Bible in 90 Days
The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality(A)
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel (B)which I preached to you, which also you received and (C)in which you stand, 2 (D)by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless (E)you believed in vain.
3 For (F)I delivered to you first of all that (G)which I also received: that Christ died for our sins (H)according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day (I)according to the Scriptures, 5 (J)and that He was seen by [a]Cephas, then (K)by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have [b]fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then (L)by all the apostles. 8 (M)Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
9 For I am (N)the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because (O)I persecuted the church of God. 10 But (P)by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, (Q)yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
The Risen Christ, Our Hope(R)
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, (S)then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because (T)we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; (U)you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have [c]fallen (V)asleep in Christ have perished. 19 (W)If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
The Last Enemy Destroyed
20 But now (X)Christ is risen from the dead, and has become (Y)the firstfruits of those who have [d]fallen asleep. 21 For (Z)since by man came death, (AA)by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall (AB)be made alive. 23 But (AC)each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers (AD)the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign (AE)till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 (AF)The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For (AG)“He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 (AH)Now when all things are made subject to Him, then (AI)the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Effects of Denying the Resurrection
29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And (AJ)why do we stand in [e]jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by (AK)the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, (AL)I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, (AM)I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, (AN)“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
33 Do not be deceived: (AO)“Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 (AP)Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; (AQ)for some do not have the knowledge of God. (AR)I speak this to your shame.
A Glorious Body
35 But someone will say, (AS)“How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, (AT)what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind [f]of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40 There are also [g]celestial bodies and [h]terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 (AU)So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 (AV)It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, (AW)“The first man Adam became a living being.” (AX)The last Adam became (AY)a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 (AZ)The first man was of the earth, (BA)made[i] of dust; the second Man is [j]the Lord (BB)from heaven. 48 As was the [k]man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; (BC)and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And (BD)as we have borne the image of the man of dust, (BE)we[l] shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
Our Final Victory
50 Now this I say, brethren, that (BF)flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a [m]mystery: (BG)We shall not all sleep, (BH)but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (BI)For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and (BJ)this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: (BK)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
56 The sting of death is sin, and (BM)the strength of sin is the law. 57 (BN)But thanks be to God, who gives us (BO)the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 (BP)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing (BQ)that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Collection for the Saints
16 Now concerning (BR)the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 (BS)On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, (BT)whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 (BU)But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
Personal Plans(BV)
5 Now I will come to you (BW)when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may (BX)send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, (BY)if the Lord permits.
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until (BZ)Pentecost. 9 For (CA)a great and effective door has opened to me, and (CB)there are many adversaries.
10 And (CC)if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for (CD)he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 (CE)Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey (CF)in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.
12 Now concerning our brother (CG)Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.
Final Exhortations
13 (CH)Watch, (CI)stand fast in the faith, be brave, (CJ)be strong. 14 (CK)Let all that you do be done with love.
15 I urge you, brethren—you know (CL)the household of Stephanas, that it is (CM)the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to (CN)the ministry of the saints— 16 (CO)that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and (CP)labors with us.
17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, (CQ)for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 (CR)For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore (CS)acknowledge such men.
Greetings and a Solemn Farewell
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, (CT)with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you.
(CU)Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 (CV)The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.
22 If anyone (CW)does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, (CX)let him be [o]accursed. (CY)O[p] Lord, come!
23 (CZ)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Greeting
1 Paul, (DA)an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and (DB)Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth, (DC)with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2 (DD)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comfort in Suffering
3 (DE)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who (DF)comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [q]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as (DG)the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our [r]consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, (DH)it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that (DI)as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Delivered from Suffering
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of (DJ)our [s]trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should (DK)not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 (DL)who delivered us from so great a death, and [t]does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also (DM)helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on [u]our behalf (DN)for the gift granted to us through many.
Paul’s Sincerity
12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in [v]simplicity and (DO)godly sincerity, (DP)not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), (DQ)that we are your boast as (DR)you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Sparing the Church
15 And in this confidence (DS)I intended to come to you before, that you might have (DT)a second benefit— 16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, (DU)to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan (DV)according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is (DW)faithful, our [w]word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For (DX)the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, (DY)Silvanus, and (DZ)Timothy—was not Yes and No, (EA)but in Him was Yes. 20 (EB)For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and (EC)has anointed us is God, 22 who (ED)also has sealed us and (EE)given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
23 Moreover (EF)I call God as witness against my soul, (EG)that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not (EH)that we [x]have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for (EI)by faith you stand.
Paul Urges Forgiveness
2 But I determined this within myself, (EJ)that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you (EK)sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?
Forgive the Offender
3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, (EL)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, (EM)having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much [y]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, (EN)not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
5 But (EO)if anyone has caused grief, he has not (EP)grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted (EQ)by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 (ER)so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are (ES)obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For [z]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Triumph in Christ
12 Furthermore, (ET)when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and (EU)a [aa]door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 (EV)I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us [ab]diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ (EW)among those who are being saved and (EX)among those who are perishing. 16 (EY)To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And (EZ)who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as [ac]so many, (FA)peddling[ad] the word of God; but as (FB)of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
Christ’s Epistle(FC)
3 Do (FD)we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, (FE)epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 (FF)You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, (FG)ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not (FH)on tablets of stone but (FI)on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
The Spirit, Not the Letter
4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 (FJ)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but (FK)our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as (FL)ministers of (FM)the new covenant, not (FN)of the letter but of the [ae]Spirit; for (FO)the letter kills, (FP)but the Spirit gives life.
Glory of the New Covenant
7 But if (FQ)the ministry of death, (FR)written and engraved on stones, was glorious, (FS)so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will (FT)the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry (FU)of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, (FV)we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, (FW)who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at (FX)the end of what was passing away. 14 But (FY)their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless (FZ)when one turns to the Lord, (GA)the veil is taken away. 17 Now (GB)the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is (GC)liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding (GD)as in a mirror (GE)the glory of the Lord, (GF)are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as [af]by the Spirit of the Lord.
The Light of Christ’s Gospel
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, (GG)as we have received mercy, we (GH)do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor [ag]handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth (GI)commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, (GJ)it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds (GK)the god of this age (GL)has blinded, who do not believe, lest (GM)the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, (GN)who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 (GO)For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and (GP)ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God (GQ)who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has (GR)shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Cast Down but Unconquered
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, (GS)that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are (GT)hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not (GU)forsaken; (GV)struck down, but not destroyed— 10 (GW)always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, (GX)that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live (GY)are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13 And since we have (GZ)the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, (HA)“I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that (HB)He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For (HC)all things are for your sakes, that (HD)grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Seeing the Invisible
16 Therefore we (HE)do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is (HF)being renewed day by day. 17 For (HG)our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 (HH)while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Assurance of the Resurrection
5 For we know that if (HI)our earthly [ah]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house (HJ)not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this (HK)we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [ai]habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, (HL)having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, (HM)but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also (HN)has given us the Spirit as [aj]a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For (HO)we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, (HP)well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 (HQ)For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, (HR)that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, (HS)the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Be Reconciled to God
12 For (HT)we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity (HU)to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For (HV)if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that (HW)if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, (HX)that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 (HY)Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, (HZ)yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone (IA)is in Christ, he is (IB)a new creation; (IC)old things have passed away; behold, all things have become (ID)new. 18 Now all things are of God, (IE)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that (IF)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [ak]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are (IG)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For (IH)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become (II)the righteousness of God in Him.
Marks of the Ministry
6 We then, as (IJ)workers together with Him also (IK)plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:
(IL)“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 (IM)We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves (IN)as ministers of God: in much [al]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 (IO)in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by [am]sincere love, 7 (IP)by the word of truth, by (IQ)the power of God, by (IR)the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and (IS)yet well known; (IT)as dying, and behold we live; (IU)as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many (IV)rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Be Holy
11 O Corinthians! [an]We have spoken openly to you, (IW)our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but (IX)you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (IY)(I speak as to children), you also be open.
14 (IZ)Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For (JA)what [ao]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what [ap]communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For (JB)you[aq] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
(JC)“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore
(JD)“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I (JE)will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My (JF)sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
The Corinthians’ Repentance
7 Therefore,(JG) having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The Corinthians’ Repentance
2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, (JH)we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for (JI)I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 (JJ)Great is my boldness of speech toward you, (JK)great is my boasting on your behalf. (JL)I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For indeed, (JM)when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but (JN)we were troubled on every side. (JO)Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless (JP)God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by (JQ)the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the [ar]consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
8 For even if I made you (JR)sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; (JS)though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For (JT)godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; (JU)but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what (JV)clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be (JW)clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, (JX)but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
The Joy of Titus
13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit (JY)has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers (JZ)the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that (KA)I have confidence in you in everything.
Excel in Giving
8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and (KB)their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency [as]that we would receive the gift and (KC)the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first (KD)gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the (KE)will of God. 6 So (KF)we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as (KG)you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see (KH)that you abound in this grace also.
Christ Our Pattern
8 (KI)I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, (KJ)that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become (KK)rich.
10 And in this (KL)I give advice: (KM)It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and (KN)were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For (KO)if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, (KP)“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Collection for the Judean Saints
16 But thanks be to God who [at]puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him (KQ)the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also (KR)chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us (KS)to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— 21 (KT)providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about (KU)Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are (KV)messengers[au] of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show to them, [av]and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our (KW)boasting on your behalf.
Administering the Gift
9 Now concerning (KX)the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a (KY)year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 (KZ)Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this [aw]confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to [ax]exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a [ay]grudging obligation.
The Cheerful Giver
6 (LA)But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows [az]bountifully will also reap [ba]bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, (LB)not grudgingly or of [bb]necessity; for (LC)God loves a cheerful giver. 8 (LD)And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:
(LE)“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now [bc]may He who (LF)supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, [bd]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your (LG)righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, (LH)which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only (LI)supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they (LJ)glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal (LK)sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding (LL)grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God (LM)for His indescribable gift!
The Spiritual War
10 Now (LN)I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—(LO)who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you (LP)that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 (LQ)For the weapons (LR)of our warfare are not [be]carnal but (LS)mighty in God (LT)for pulling down strongholds, 5 (LU)casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 (LV)and being ready to punish all disobedience when (LW)your obedience is fulfilled.
Reality of Paul’s Authority
7 (LX)Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? (LY)If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even [bf]so (LZ)we are Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more (MA)about our authority, which the Lord gave [bg]us for [bh]edification and not for your destruction, (MB)I shall not be ashamed— 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but (MC)his bodily presence is weak, and his (MD)speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
Limits of Paul’s Authority
12 (ME)For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 (MF)We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), (MG)for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, (MH)in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17 But (MI)“he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 18 For (MJ)not he who commends himself is approved, but (MK)whom the Lord commends.
Concern for Their Faithfulness
11 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little (ML)folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am (MM)jealous for you with godly jealousy. For (MN)I have betrothed you to one husband, (MO)that I may present you (MP)as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as (MQ)the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds (MR)may be corrupted from the [bi]simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a (MS)different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
Paul and False Apostles
5 For I consider that (MT)I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though (MU)I am untrained in speech, yet I am not (MV)in knowledge. But (MW)we have [bj]been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
7 Did I commit sin in [bk]humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you (MX)free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, (MY)I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked (MZ)the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 (NA)As the truth of Christ is in me, (NB)no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? (NC)Because I do not love you? God knows!
12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, (ND)that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such (NE)are false apostles, (NF)deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into (NG)an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, (NH)whose end will be according to their works.
Reluctant Boasting
16 I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. 17 What I speak, (NI)I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For you put up with fools gladly, (NJ)since you yourselves are wise! 20 For you put up with it (NK)if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 21 To our shame (NL)I say that we were too weak for that! But (NM)in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.
Suffering for Christ
22 Are they (NN)Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: (NO)in labors more abundant, (NP)in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, (NQ)in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received (NR)forty (NS)stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was (NT)beaten with rods; (NU)once I was stoned; three times I (NV)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, (NW)in perils of my own countrymen, (NX)in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, (NY)in sleeplessness often, (NZ)in hunger and thirst, in (OA)fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: (OB)my deep concern for all the churches. 29 (OC)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, (OD)I will boast in the things which concern my [bl]infirmity. 31 (OE)The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (OF)who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 (OG)In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
The Vision of Paradise
12 It is [bm]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to (OH)visions and (OI)revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man (OJ)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one (OK)was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into (OL)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not (OM)boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
The Thorn in the Flesh
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a (ON)thorn in the flesh was given to me, (OO)a messenger of Satan to [bn]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 (OP)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly (OQ)I will rather boast in my infirmities, (OR)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore (OS)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. (OT)For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Signs of an Apostle
11 I have become (OU)a fool [bo]in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for (OV)in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though (OW)I am nothing. 12 (OX)Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and (OY)wonders and mighty (OZ)deeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Love for the Church
14 (PA)Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for (PB)I do not seek yours, but you. (PC)For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent (PD)for your souls; though (PE)the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16 But be that as it may, (PF)I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our (PG)brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19 (PH)Again, [bp]do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? (PI)We speak before God in Christ. (PJ)But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that (PK)I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God (PL)will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many (PM)who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, (PN)fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
Coming with Authority
13 This will be (PO)the third time I am coming to you. (PP)“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 (PQ)I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent [bq]I write to those (PR)who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again (PS)I will not spare— 3 since you seek a proof of Christ (PT)speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty (PU)in you. 4 (PV)For though He was crucified in weakness, yet (PW)He lives by the power of God. For (PX)we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, (PY)that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you [br]are (PZ)disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
Paul Prefers Gentleness
7 Now [bs]I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though (QA)we may seem disqualified. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad (QB)when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, (QC)that you may be made complete. 10 (QD)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the (QE)authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
Greetings and Benediction
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. (QF)Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love (QG)and peace will be with you.
12 (QH)Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13 All the saints greet you.
14 (QI)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and (QJ)the [bt]communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but (QK)through Jesus Christ and God the Father (QL)who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 (QM)who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us (QN)from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Only One Gospel
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon (QO)from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 (QP)which is not another; but there are some (QQ)who trouble you and want to (QR)pervert[bu] the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if (QS)we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be [bv]accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you (QT)than what you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For (QU)do I now (QV)persuade men, or God? Or (QW)do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Call to Apostleship(QX)
11 (QY)But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For (QZ)I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came (RA)through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how (RB)I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and (RC)tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, (RD)being more exceedingly zealous (RE)for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, (RF)who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 (RG)to reveal His Son in me, that (RH)I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with (RI)flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Contacts at Jerusalem(RJ)
18 Then after three years (RK)I went up to Jerusalem to see [bw]Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But (RL)I saw none of the other apostles except (RM)James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
21 (RN)Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which (RO)were in Christ. 23 But they were (RP)hearing only, “He who formerly (RQ)persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they (RR)glorified God in me.
Defending the Gospel(RS)
2 Then after fourteen years (RT)I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up [bx]by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but (RU)privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means (RV)I might run, or had run, in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of (RW)false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our (RX)liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, (RY)that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that (RZ)the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But from those (SA)who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; (SB)God [by]shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something (SC)added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, (SD)when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised (SE)had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the (SF)circumcised (SG)also (SH)worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, [bz]Cephas, and John, who seemed to be (SI)pillars, perceived (SJ)the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, (SK)that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, (SL)the very thing which I also was eager to do.
No Return to the Law
11 (SM)Now when [ca]Peter had come to Antioch, I [cb]withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, (SN)he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing [cc]those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about (SO)the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter (SP)before them all, (SQ)“If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, [cd]why do you compel Gentiles to live as [ce]Jews? 15 (SR)We who are Jews by nature, and not (SS)sinners of the Gentiles, 16 (ST)knowing that a man is not [cf]justified by the works of the law but (SU)by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not (SV)by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found (SW)sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I (SX)through the law (SY)died to the law that I might (SZ)live to God. 20 I have been (TA)crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (TB)I live by faith in the Son of God, (TC)who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for (TD)if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died [cg]in vain.”
Justification by Faith(TE)
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you [ch]that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed [ci]among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, (TF)or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? (TG)Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by (TH)the flesh? 4 (TI)Have you suffered so [cj]many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham (TJ)“believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only (TK)those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And (TL)the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, (TM)“In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
The Law Brings a Curse
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, (TN)“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is [ck]justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for (TO)“the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet (TP)the law is not of faith, but (TQ)“the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 (TR)Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, (TS)“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 (TT)that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the (TU)Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive (TV)the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Changeless Promise(TW)
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: (TX)Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of (TY)one, (TZ)“And to your Seed,” who is (UA)Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, (UB)which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God [cl]in Christ, (UC)that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if (UD)the inheritance is of the law, (UE)it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Purpose of the Law
19 What purpose then does the law serve? (UF)It was added because of transgressions, till the (UG)Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was (UH)appointed through angels by the hand (UI)of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, (UJ)but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined (UK)all under sin, (UL)that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, [cm]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore (UM)the law was our [cn]tutor to bring us to Christ, (UN)that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.