8 loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you ; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteous10 ness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth sced to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your 11 righteousness;) being enriched in every thing to all 12 bountifulness, which causeth 12 through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto 13 God; whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution 14 unto them, and unto all men; and by their prayer for you, which long after you 15 for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 10 NOW I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who 3 in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: but 2 I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked 3 according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the 4 flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God 5 to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into cap6 tivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

7

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, 8 even so are we Christ's. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, 9 I should not be ashamed: that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, 7 say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is 11 weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are 12 present. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by them13 selves, and comparing themselves among themselves, 8 are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the 14 9rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: 15 for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the Gospel of Christ: not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be 10 enlarged by you according to our 16 rule abundantly, to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast 17 in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, 18 let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

11 WOULD to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed 12 bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused 2,3 you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your 4 minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another Gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear 19 with him.

5,6

For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made 7 manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the Gospel of God 8,9 freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man; for that

1 Or, liberality.

2 Gr. simplicity.

3 Or, in outward appearance.

4 Or, reckon.

5 Or, to God.

6 Or, reasonings.

7 Gr. saith he.

8 Or, understand it not.
9 Or, line.

10 Or, magnified in you.
11 Or, rule.

12 Or, ye do bear with me.
13 Or with me.

which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I 10 keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boast11 ing in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God know. 12 eth. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the 14 apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel 15 of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

16

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive 17 me, that I may boast myself a little. That which I speak, I speak it not after the 18 Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many 19 glory after the flesh, I will glory also. For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye your20 selves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit where22 insoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. Are they 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? (1 speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more 24 abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of 25 the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one, thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in 26 the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, is perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, is 27 perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings 28 often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29, 30

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If 1 must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities, 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, 32 knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept 33 the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: and through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his

hands.

12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and

revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth ;) such an 3 one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the 4 body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man

5

to utter.

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine in6 firmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to 8 buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought 9 the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ 10 may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 1 am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, 12 though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you

1 Gr. this boasting shall not be stopped in me.
2 Or, suffer.

3 Gr. For I will come.

4 Or, possible.

13 in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

14

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay 15 up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for I you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

16

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you 17 with guile. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

19

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in 20 Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, 21 backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: and lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasci viousness which they have committed.

13. This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as 2 if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not 3 spare: since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not 4 weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak 2 in him, but we shall 5 live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how 6 that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall 7 know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, 8 though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for 9 the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong and this also 10 we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

11

FINALLY, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet 12-14 one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.

Amen.

The second Epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE

TO THE

GALATIANS.

1 PAUL, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God

the Father, who raised him from the dead;) and all the brethren which are 2,3 with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God

GALATIANS II.

A. D. 58.

4 the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of 5 God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

6

I MARVEL that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the 7 grace of Christ unto another Gospel: which is not another; but there be some 8 that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we 9 have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now

again, If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, 10 let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

11

But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not 12 after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by 13 the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church 14 of God, and wasted it: and profited in the Jews' religion above many my 1 equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and 16 called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among 17 the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into 18 Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 19 up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of Then after three years I went 20 the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. Now the things which 21 I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the

22 regions of Syria and Cilicia; and was unknown by face unto the churches of 23 Judaea which were in Christ: but they had heard only, That he which persecuted 24 us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they 2 glorified God in me. Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and 2 communicated unto them that Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but 3 privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, 3 or had run, in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was 4 compelled to be circumcised. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ 5 Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the Gospel might continue with 6 you. But of those who seemed to be somewhat, whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person: for they who seemed to be 7 somewhat in conference added nothing to me: but contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel of 8 the circumcision was unto Peter; (for he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the 9 Gentiles:) and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto 10 the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

11

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because 12 he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, 13 fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their 14 dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15, 16

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of

1 Gr. equals in years.

Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no 17 flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19, 20 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am

crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, 21 who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

3 O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey

the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified 2 among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the 3 works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun 4 in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many 5 things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or 6 by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was 2 accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of 8 Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall 9 all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written 11 in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in 12 the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is 13 not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is 14 written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's 3 cove16 nant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as 17 of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the 18 promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19

WHEREFORE then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was 20 ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have 22 been by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the 23 promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which 24 should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25, 26

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye 27 are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as 28 have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye 29 are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the 2,3 time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in 4 bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time

1 Or, so great.

2 Or, imputed.

3 Or, testament.

4 Or, rudiments.