For the office of this ministration, not only supplieth the need of the saints: but also is abundant herein, that for this laudable ministering, thanks might be given to God of many, which praise God for the obedience in knowledging the gospel of Christ, and for your singleness, in distributing to them, and to all men. and in their prayers to God for you, long after you, for the abundant grace of God given unto you. Thanks be unto God for his ineffable gift.
The .x. Chapter.
I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and softness of Christ, which when I am present among you, am of no reputation, but am bold toward you being absent. I beseech you that I need not to be bold when I am present (with that same confidence, wherewith I am supposed to be bold) against some which repute us as though we walked carnally. Nevertheless though we walk compassed with the flesh, yet we war not fleshly. For the weapons of our war are not carnal things, but things mighty in God to cast down strongholds, wherewith we overthrow imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity all understanding to the obedience of Christ, and are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Look ye on things after the utter appearance.
If any man trust in himself that he is Christi's, let the same also consider of himself, that as he is Christi's, even so are we Christe's. And though I should boast myself somewhat more of our authority which the lord hath given us to edify and not to destroy you, it should not be to my shame. This say I, lest I should seem as though I went about to make you afraid with letters. For the pistels (saith he) are sore and strong: but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech homely. Let him that is such think on this wise, that as we are in words by letters when we are absent, such are we in deeds when we are present.
For we cannot find in our hearts to make ourselves of the number of them, or to compare ourselves to them, which laud themselves: but while they measure themselves with themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they understand nought. But we will not rejoice above measure: but according to the quantity of the measure which God hath distributed unto us, a measure that reacheth even unto you. For we stretch not out ourselves beyond measure as though we had not reached unto you. For even unto you have we come with the gospel of Christ, and we boast not ourselves out of measure in other men's labors: yee and we hope, When your faith is increased among you, to be magnified according to our measure more largely: And to preach the gospel in those regions which are beyond you: and not to rejoice of that which is by another man's measure prepared all ready. Let him that rejoiceth, rejoice in the lord. For he that praiseth himself, is not allowed: but he whom the lord praiseth.
The .xj. Chapter.
Would to God, ye could suffer me a little in my foolishness: yee, and I pray you forbear me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I coupled you to one man, to make you a chaste virgin to Christ: But I fear lest as the serpent beguiled Eve, thorow his subtlety, even so your wits should be corrupt from the singleness that is in Christ. For if he that cometh to you preach another Iesus than him whom we preached: or if ye receive another spirit than that which ye have received: either another gospel than that ye have received, ye might right well have been content.
I suppose that I was not behind the chief Apostles. Though I be rude in speaking, yet I am not so in knowledge. How be it among you we are known to the utmost what we are in all things. Did I therein sin, because I submitted myself, that ye might be exalted? and because I preached the gospel to you free? I robbed other congregations, and took wages of them, to do you service with all. And when I was present with you and had need, I was grievous to no man. For that which was lacking unto me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I kept myself that I should not be grievous to you: and so will I keep myself.
If the truth of Christ be in me, this rejoicing shall not be taken from me in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. Nevertheless what I do, that will I do to cut away occasion from them which desire occasion, that they might be found like unto us in that wherein they rejoice: For these false apostles are deceitful workers, and fashion them selves like unto the Apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is changed into the fashion of an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers fashion themselves as though they were the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their deeds.
I say again lest any man think that I am foolish: or else even now take me as a fool, that I may boast myself a little. That I speak, I speak it not after the ways of the lord: but as it were foolishly, while we are now come to boasting. Seeing that many rejoice after the flesh I will rejoice also. For ye suffer fools gladly because that ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer even if a man bring you into bondage: if a man devour: if a man take: if a man exalt himself: if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning rebuke, as though we had been weak.