2:11. That we be not overreached by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his devices.
2:12. And when I was come to Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened unto me in the Lord,
2:13. I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not t.i.tus my brother: but bidding them farewell, I went into Macedonia.
2:14. Now thanks be to G.o.d, who always maketh us to triumph in Christ Jesus and manifesteth the odour of his knowledge by us in every place.
2:15. For we are the good odour of Christ unto G.o.d, in them that are saved and in them that perish.
2:16. To the one indeed the odour of death unto death: but to the others the odour of life unto life. And for these things who is so sufficient?
The odour of death, etc... The preaching of the apostle, which by its fragrant odour, brought many to life, was to others, through their own fault, the occasion of death; by their wilfully opposing and resisting that divine call.
2:17. For we are not as many, adulterating the word of G.o.d: but with sincerity: but as from G.o.d, before G.o.d, in Christ we speak.
2 Corinthians Chapter 3
He needs no commendatory letters. The glory of the ministry of the New Testament.
3:1. Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?
3:2. You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men:
3:3. Being manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written: not with ink but with the Spirit of the living G.o.d: not in tables of stone but in the fleshly tables of the heart.
3:4. And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards G.o.d.
3:5. Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from G.o.d.
3:6. Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter but in the spirit. For the letter killeth: but the spirit quickeneth.
The letter... Not rightly understood, and taken without the spirit.
3:7. Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious (so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance), which is made void:
3:8. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?
3:9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.
3:10. For even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified by reason of the glory that excelleth.
3:11. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is in glory.
3:12. Having therefore such hope, we use much confidence.
3:13. And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the face of that which is made void.
3:14. But their senses were made dull. For, until this present day, the selfsame veil, in the reading of the old testament, remaineth not taken away (because in Christ it is made void).
3:15. But even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
3:16. But when they shall be converted to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
3:17. Now the Lord is a Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
3:18. But we all, beholding the glory of the Lord with open face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians Chapter 4
The sincerity of his preaching. His comfort in his afflictions.
4:1. Therefore seeing we have this ministration, according as we have obtained mercy, we faint not.
4:2. But we renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness nor adulterating the word of G.o.d: but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man"s conscience, in the sight of G.o.d.
4:3. And if our gospel be also hid, it is hid to them that are lost,
4:4. In whom the G.o.d of this world hath blinded the minds of unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of G.o.d, should not shine unto them.
4:5. For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord: and ourselves your servants through Jesus.
4:6. For G.o.d, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of G.o.d, in the face of Christ Jesus.
4:7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of G.o.d and not of us.
4:8. In all things we suffer tribulation: but are not distressed. We are straitened: but are not dest.i.tute.
4:9. We suffer persecution: but are not forsaken. We are cast down: but we perish not.
4:10. Always bearing about in our body the mortification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies.
4:11. For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus" sake: that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
4:12. So then death worketh in us: but life in you.
4:13. But having the same spirit of faith, as it is written: I believed, for which cause I have spoken; we also believe. For which cause we speak also:
4:14. Knowing that he who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and place us with you.
4:15. For all things are for your sakes: that the grace, abounding through many, may abound in thanksgiving unto the glory of G.o.d.
4:16. For which cause we faint not: but though our outward man is corrupted, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
4:17. For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation worketh for us above measure, exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.
4:18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal: but the things which are not seen, are eternal.
2 Corinthians Chapter 5