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
6 Working together[bf] with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 For He says:
Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.(IG)
The Character of Paul’s Ministry
3 We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed. 4 But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:
by great endurance, by afflictions,
by hardship, by difficulties,
5 by beatings, by imprisonments,(IH)
by riots, by labors,
by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,
6 by purity,(II) by knowledge,(IJ)
by patience,(IK) by kindness,(IL)
by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,(IM)
7 by the message of truth,(IN)
by the power of God;(IO)
through weapons of righteousness
on the right hand and the left,
8 through glory(IP) and dishonor,
through slander and good report;
as deceivers yet true;
9 as unknown yet recognized;
as dying and look—we live;
as being disciplined yet not killed;
10 as grieving yet always rejoicing;(IQ)
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken openly[bh] to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. 12 You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. 13 I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.
Separation to God
14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?(IR) Or what fellowship does light(IS) have with darkness?(IT) 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial?[bi] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols?(IU) For we[bj] are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:
I will dwell among them(IV)
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,(IW)
and they will be My people.(IX)[bk]
17 Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.(IY)[bl]
18 I will be a Father(IZ) to you,
and you will be sons(JA) and daughters to Me,
says the Lord Almighty.(JB)[bm]
7 Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises,(JC) let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit,(JD) completing our sanctification[bn] in the fear of God.(JE)
Joy and Repentance
2 Accept us.[bo] We have wronged no one, corrupted(JF) no one, defrauded no one. 3 I don’t say this to condemn you, for I have already said that you are in our hearts, to live together and to die together. 4 I have great confidence in you; I have great pride in you. I am filled with encouragement; I am overcome with joy in all our afflictions.
5 In fact, when we came into Macedonia,(JG) we[bp] had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts(JH) on the outside, fears(JI) inside. 6 But God, who comforts the humble,(JJ) comforted us by the arrival of Titus, 7 and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he received from you. He told us about your deep longing, your sorrow,[bq] and your zeal(JK) for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For even if I grieved you with my letter,(JL) I do not regret it—even though I did regret it since I saw that the letter grieved you, yet only for a little while. 9 Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.(JM) 11 For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure(JN) in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your diligence for us might be made plain to you in the sight of God. 13 For this reason we have been comforted.
In addition to our comfort, we rejoiced even more over the joy Titus(JO) had,[br] because his spirit was refreshed by all of you. 14 For if I have made any boast to him about you, I have not been embarrassed; but as I have spoken everything to you in truth,(JP) so our boasting to Titus has also turned out to be the truth. 15 And his affection toward you is even greater as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice that I have complete confidence in you.
Appeal to Complete the Collection
8 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches(JQ) of Macedonia:(JR) 2 During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.(JS) 3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, 4 they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing(JT) in the ministry to the saints, 5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will.(JU) 6 So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. 7 Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge,(JV) and in all diligence, and in your love for us[bs]—excel also in this grace.
8 I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich,(JW) for your sake He became poor,(JX) so that by His poverty you might become rich. 10 Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.[bt](JY) 11 But now finish the task[bu] as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.(JZ) 13 It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality[bv]— 14 at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality. 15 As it has been written:
The person who gathered much
did not have too much,
and the person who gathered little
did not have too little.(KA)[bw]
Administration of the Collection
16 Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. 18 We have sent with him the brother(KB) who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.[bx] 19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift[by] that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us. 21 For we are making provision(KC) for what is right,(KD) not only before the Lord but also before men. 22 We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner(KE) and coworker(KF) serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers(KG) of the churches, the glory of Christ.(KH) 24 Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting(KI) about you.
Motivations for Giving
9 Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. 2 For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians:[bz](KJ) “Achaia[ca](KK) has been prepared since last year,” and your zeal(KL) has stirred up most of them.(KM) 3 But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation.[cb] 5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift(KN) you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.(KO)
6 Remember this:[cc] The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves(KP) a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able(KQ) to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 9 As it is written:
10 Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.(KT) 11 You will be enriched(KU) in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. 12 For the ministry of this service(KV) is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. 13 They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of[ce] the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity(KW) in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service. 14 And they will have deep affection for[cf] you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
Paul’s Apostolic Authority
10 Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent. 2 I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are behaving in an unspiritual way.[cg](KX) 3 For though we live in the body,[ch] we do not wage war in an unspiritual way,[ci] 4 since the weapons of our warfare(KY) are not worldly,[cj] but are powerful(KZ) through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge(LA) of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. 6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience has been confirmed.
7 Look at what is obvious.[ck] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ,(LB) he should remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we. 8 For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up(LC) and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed. 9 I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. 10 For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his public speaking is despicable.” 11 Such a person should consider this: What we are in the words of our letters when absent, we will be in actions when present.
12 For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend(LD) themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves,(LE) they lack understanding.(LF) 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned(LG) to us, which reaches even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We are not bragging beyond measure about other people’s labors. But we have the hope(LH) that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may proclaim the good news to the regions beyond you,(LI) not boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry.(LJ) 17 So the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.(LK)[cl] 18 For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.(LL)
Paul and the False Apostles
11 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness(LM) from me. Yes, do put up with me.[cm] 2 For I am jealous(LN) over you with a godly jealousy,(LO) because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure(LP) virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the serpent(LQ) deceived(LR) Eve(LS) by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure[cn] devotion to Christ.(LT) 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus,(LU) whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit,(LV) which you had not received, or a different gospel,(LW) which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the “super-apostles.”(LX) 6 Though untrained in public speaking,(LY) I am certainly not untrained in knowledge.(LZ) Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything. 7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling(MA) myself so that you might be exalted,(MB) because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?(MC) 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. 9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia(MD) supplied my needs.(ME) I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped[co] in the regions of Achaia.(MF) 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!
12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny[cp] the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles,(MG) deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny[cq] will be according to their works.(MH)
Paul’s Sufferings for Christ
16 I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little. 17 What I say in this matter[cr] of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but foolishly. 18 Since many boast in an unspiritual way,[cs] I will also boast. 19 For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!(MI) 20 In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours(MJ) you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits(MK) you in the face. 21 I say this to our shame: We have been weak.
But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:
22 Are they Hebrews?(ML) So am I.
Are they Israelites? So am I.
Are they the seed of Abraham?(MM) So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ?
I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one:
with far more labors,
many more imprisonments,
far worse beatings, near death[ct] many times.
24 Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.(MN)
25 Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans.(MO)
Once I was stoned by my enemies.[cu](MP)
Three times I was shipwrecked.(MQ)
I have spent a night and a day
in the open sea.
26 On frequent journeys, I faced
dangers from rivers,
dangers from robbers,(MR)
dangers from my own people,(MS)
dangers from the Gentiles,
dangers in the city,
dangers in the open country,
dangers on the sea,
and dangers among false brothers;
27 labor and hardship,
many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst,
often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.(MT)
28 Not to mention[cv] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,(MU) and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. 31 The God and Father(MV) of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows I am not lying. 32 In Damascus,(MW) the governor under King Aretas[cw] guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me, 33 so I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.(MX)
Sufficient Grace
12 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions(MY) and revelations(MZ) of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up(NA) into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows. 3 I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows— 4 was caught up into paradise.(NB) He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak. 5 I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses. 6 For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth.(NC) But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, 7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh(ND) was given to me, a messenger[cx] of Satan(NE) to torment me so I would not exalt myself. 8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[cy](NF) is perfected in weakness.”(NG) Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ.(NH) For when I am weak, then I am strong.(NI)
Signs of an Apostle
11 I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.(NJ) 12 The signs(NK) of an apostle(NL) were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders(NM) and miracles.(NN) 13 So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
14 Now I am ready to come to you this third time.(NO) I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.[cz](NP) If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 Now granted, I have not burdened(NQ) you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!(NR) 17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent you? 18 I urged Titus(NS) to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit(NT) and in the same footsteps?
19 You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you.[da] No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.(NU) 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want;[db] there may be quarreling,(NV) jealousy,(NW) outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions,(NX) slander,(NY) gossip, arrogance, and disorder.(NZ) 21 I fear that when I come my God will again[dc] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented(OA) of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,(OB) and promiscuity(OC) they practiced.
Final Warnings and Exhortations
13 This is the third time I am coming to you.(OD) Every fact must be established by the testimony[dd] of two or three witnesses.(OE)[de] 2 I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning(OF) while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, 3 since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.(OG) He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. 4 In fact, He was crucified(OH) in weakness, but He lives(OI) by God’s power. For we also are weak in Him,(OJ) yet toward you we will live(OK) with Him by God’s power.
5 Test(OL) yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.[df] 6 And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,(OM) even though we may appear to fail. 8 For we are not able to do anything against the truth,(ON) but only for the truth. 9 In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.(OO) We also pray that you become fully mature.[dg] 10 This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up(OP) and not for tearing down.(OQ)
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind,(OR) be at peace,(OS) and the God of love(OT) and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(OU) All the saints greet you.
13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love(OV) of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.[dh](OW)
Greeting
1 Paul,(OX) an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father(OY) who raised Him from the dead(OZ)— 2 and all the brothers who are with me:
To the churches of Galatia.[di](PA)
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord[dj] Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins(PB) to rescue us from this present evil age,(PC) according to the will of our God and Father.(PD) 5 To whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
No Other Gospel
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called(PE) you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel,(PF) but there are some(PG) who are troubling you and want to change the good news[dk] about the Messiah. 8 But even if we or an angel(PH) from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you,(PI) a curse be on him![dl] 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received,(PJ) a curse be on him!
10 For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God?(PK) Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.
Paul Defends His Apostleship
11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on human thought.[dm] 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation(PL) from Jesus Christ.(PM)
13 For you have heard about my former way of life(PN) in Judaism:(PO) I persecuted(PP) God’s church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.(PQ) 15 But when God, who from my birth set me apart and called(PR) me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son(PS) in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.[dn] 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem(PT) to those who had become apostles(PU) before me; instead I went to Arabia(PV) and came back to Damascus.(PW)
18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem(PX) to get to know Cephas,[do](PY) and I stayed with him 15 days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James,(PZ) the Lord’s brother. 20 Now I am not lying in what I write to you. God is my witness.[dp]
21 Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria(QA) and Cilicia.(QB) 22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches in Christ; 23 they simply kept hearing: “He who formerly persecuted(QC) us now preaches the faith(QD) he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
Paul Defends His Gospel at Jerusalem
2 Then after 14 years I went up again(QE) to Jerusalem with Barnabas,(QF) taking Titus(QG) along also. 2 I went up according to a revelation(QH) and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain. 3 But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 This issue arose because of false brothers(QI) smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truth(QJ) of the gospel would be preserved for you.
6 Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism[dq](QK))—they added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised,(QL) just as Peter(QM) was for the circumcised, 8 since the One at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James,(QN) Cephas,(QO) and John,(QP) recognized as pillars,(QQ) acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we would remember the poor,(QR) which I made every effort to do.
Freedom from the Law
11 But when Cephas[dr] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.[ds] 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews(QS) joined his hypocrisy,(QT) so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas[dt] in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile(QU) and not like a Jew,(QV) how can you compel Gentiles to live(QW) like Jews?”[du]
15 We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” 16 know that no one is justified by the works of the law(QX) but by faith in Jesus Christ.[dv] And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ[dw] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will[dx] be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,(QY) is Christ then a promoter[dy](QZ) of sin? Absolutely not!(RA) 18 If I rebuild(RB) the system[dz] I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.(RC) 19 For through the law I have died to the law,(RD) so that I might live for God.(RE) I have been crucified with Christ[ea] 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(RF) The life I now live in the body,[eb] I live by faith in the Son of God,(RG) who loved(RH) me(RI) and gave Himself(RJ) for me.(RK) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,(RL) then Christ died(RM) for nothing.
Justification through Faith
3 You foolish(RN) Galatians! Who has hypnotized you,[ec] before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed[ed] as crucified?(RO) 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?[ee] 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?[ef] 4 Did you suffer(RP) so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles(RQ) among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?[eg]
6 Just as Abraham believed God,(RR) and it was credited to him for righteousness,(RS)[eh] 7 then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons.(RT) 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham,(RU) saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.(RV)[ei] 9 So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham,(RW) who had faith.[ej]
Law and Promise
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,(RX) because it is written:(RY) Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed.(RZ)[ek] 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live(SA) by faith.(SB)[el] 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.(SC)[em] 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,(SD) because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.(SE)[en] 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.(SF)
15 Brothers, I’m using a human illustration.[eo] No one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant[ep] that has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,(SG)[eq] who is Christ. 17 And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later,(SH) does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God[er] and cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.
The Purpose of the Law
19 Why then was the law given?(SI) It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels(SJ) by means of a mediator.(SK) 20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one.(SL) 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 22 But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power,[es](SM) so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ(SN) might be given to those who believe.(SO) 23 Before this faith(SP) came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.(SQ) 24 The law, then, was our guardian[et] until Christ,(SR) so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith(SS) has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
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