2 Corinthians
General References
Victor Paul Furnish, “Paul and the Corinthians,” Interpretation (July 1998), p. 229-245
3-7 James Baldwin, quoted in Begin Again by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., p. 207
Begin Again
“You must understand that your pain is trivial except insofar as you can use it to connect with other people’s pain,” he wrote in “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity” in 1963, “and insofar as you can do that with your pain, you can be released from it, and then hopefully it works the other way around too; insofar as I can tell you what it is to suffer, perhaps I can help you to suffer less.”
3-7 Wendell Berry, “1999 – VIII,” This Day, p. 202
3-7 William Blake, “On Another’s Sorrow,” The Book of Uncommon Prayer, p. 11
“On Another's Sorrow”
Can I see another’s woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another’s grief,
And not seek for kind relief?
Can I see a falling tear
And not feel my sorrow’s share?
Can a father see his child
Weep, nor be with sorrow fill’d?
Can a mother sit and hear
An infant groan an infant fear?
No, no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!
And can he who smiles on all
Hear the wren with sorrows small,
Hear the small bird’s grief and care,
Hear the woes that infants bear,
And not sit beside the nest,
Pouring pity in their breast;
And not sit the cradle near,
Weeping tear on infant’s tear;
And not sit both night and day,
Wiping all our tears away?
O, no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!
He doth give his joy to all;
He becomes an infant small;
He becomes a man of woe;
He doth feel the sorrow too.
Think not thou canst sigh a sigh
And thy maker is not by;
Think not thou canst weep a tear
And thy maker is not near.
O! he gives to us his joy
That our grief he may destroy;
Till our grief is fled and gone
He doth sit by us and moan.
3-7 Alfred Corn, Incarnation, p. 139-140
Incarnation
3-7 Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations, p. 385
8-10 Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “‘Tis The Set Of The Sail,” (George Mason’s motto through life)
"'Tis The Set Of The Sail"
One ship sails East,
And another sails West,
By the self-same breezes blow;
’Tis the set of the sails,
And not the gales,
That bids them where to go.
Like the winds of the sea
Are the ways of the fates,
As we voyage along through life.
’Tis the set of the soul,
That decides the goal,
And not the storm or the strife.
9-10 David Rensberger, “Thoughts from my Roof,” Weavings (March/April 1999), p. 11
“Thoughts from my Roof”
22 Lesslie Newbigin, Mission in Christ’s Way, p. 16-17
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. 9 Why, we felt that we had received the sentence of death; but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead; 10 he delivered us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us; on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.
12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God. 13 For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; I hope you will understand fully, 14 as you have understood in part, that you can be proud of us as we can be of you, on the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double pleasure; 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans like a worldly man, ready to say Yes and No at once? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God. 21 But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; 22 he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
23 But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.
1:1 παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου δια θεληματος θεου και τιμοθεος ο αδελφος τη εκκλησια του θεου τη ουση εν κορινθω συν τοις αγιοις πασιν τοις ουσιν εν ολη τη αχαια
1:2 χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου
1:3 ευλογητος ο θεος και πατηρ του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου ο πατηρ των οικτιρμων και θεος πασης παρακλησεως 1:4 ο παρακαλων ημας επι παση τη θλιψει ημων εις το δυνασθαι ημας παρακαλειν τους εν παση θλιψει δια της παρακλησεως ης παρακαλουμεθα αυτοι υπο του θεου 1:5 οτι καθως περισσευει τα παθηματα του χριστου εις ημας ουτως δια του χριστου περισσευει και η παρακλησις ημων 1:6 ειτε δε θλιβομεθα υπερ της υμων παρακλησεως και σωτηριας της ενεργουμενης εν υπομονη των αυτων παθηματων ων και ημεις πασχομεν και η ελπις ημων βεβαια υπερ υμων ειτε παρακαλουμεθα υπερ της υμων παρακλησεως και σωτηριας 1:7 ειδοτες οτι ωσπερ κοινωνοι εστε των παθηματων ουτως και της παρακλησεως
1:8 ου γαρ θελομεν υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι υπερ της θλιψεως ημων της γενομενης ημιν εν τη ασια οτι καθ υπερβολην εβαρηθημεν υπερ δυναμιν ωστε εξαπορηθηναι ημας και του ζην 1:9 αλλα αυτοι εν εαυτοις το αποκριμα του θανατου εσχηκαμεν ινα μη πεποιθοτες ωμεν εφ εαυτοις αλλ επι τω θεω τω εγειροντι τους νεκρους 1:10 ος εκ τηλικουτου θανατου ερρυσατο ημας και ρυεται εις ον ηλπικαμεν οτι και ετι ρυσεται 1:11 συνυπουργουντων και υμων υπερ ημων τη δεησει ινα εκ πολλων προσωπων το εις ημας χαρισμα δια πολλων ευχαριστηθη υπερ υμων
1:12 η γαρ καυχησις ημων αυτη εστιν το μαρτυριον της συνειδησεως ημων οτι εν απλοτητι και ειλικρινεια θεου ουκ εν σοφια σαρκικη αλλ εν χαριτι θεου ανεστραφημεν εν τω κοσμω περισσοτερως δε προς υμας 1:13 ου γαρ αλλα γραφομεν υμιν αλλ η α αναγινωσκετε η και επιγινωσκετε ελπιζω δε οτι και εως τελους επιγνωσεσθε 1:14 καθως και επεγνωτε ημας απο μερους οτι καυχημα υμων εσμεν καθαπερ και υμεις ημων εν τη ημερα του κυριου ιησου
1:15 και ταυτη τη πεποιθησει εβουλομην ελθειν προς υμας το προτερον ινα δευτεραν χαριν εχητε 1:16 και δι υμων διελθειν εις μακεδονιαν και παλιν απο μακεδονιας ελθειν προς υμας και υφ υμων προπεμφθηναι εις την ιουδαιαν 1:17 τουτο ουν βουλευομενος μη τι αρα τη ελαφρια εχρησαμην η α βουλευομαι κατα σαρκα βουλευομαι ινα η παρ εμοι το ναι ναι και το ου ου 1:18 πιστος δε ο θεος οτι ο λογος ημων ο προς υμας ουκ εγενετο ναι και ου 1:19 ο γαρ του θεου υιος ιησους χριστος ο εν υμιν δι ημων κηρυχθεις δι εμου και σιλουανου και τιμοθεου ουκ εγενετο ναι και ου αλλα ναι εν αυτω γεγονεν 1:20 οσαι γαρ επαγγελιαι θεου εν αυτω το ναι και εν αυτω το αμην τω θεω προς δοξαν δι ημων 1:21 ο δε βεβαιων ημας συν υμιν εις χριστον και χρισας ημας θεος 1:22 ο και σφραγισαμενος ημας και δους τον αρραβωνα του πνευματος εν ταις καρδιαις ημων
1:23 εγω δε μαρτυρα τον θεον επικαλουμαι επι την εμην ψυχην οτι φειδομενος υμων ουκετι ηλθον εις κορινθον 1:24 ουχ οτι κυριευομεν υμων της πιστεως αλλα συνεργοι εσμεν της χαρας υμων τη γαρ πιστει εστηκατε
16 Mark 4:24-25
15 George Herbert, “The Odour,” Selected Poetry, p. 238
20 Richard Rohr, Falling Upward, p. 142 f.
1 For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
5 But if any one has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to you all. 6 For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough; 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Any one whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 to keep Satan from gaining the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord; 13 but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word; but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
2:1 εκρινα δε εμαυτω τουτο το μη παλιν εν λυπη προς υμας ελθειν 2:2 ει γαρ εγω λυπω υμας και τις εστιν ο ευφραινων με ει μη ο λυπουμενος εξ εμου 2:3 και εγραψα υμιν τουτο αυτο ινα μη ελθων λυπην εχω αφ ων εδει με χαιρειν πεποιθως επι παντας υμας οτι η εμη χαρα παντων υμων εστιν 2:4 εκ γαρ πολλης θλιψεως και συνοχης καρδιας εγραψα υμιν δια πολλων δακρυων ουχ ινα λυπηθητε αλλα την αγαπην ινα γνωτε ην εχω περισσοτερως εις υμας
2:5 ει δε τις λελυπηκεν ουκ εμε λελυπηκεν αλλα απο μερους ινα μη επιβαρω παντας υμας 2:6 ικανον τω τοιουτω η επιτιμια αυτη η υπο των πλειονων 2:7 ωστε τουναντιον μαλλον υμας χαρισασθαι και παρακαλεσαι μηπως τη περισσοτερα λυπη καταποθη ο τοιουτος 2:8 διο παρακαλω υμας κυρωσαι εις αυτον αγαπην 2:9 εις τουτο γαρ και εγραψα ινα γνω την δοκιμην υμων ει εις παντα υπηκοοι εστε 2:10 ω δε τι χαριζεσθε και εγω και γαρ εγω ει τι κεχαρισμαι ω κεχαρισμαι δι υμας εν προσωπω χριστου 2:11 ινα μη πλεονεκτηθωμεν υπο του σατανα ου γαρ αυτου τα νοηματα αγνοουμεν
2:12 ελθων δε εις την τρωαδα εις το ευαγγελιον του χριστου και θυρας μοι ανεωγμενης εν κυριω 2:13 ουκ εσχηκα ανεσιν τω πνευματι μου τω μη ευρειν με τιτον τον αδελφον μου αλλα αποταξαμενος αυτοις εξηλθον εις μακεδονιαν
2:14 τω δε θεω χαρις τω παντοτε θριαμβευοντι ημας εν τω χριστω και την οσμην της γνωσεως αυτου φανερουντι δι ημων εν παντι τοπω 2:15 οτι χριστου ευωδια εσμεν τω θεω εν τοις σωζομενοις και εν τοις απολλυμενοις 2:16 οις μεν οσμη θανατου εις θανατον οις δε οσμη ζωης εις ζωην και προς ταυτα τις ικανος 2:17 ου γαρ εσμεν ως οι λοιποι καπηλευοντες τον λογον του θεου αλλ ως εξ ειλικρινειας αλλ ως εκ θεου κατενωπιον του θεου εν χριστω λαλουμεν
1-6 Helmut Thielicke, “We Are a Letter from God Not an Advertisement,” Faith: The Great Adventure, p. 18-25
2-6 Walt Whitman, “Poets to Come,” Leaves of Grass, p. 39
“Poets to Come”
6-8 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 278
7-18 Brevard S. Childs, “New Testament Context,” The Book of Exodus, p. 620-624
7-18 Jakushitsu, a Quiet Room, p. 48
Jakushitsu
12-18 Czeslaw Milosz, “In Kraków,” The New Yorker (July 12, 2004), p. 94
“In Kraków”
On the border of this world and beyond, in Kraków
Tap-tap on the foot-worn flagstones of churches,
Generation after generation. Here I came to understand
Something of the habits of my brothers and sisters.
The nakedness of a woman meets the nakedness of a man
And completes itself with its second half
Carnal, or even divine,
Which is likely the same thing,
As revealed to us in the Song of Songs.
And must not every one of them nestle down into the Eternally Living,
Into His scent of apples, saffron, cloves, and incense,
Into Him who is coming
With the brightness of glowing wax candles?
And He, divisible, separate for each of them,
Receives them, him and her, in a wafer, into their own flame.
They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.
Little crosses on the marble will adorn their tombs.
16-18 Alfred Corn, Incarnation, p. 143-145
17 Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit, p. 87
On the Holy Spirit
18 Samuel Terrien, “The Reflection of Glory,” The Elusive Presence, p. 455-459
“The Reflection of Glory”
Presence—elusive, intangible, unpredictable, untamed, inaccessible to empirical verification, outwardly invisible, but inwardly irresistible—is the source of freedom from the written code. (p. 457)
There is little doubt, however, that the verb katoptrizesthai, in the middle voice, means not “to behold” but “to reflect as a mirror.” There is no implication of cause and effect between this reflection and the transformation of those who reflect.
According to this translation, Paul declares that “all of us”—not just a few privileged individuals, charismatic leaders, or a sacerdotal college—are like Moses. With unveiled faces, Christians radiate the glory … they transmit the subtle and subsumed splendor of God’s abasement. … As we reflect the glory to others, we are being transformed, literally, “metamorphosed” … into the image of God in Jesus. Paul does not refer to an ecstatic vision or to esoteric gnosis. Rather, he is concerned with the growth of a new being. (457 f.)
Man cannot see God, but there is a most distinctive kind of glory in the giving-up of the self, and this is the reflection of glory, which is accessible to all. (p. 459)
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all men; 3 and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the dispensation of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses’ face because of its brightness, fading as this was, 8 will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor? 9 For if there was splendor in the dispensation of condemnation, the dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in splendor. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had splendor has come to have no splendor at all, because of the splendor that surpasses it. 11 For if what faded away came with splendor, what is permanent must have much more splendor.
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not see the end of the fading splendor. 14 But their minds were hardened; for to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
3:1 αρχομεθα παλιν εαυτους συνιστανειν βμη χρηζομεν ως τινες συστατικων επιστολων προς υμας η εξ υμων συστατικων 3:2 η επιστολη ημων υμεις εστε εγγεγραμμενη εν ταις καρδιαις ημων γινωσκομενη και αναγινωσκομενη υπο παντων ανθρωπων 3:3 φανερουμενοι οτι εστε επιστολη χριστου διακονηθεισα υφ ημων εγγεγραμμενη ου μελανι αλλα πνευματι θεου ζωντος ουκ εν πλαξιν λιθιναις αλλ εν πλαξιν καρδιαις σαρκιναις
3:4 πεποιθησιν δε τοιαυτην εχομεν δια του χριστου προς τον θεον 3:5 ουχ οτι ικανοι εσμεν αφ εαυτων λογισασθαι τι ως εξ εαυτων αλλ η ικανοτης ημων εκ του θεου 3:6 ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτενει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει
3:7 ει δε η διακονια του θανατου εν γραμμασιν εντετυπωμενη εν λιθοις εγενηθη εν δοξη ωστε μη δυνασθαι ατενισαι τους υιους ισραηλ εις το προσωπον μωυσεως δια την δοξαν του προσωπου αυτου την καταργουμενην 3:8 πως ουχι μαλλον η διακονια του πνευματος εσται εν δοξη 3:9 ει γαρ η διακονια της κατακρισεως δοξα πολλω μαλλον περισσευει η διακονια της δικαιοσυνης εν δοξη 3:10 και γαρ ου δεδοξασται το δεδοξασμενον εν τουτω τω μερει ενεκεν της υπερβαλλουσης δοξης 3:11 ει γαρ το καταργουμενον δια δοξης πολλω μαλλον το μενον εν δοξη
3:12 εχοντες ουν τοιαυτην ελπιδα πολλη παρρησια χρωμεθα 3:13 και ου καθαπερ μωυσης ετιθει καλυμμα επι το προσωπον εαυτου προς το μη ατενισαι τους υιους ισραηλ εις το τελος του καταργουμενου 3:14 αλλ επωρωθη τα νοηματα αυτων αχρι γαρ της σημερον το αυτο καλυμμα επι τη αναγνωσει της παλαιας διαθηκης μενει μη ανακαλυπτομενον ο τι εν χριστω καταργειται 3:15 αλλ εως σημερον ηνικα αναγινωσκεται μωυσης καλυμμα επι την καρδιαν αυτων κειται 3:16 ηνικα δ αν επιστρεψη προς κυριον περιαιρειται το καλυμμα 3:17 ο δε κυριος το πνευμα εστιν ου δε το πνευμα κυριου εκει ελευθερια 3:18 ημεις δε παντες ανακεκαλυμμενω προσωπω την δοξαν κυριου κατοπτριζομενοι την αυτην εικονα μεταμορφουμεθα απο δοξης εις δοξαν καθαπερ απο κυριου πνευματος
1-6 Scott Hafemann, “Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in 2 Corinthians,” Interpretation (July 1998), p. 249-250
“Paul's Use of the Old Testament in 2 Corinthians”
In as much as the “god of this age” has blinded people to the glory of God in Christ, only the God of creation, the one who originally called forth light out of darkness, can overcome this blindness by making the divine light “shine in our hearts.” … The same power that created Adam in God’s image is now being unleashed in “re-creating” God’s people in Christ. … Thus, the antithetical parallels between 4:4 and 4:6 illustrate not only Paul’s own redemption, but also Paul’s ensuing ministry as the means by which the new creation or the new covenant is being inaugurated in the midst of this present evil age (cf. Gal. 1:4)
The god God
of this age of creation (“Let light …”)
has blinded made light shine
the minds of unbelievers in our hearts
so that they cannot see to give us
the light of the gospel the light of the knowledge
of the glory of Christ of the glory of God
who is the image of God. in the face of Christ
1-6 Denise Levertov, “The Weave,” The Jacob’s Ladder, p. 28
“The Weave”
The cowdung-colored mud
baked and raised up in random
walls, bears the silken
lips and lashes of erotic
flowers towards a sky of
noble clouds. Accepted
sacramental excrement
supports the ecstatic half-sleep
of butterflies, the slow
opening and closing of brilliant
dusty wings. Bite down
on the bitter stem of your nectared
rose, you know
the dreamy stench of death and fling
magenta shawls delicately
about your brown shoulders laughing.
3-6 Victor Paul Furnish, “Paul and the Corinthians,” Interpretation (July 1998), p. 242 f.
“Paul and the Corinthians”
… when Paul describes apostles as “the aroma of Christ,” and when he refers to their incandescence, he identifies their task as disseminating the knowledge of God. Thus, he gives thanks to God “who through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him” (2:14). Similarly, he specifies that God “has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (4:6). In both instances he distinguishes, as he has in 1 Cor. 1:18, between those who respond to the gospel and “are being saved,” and those who do not and “are perishing.” And just as he has associated unbelievers with “the world [that] did not know God through wisdom” (1 Cor 1:21), so now he describes them as people whose minds have been “blinded” by “the god of this age …, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (4:3-4; NRSV, altered).
6-11 George Herbert, “The Windows,” Selected Poetry, p. 110
“The Windows”
Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word?
He is a brittle crazy glass:
Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford
This glorious and transcendent place
To be a window, through thy grace.
But when thou dost anneal in glass thy story,
Making thy life to shine within
The holy Preacher’s; then the light and glory
More rev’rend grows, and more doth win:
Which else shows wat’rish, bleak, and thin.
Doctrine and life, colours and light, in one
When they combine and mingle, bring
A strong regard and awe: but speech alone
Doth vanish like a flaring thing,
And in the ear, not conscience ring.
6 St. John Chrysostom, Tyndale Commentary
1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
4:1 δια τουτο εχοντες την διακονιαν ταυτην καθως ηλεηθημεν ουκ εκκακουμεν 4:2 αλλα απειπαμεθα τα κρυπτα της αισχυνης μη περιπατουντες εν πανουργια μηδε δολουντες τον λογον του θεου αλλα τη φανερωσει της αληθειας συνιστωντες εαυτους προς πασαν συνειδησιν ανθρωπων ενωπιον του θεου 4:3 ει δε και εστιν κεκαλυμμενον το ευαγγελιον ημων εν τοις απολλυμενοις εστιν κεκαλυμμενον 4:4 εν οις ο θεος του αιωνος τουτου ετυφλωσεν τα νοηματα των απιστων εις το μη αυγασαι αυτοις τον φωτισμον του ευαγγελιου της δοξης του χριστου ος εστιν εικων του θεου 4:5 ου γαρ εαυτους κηρυσσομεν αλλα χριστον ιησουν κυριον εαυτους δε δουλους υμων δια ιησουν 4:6 οτι ο θεος ο ειπων εκ σκοτους φως λαμψαι ος ελαμψεν εν ταις καρδιαις ημων προς φωτισμον της γνωσεως της δοξης του θεου εν προσωπω ιησου χριστου
7 Lamentations 4:2; Thomas 29
13 Psalm 116:10
17 Romans 8:18
6-11 George Herbert, “The Windows,” Selected Poetry, p. 110
“The Windows”
Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word?
He is a brittle crazy glass:
Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford
This glorious and transcendent place
To be a window, through thy grace.
But when thou dost anneal in glass thy story,
Making thy life to shine within
The holy Preacher’s; then the light and glory
More rev’rend grows, and more doth win:
Which else shows wat’rish, bleak, and thin.
Doctrine and life, colours and light, in one
When they combine and mingle, bring
A strong regard and awe: but speech alone
Doth vanish like a flaring thing,
And in the ear, not conscience ring.
7-12 Imelda Cooper, “Vessel of Wholeness,” Imaging the Word, Vol. 1, p. 190
“Vessel of Wholeness”
7-12 Geoffrey Hill, “The Pentecost Castle,” Tenebrae, p. 14
“The Pentecost Castle”
7 Francis Bacon, The Man Who Saw Through Time, p. 56
The Man Who Saw Through Time
7 Dag Hammarskjöld, Markings, p. 95
Markings
8-11 Madeleine L’Engle, Summer of the Great Grandmother, p. 53
Summer of the Great Grandmother
8-11 Paulinus of Nola, quoted in Daily Dig (April 29, 2003)
Daily Dig
10-16 Wang Weifan, Lilies of the Field, p. 52-55
11-12 Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, p. 72
Letters to a Young Poet
And if there is one more thing that I must say to you it is this: Don’t think that the person who is trying to comfort you now lives untroubled among the simple and quiet words that sometimes give you pleasure. His life has much trouble and sadness and remains far behind yours. If it were otherwise, he would never have been able to find these words.
18 Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 234
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
4:7 εχομεν δε τον θησαυρον τουτον εν οστρακινοις σκευεσιν ινα η υπερβολη της δυναμεως η του θεου και μη εξ ημων 4:8 εν παντι θλιβομενοι αλλ ου στενοχωρουμενοι απορουμενοι αλλ ουκ εξαπορουμενοι 4:9 διωκομενοι αλλ ουκ εγκαταλειπομενοι καταβαλλομενοι αλλ ουκ απολλυμενοι 4:10 παντοτε την νεκρωσιν του κυριου ιησου εν τω σωματι περιφεροντες ινα και η ζωη του ιησου εν τω σωματι ημων φανερωθη 4:11 αει γαρ ημεις οι ζωντες εις θανατον παραδιδομεθα δια ιησουν ινα και η ζωη του ιησου φανερωθη εν τη θνητη σαρκι ημων 4:12 ωστε ο μεν θανατος εν ημιν ενεργειται η δε ζωη εν υμιν
4:13 εχοντες δε το αυτο πνευμα της πιστεως κατα το γεγραμμενον επιστευσα διο ελαλησα και ημεις πιστευομεν διο και λαλουμεν 4:14 ειδοτες οτι ο εγειρας τον κυριον ιησουν και ημας δια ιησου εγερει και παραστησει συν υμιν 4:15 τα γαρ παντα δι υμας ινα η χαρις πλεονασασα δια των πλειονων την ευχαριστιαν περισσευση εις την δοξαν του θεου
4:16 διο ουκ εκκακουμεν αλλ ει και ο εξω ημων ανθρωπος διαφθειρεται αλλ ο εσωθεν ανακαινουται ημερα και ημερα 4:17 το γαρ παραυτικα ελαφρον της θλιψεως ημων καθ υπερβολην εις υπερβολην αιωνιον βαρος δοξης κατεργαζεται ημιν 4:18 μη σκοπουντων ημων τα βλεπομενα αλλα τα μη βλεπομενα τα γαρ βλεπομενα προσκαιρα τα δε μη βλεπομενα αιωνια
6-7 Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 238
7 Dan Damon, “What Faith Can Feel We Cannot See,” The Sound of Welcome, p. 21
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.
5:1 οιδαμεν γαρ οτι εαν η επιγειος ημων οικια του σκηνους καταλυθη οικοδομην εκ θεου εχομεν οικιαν αχειροποιητον αιωνιον εν τοις ουρανοις 5:2 και γαρ εν τουτω στεναζομεν το οικητηριον ημων το εξ ουρανου επενδυσασθαι επιποθουντες 5:3 ειγε και ενδυσαμενοι ου γυμνοι ευρεθησομεθα 5:4 και γαρ οι οντες εν τω σκηνει στεναζομεν βαρουμενοι αβαβου θελομεν εκδυσασθαι αλλ επενδυσασθαι ινα καταποθη το θνητον υπο της ζωης 5:5 ο δε κατεργασαμενος ημας εις αυτο τουτο θεος ο και δους ημιν τον αρραβωνα του πνευματος
5:6 θαρρουντες ουν παντοτε και ειδοτες οτι ενδημουντες εν τω σωματι εκδημουμεν απο του κυριου 5:7 δια πιστεως γαρ περιπατουμεν ου δια ειδους 5:8 θαρρουμεν δε και ευδοκουμεν μαλλον εκδημησαι εκ του σωματος και ενδημησαι προς τον κυριον 5:9 διο και φιλοτιμουμεθα ειτε ενδημουντες ειτε εκδημουντες ευαρεστοι αυτω ειναι 5:10 τους γαρ παντας ημας φανερωθηναι δει εμπροσθεν του βηματος του χριστου ινα κομισηται εκαστος τα δια του σωματος προς α επραξεν ειτε αγαθον ειτε κακον
Ben F. Meyer, The Early Christians, p. 121-127
16 John 8:15
17 Psalm 104:30; Galatians 6:15
17 George A. Buttrick, The Parables of Jesus, p. 174
The Parables of Jesus
17 John Dominic Crossan, In Search of Paul, p. 174-176
In Search of Paul
To claim that God has already begun to transform this earth into a place of divine justice and peace demands that you can show something of that transformative activity here and now. To which Paul would have replied unabashedly: To see God’s transformation in process, come and see how we live. (p. 174)
And do not think of it as humanly extensive charity, a free giving of our stuff, but as divinely distributive justice, a necessary sharing of God’s stuff. …
Loving as a fair and equitable sharing of a world that belongs to a just God is what gives content to Paul’s assertion to the Galatians that “a new creation is everything” (Gal. 6:15) and to Paul’s claim to the Corinthians that “if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). What better deserves the title of a new creation than the abnormalcy of a share-world replacing the normalcy of a greed-world? (p. 175 f.)
17 Loren Eiseley, “An Age of Violence,” The Man Who Saw Through Time, p. 38
“An Age of Violence”
“If we must select some one philosopher as the hero of the revolution in scientific method,” said William Whewell, a learned nineteenth-century historian of science, “beyond all doubt Francis Bacon occupies the place of honor.” He based his estimate upon Bacon’s conception of the dawn of a new era and the shifting of logic from contention to its use in the analysis of experiments. “In catching sight of this principle, and in ascribing to it its due importance,” continues Whewell, “Bacon’s sagacity wrought unassisted and unequalled.” Ungrounded argument, Bacon saw, must be replaced by a logic applied to reality. Only then could man bring his second world into being.
17 Denise Levertov, “Part IV,” Poems 1968-1972 (To Stay Alive), p. 189
“Part IV”
17 Denise Levertov, “City Psalm,” Poems 1960-1967 (The Sorrow Dance), p. 222
“City Psalm”
… I have seen
not behind but within, within the
dull grief, blown grit, hideous
concrete façades, another grief, a gleam
as of dew, an abode of mercy,
have heard not behind but within noise
a humming that drifted into a quiet smile.
Nothing was changed, all was revealed otherwise;
not that horror was not, not that the killings did not continue,
not that I thought there was to be no more despair,
but that as if transparent all disclose
an otherness that was blesséd, that was bliss.
17 Mary Oliver, “The Pinewoods,” White Pine, p. 13
“The Pinewoods”
17 Mary Oliver, “Pen and Paper and a Breath of Air,” Blue Pastures, p. 52
“Pen and Paper and a Breath of Air”
17 Parker Palmer, On the Brink of Everything, l. 1413
On the Brink of Everything
17 Christina Rossetti, “A Birthday,” Goblin Market and Other Poems, p. 22
17 William Stafford, “You Reading This: Stop,” Even in Quiet Places, p. 100
“You Reading This: Stop”
17 William Stafford, “Our Story,” The Way It Is, p. 49
“Our Story”
Remind me again—together we
trace our strange journey, find
each other, come on laughing.
Some time we’ll cross where life
ends. We’ll both look back
as far as forever, that first day.
I’ll touch you—a new world then.
Stars will move a different way.
We’ll both end. We’ll both begin.
remind me again.
17 Franz Wright, “The Heaven,” God’s Silence, p. 43
“The Heaven”
18 Victor Paul Furnish, “Paul and the Corinthians,” Interpretation (July 1998), p. 242
“Paul and the Corinthians”
18 Francis Patrick Sullivan, “Something for Nothing,” A Time To Sow, p. 71
18 Francis Patrick Sullivan, “Really No Choice,” A Time To Sow, p. 84
19 Clarence Jordan, quoted by Melvin Talbot, Earl Lectures (January 25, 2000)
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who pride themselves on a man’s position and not on his heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
5:11 ειδοτες ουν τον φοβον του κυριου ανθρωπους πειθομεν θεω δε πεφανερωμεθα ελπιζω δε και εν ταις συνειδησεσιν υμων πεφανερωσθαι 5:12 ου γαρ παλιν εαυτους συνιστανομεν υμιν αλλα αφορμην διδοντες υμιν καυχηματος υπερ ημων ινα εχητε προς τους εν προσωπω καυχωμενους και ου καρδια 5:13 ειτε γαρ εξεστημεν θεω ειτε σωφρονουμεν υμιν 5:14 η γαρ αγαπη του χριστου συνεχει ημας κριναντας τουτο οτι [ει] εις υπερ παντων απεθανεν αρα οι παντες απεθανον 5:15 και υπερ παντων απεθανεν ινα οι ζωντες μηκετι εαυτοις ζωσιν αλλα τω υπερ αυτων αποθανοντι και εγερθεντι
5:16 ωστε ημεις απο του νυν ουδενα οιδαμεν κατα σαρκα ει δε και εγνωκαμεν κατα σαρκα χριστον αλλα νυν ουκετι γινωσκομεν 5:17 ωστε ει τις εν χριστω καινη κτισις τα αρχαια παρηλθεν ιδου γεγονεν καινα τα παντα 5:18 τα δε παντα εκ του θεου του καταλλαξαντος ημας εαυτω δια ιησου χριστου και δοντος ημιν την διακονιαν της καταλλαγης 5:19 ως οτι θεος ην εν χριστω κοσμον καταλλασσων εαυτω μη λογιζομενος αυτοις τα παραπτωματα αυτων και θεμενος εν ημιν τον λογον της καταλλαγης 5:20 υπερ χριστου ουν πρεσβευομεν ως του θεου παρακαλουντος δι ημων δεομεθα υπερ χριστου καταλλαγητε τω θεω 5:21 τον γαρ μη γνοντα αμαρτιαν υπερ ημων αμαρτιαν εποιησεν ινα ημεις γενωμεθα δικαιοσυνη θεου εν αυτω
1-13 Glenn T. Miller, “Between Text and Sermon,” Interpretation (April 2000), p. 186-188
1-2 Morris West, A View from the Ridge, p. 111
A View from the Ridge
1 Horace Bushnell, Sermons, p. 67
Sermons
Such everywhere is the manner of scripture. It proposes no destruction or demolition of our personality, but rather seeks to invigorate and embolden it … Nowhere does it seek to make us the mere channels of a divine agency, but always to make us agents ourselves in a more complete and free sense than before, “co-workers with God.” “We then,” says an apostle, “as workers together with him, beseech you.” “For we are laborers together with God.” The apostle has no thought, you perceive, of ceasing to be, as a distinct centre of choice, feeling and life; but he has come, rather, to be more really, distinctly, gloriously and powerfully personal, more consciously exalted and empowered by his faith in Jesus.
14-18 Samuel Terrien, “The Shelter and the Guard,” The Elusive Presence, p. 452
1 Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, 7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return—I speak as to children—widen your hearts also.
14 Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
6:1 συνεργουντες δε και παρακαλουμεν μη εις κενον την χαριν του θεου δεξασθαι υμας 6:2 λεγει γαρ καιρω δεκτω επηκουσα σου και εν ημερα σωτηριας εβοηθησα σοι ιδου νυν καιρος ευπροσδεκτος ιδου νυν ημερα σωτηριας 6:3 μηδεμιαν εν μηδενι διδοντες προσκοπην ινα μη μωμηθη η διακονια 6:4 αλλ εν παντι συνιστωντες εαυτους ως θεου διακονοι εν υπομονη πολλη εν θλιψεσιν εν αναγκαις εν στενοχωριαις 6:5 εν πληγαις εν φυλακαις εν ακαταστασιαις εν κοποις εν αγρυπνιαις εν νηστειαις 6:6 εν αγνοτητι εν γνωσει εν μακροθυμια εν χρηστοτητι εν πνευματι αγιω εν αγαπη ανυποκριτω 6:7 εν λογω αληθειας εν δυναμει θεου δια των οπλων της δικαιοσυνης των δεξιων και αριστερων 6:8 δια δοξης και ατιμιας δια δυσφημιας και ευφημιας ως πλανοι και αληθεις 6:9 ως αγνοουμενοι και επιγινωσκομενοι ως αποθνησκοντες και ιδου ζωμεν ως παιδευομενοι και μη θανατουμενοι 6:10 ως λυπουμενοι αει δε χαιροντες ως πτωχοι πολλους δε πλουτιζοντες ως μηδεν εχοντες και παντα κατεχοντες
6:11 το στομα ημων ανεωγεν προς υμας κορινθιοι η καρδια ημων πεπλατυνται 6:12 ου στενοχωρεισθε εν ημιν στενοχωρεισθε δε εν τοις σπλαγχνοις υμων 6:13 την δε αυτην αντιμισθιαν ως τεκνοις λεγω πλατυνθητε και υμεις
6:14 μη γινεσθε ετεροζυγουντες απιστοις τις γαρ μετοχη δικαιοσυνη και ανομια τις δε κοινωνια φωτι προς σκοτος 6:15 τις δε συμφωνησις χριστω προς αβη τις μερις πιστω μετα απιστου 6:16 τις δε συγκαταθεσις ναω θεου μετα ειδωλων υμεις γαρ ναος θεου εστε ζωντος καθως ειπεν ο θεος οτι ενοικησω εν αυτοις και εμπεριπατησω και εσομαι αυτων θεος και αυτοι εσονται μοι λαος 6:17 διο εξελθετε εκ μεσου αυτων και αφορισθητε λεγει κυριος και ακαθαρτου μη απτεσθε καγω εισδεξομαι υμας 6:18 και εσομαι υμιν εις πατερα και υμεις εσεσθε μοι εις υιους και θυγατερας λεγει κυριος παντοκρατωρ
1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
2 Open your hearts to us; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I have great confidence in you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. With all our affliction, I am overjoyed.
5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest but we were afflicted at every turn — fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it), for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting; for you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your zeal for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted.
And besides our own comfort we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by you all. 14 For if I have expressed to him some pride in you, I was not put to shame; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, and the fear and trembling with which you received him. 16 I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you.
7:1 ταυτας ουν εχοντες τας επαγγελιας αγαπητοι καθαρισωμεν εαυτους απο παντος μολυσμου σαρκος και πνευματος επιτελουντες αγιωσυνην εν φοβω θεου
7:2 χωρησατε ημας ουδενα ηδικησαμεν ουδενα εφθειραμεν ουδενα επλεονεκτησαμεν 7:3 ου προς κατακρισιν λεγω προειρηκα γαρ οτι εν ταις καρδιαις ημων εστε εις το συναποθανειν και συζην 7:4 πολλη μοι παρρησια προς υμας πολλη μοι καυχησις υπερ υμων πεπληρωμαι τη παρακλησει υπερπερισσευομαι τη χαρα επι παση τη θλιψει ημων
7:5 και γαρ ελθοντων ημων εις μακεδονιαν ουδεμιαν εσχηκεν ανεσιν η σαρξ ημων αλλ εν παντι θλιβομενοι εξωθεν μαχαι εσωθεν φοβοι 7:6 αλλ ο παρακαλων τους ταπεινους παρεκαλεσεν ημας ο θεος εν τη παρουσια τιτου 7:7 ου μονον δε εν τη παρουσια αυτου αλλα και εν τη παρακλησει η παρεκληθη εφ υμιν αναγγελλων ημιν την υμων επιποθησιν τον υμων οδυρμον τον υμων ζηλον υπερ εμου ωστε με μαλλον χαρηναι 7:8 οτι ει και ελυπησα υμας εν τη επιστολη ου μεταμελομαι ει και μετεμελομην βλεπω γαρ οτι η επιστολη εκεινη ει και προς ωραν ελυπησεν υμας 7:9 νυν χαιρω ουχ οτι ελυπηθητε αλλ οτι ελυπηθητε εις μετανοιαν ελυπηθητε γαρ κατα θεον ινα εν μηδενι ζημιωθητε εξ ημων 7:10 η γαρ κατα θεον λυπη μετανοιαν εις σωτηριαν αμεταμελητον κατεργαζεται η δε του κοσμου λυπη θανατον κατεργαζεται 7:11 ιδου γαρ αυτο τουτο το κατα θεον λυπηθηναι υμας ποσην κατειργασατο υμιν σπουδην αλλα απολογιαν αλλα αγανακτησιν αλλα φοβον αλλα επιποθησιν αλλα ζηλον αλλα εκδικησιν παντι συνεστησατε εαυτους αγνους ειναι εν τω πραγματι 7:12 αρα ει και εγραψα υμιν ουχ εινεκεν του αδικησαντος ουδε εινεκεν του αδικηθεντος αλλ εινεκεν του φανερωθηναι την σπουδην αβτην υπερ αβπρος υμας ενωπιον του θεου 7:13 δια τουτο παρακεκλημεθα
επι δε τη παρακλησει υμων περισσοτερως μαλλον εχαρημεν επι τη χαρα τιτου οτι αναπεπαυται το πνευμα αυτου απο παντων υμων 7:14 οτι ει τι αυτω υπερ υμων κεκαυχημαι ου κατησχυνθην αλλ ως παντα εν αληθεια ελαλησαμεν υμιν ουτως και η καυχησις ημων η επι τιτου αληθεια εγενηθη 7:15 και τα σπλαγχνα αυτου περισσοτερως εις υμας εστιν αναμιμνησκομενου την παντων υμων υπακοην ως μετα φοβου και τρομου εδεξασθε αυτον 7:16 χαιρω οτι εν παντι θαρρω εν υμιν
1-4 Romans 15:26
15 Exodus 16:18
21 Proverbs 3:4
1-15 Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 246
14 Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love, p. 171
1 We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedo’nia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints -5 and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6 Accordingly we have urged Titus that as he had already made a beginning, he should also complete among you this gracious work. 7 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us—see that you excel in this gracious work also.
8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my advice: it is best for you now to complete what a year ago you began not only to do but to desire, 11 so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he has not. 13 I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, 14 but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel; 19 and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord and to show our good will. 20 We intend that no one should blame us about this liberal gift which we are administering, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of men. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof, before the churches, of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
8:1 γνωριζομεν δε υμιν αδελφοι την χαριν του θεου την δεδομενην εν ταις εκκλησιαις της μακεδονιας 8:2 οτι εν πολλη δοκιμη θλιψεως η περισσεια της χαρας αυτων και η κατα βαθους πτωχεια αυτων επερισσευσεν εις τον πλουτον της απλοτητος αυτων 8:3 οτι κατα δυναμιν μαρτυρω και υπερ δυναμιν αυθαιρετοι 8:4 μετα πολλης παρακλησεως δεομενοι ημων την χαριν και την κοινωνιαν της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους 8:5 και ου καθως ηλπισαμεν αλλ εαυτους εδωκαν πρωτον τω κυριω και ημιν δια θεληματος θεου 8:6 εις το παρακαλεσαι ημας τιτον ινα καθως προενηρξατο ουτως και επιτελεση εις υμας και την χαριν ταυτην 8:7 αλλ ωσπερ εν παντι περισσευετε πιστει και λογω και γνωσει και παση σπουδη και τη εξ υμων εν ημιν αγαπη ινα και εν ταυτη τη χαριτι περισσευητε
8:8 ου κατ επιταγην λεγω αλλα δια της ετερων σπουδης και το της υμετερας αγαπης γνησιον δοκιμαζων 8:9 γινωσκετε γαρ την χαριν του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου οτι δι υμας επτωχευσεν πλουσιος ων ινα υμεις τη εκεινου πτωχεια πλουτησητε 8:10 και γνωμην εν τουτω διδωμι τουτο γαρ υμιν συμφερει οιτινες ου μονον το ποιησαι αλλα και το θελειν προενηρξασθε απο περυσι 8:11 νυνι δε και το ποιησαι επιτελεσατε οπως καθαπερ η προθυμια του θελειν ουτως και το επιτελεσαι εκ του εχειν 8:12 ει γαρ η προθυμια προκειται καθο εαν εχη τις ευπροσδεκτος ου καθο ουκ εχει 8:13 ου γαρ ινα αλλοις ανεσις υμιν δε θλιψις αλλ εξ ισοτητος εν τω νυν καιρω το υμων περισσευμα εις το εκεινων υστερημα 8:14 ινα και το εκεινων περισσευμα γενηται εις το υμων υστερημα οπως γενηται ισοτης 8:15 καθως γεγραπται ο το πολυ ουκ επλεονασεν και ο το ολιγον ουκ ηλαττονησεν
8:16 χαρις δε τω θεω τω διδοντι την αυτην σπουδην υπερ υμων εν τη καρδια τιτου 8:17 οτι την μεν παρακλησιν εδεξατο σπουδαιοτερος δε υπαρχων αυθαιρετος εξηλθεν προς υμας 8:18 συνεπεμψαμεν δε μετ αυτου τον αδελφον ου ο επαινος εν τω ευαγγελιω δια πασων των εκκλησιων 8:19 ου μονον δε αλλα και χειροτονηθεις υπο των εκκλησιων συνεκδημος ημων συν τη χαριτι ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ ημων προς την αυτου του κυριου δοξαν και προθυμιαν ημων 8:20 στελλομενοι τουτο μη τις ημας μωμησηται εν τη αδροτητι ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ ημων 8:21 προνοουμενοι καλα ου μονον ενωπιον κυριου αλλα και ενωπιον ανθρωπων 8:22 συνεπεμψαμεν δε αυτοις τον αδελφον ημων ον εδοκιμασαμεν εν πολλοις πολλακις σπουδαιον οντα νυνι δε πολυ σπουδαιοτερον πεποιθησει πολλη τη εις υμας 8:23 ειτε υπερ τιτου κοινωνος εμος και εις υμας συνεργος ειτε αδελφοι ημων αποστολοι εκκλησιων δοξα χριστου 8:24 την ουν ενδειξιν της αγαπης υμων και ημων καυχησεως υπερ υμων εις αυτους ενδειξασθε εις προσωπον των εκκλησιων
9 Psalm 112:9
10 Isaiah 55:10
6-11 Helmut Thielicke, “Seed and Harvest,” Faith: The Great Adventure, p. 83-90
6-9 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 284
1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the offering for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brethren so that our boasting about you may not prove vain in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we be humiliated -to say nothing of you — for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren to go on to you before me, and arrange in advance for this gift you have promised, so that it may be ready not as an exaction but as a willing gift.
6 The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; 12 for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. 13 Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others; 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
9:1 περι μεν γαρ της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους περισσον μοι εστιν το γραφειν υμιν 9:2 οιδα γαρ την προθυμιαν υμων ην υπερ υμων καυχωμαι μακεδοσιν οτι αχαια παρεσκευασται απο περυσι και ο εξ υμων ζηλος ηρεθισεν τους πλειονας 9:3 επεμψα δε τους αδελφους ινα μη το καυχημα ημων το υπερ υμων κενωθη εν τω μερει τουτω ινα καθως ελεγον παρεσκευασμενοι ητε 9:4 μηπως εαν ελθωσιν συν εμοι μακεδονες και ευρωσιν υμας απαρασκευαστους καταισχυνθωμεν ημεις ινα μη λεγωμεν υμεις εν τη υποστασει ταυτη της καυχησεως 9:5 αναγκαιον ουν ηγησαμην παρακαλεσαι τους αδελφους ινα προελθωσιν εις υμας και προκαταρτισωσιν την προκατηγγελμενην ευλογιαν υμων ταυτην ετοιμην ειναι ουτως ως ευλογιαν και μη ως πλεονεξιαν
9:6 τουτο δε ο σπειρων φειδομενως φειδομενως και θερισει και ο σπειρων επ ευλογιαις επ ευλογιαις και θερισει 9:7 εκαστος καθως προαιρειται τη καρδια μη εκ λυπης η εξ αναγκης ιλαρον γαρ δοτην αγαπα ο θεος 9:8 δυνατος δε ο θεος πασαν χαριν περισσευσαι εις υμας ινα εν παντι παντοτε πασαν αυταρκειαν εχοντες περισσευητε εις παν εργον αγαθον 9:9 καθως γεγραπται εσκορπισεν εδωκεν τοις πενησιν η δικαιοσυνη αυτου μενει εις τον αιωνα 9:10 ο δε επιχορηγων σπερμα τω σπειροντι και αρτον εις βρωσιν χορηγησαι και πληθυναι τον σπορον υμων και αυξησαι τα γενηματα της δικαιοσυνης υμων 9:11 εν παντι πλουτιζομενοι εις πασαν απλοτητα ητις κατεργαζεται δι ημων ευχαριστιαν τω θεω 9:12 οτι η διακονια της λειτουργιας ταυτης ου μονον εστιν προσαναπληρουσα τα υστερηματα των αγιων αλλα και περισσευουσα δια πολλων ευχαριστιων τω θεω 9:13 δια της δοκιμης της διακονιας ταυτης δοξαζοντες τον θεον επι τη υποταγη της ομολογιας υμων εις το ευαγγελιον του χριστου και απλοτητι της κοινωνιας εις αυτους και εις παντας 9:14 και αυτων δεησει υπερ υμων επιποθουντων υμας δια την υπερβαλλουσαν χαριν του θεου εφ υμιν 9:15 χαρις δε τω θεω επι τη ανεκδιηγητω αυτου δωρεα
3-5 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 285
1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold to you when I am away!—2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of acting in worldly fashion. 3 For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
7 Look at what is before your eyes. If any one is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that as he is Christ’s, so are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame. 9 I would not seem to be frightening you with letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.
12 Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. 13 But we will not boast beyond limit, but will keep to the limits God has apportioned us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit, in other men’s labors; but our hope is that as your faith increases, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s field. 17 “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.” 18 For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the man whom the Lord commends.
10:1 αυτος δε εγω παυλος παρακαλω υμας δια της πραοτητος και επιεικειας του χριστου ος κατα προσωπον μεν ταπεινος εν υμιν απων δε θαρρω εις υμας 10:2 δεομαι δε το μη παρων θαρρησαι τη πεποιθησει η λογιζομαι τολμησαι επι τινας τους λογιζομενους ημας ως κατα σαρκα περιπατουντας 10:3 εν σαρκι γαρ περιπατουντες ου κατα σαρκα στρατευομεθα 10:4 τα γαρ οπλα της στρατειας ημων ου σαρκικα αλλα δυνατα τω θεω προς καθαιρεσιν οχυρωματων 10:5 λογισμους καθαιρουντες και παν υψωμα επαιρομενον κατα της γνωσεως του θεου και αιχμαλωτιζοντες παν νοημα εις την υπακοην του χριστου 10:6 και εν ετοιμω εχοντες εκδικησαι πασαν παρακοην οταν πληρωθη υμων η υπακοη
10:7 τα κατα προσωπον βλεπετε ει τις πεποιθεν εαυτω χριστου ειναι τουτο λογιζεσθω παλιν αφ εαυτου οτι καθως αυτος χριστου ουτως και ημεις χριστου 10:8 εαν τε γαρ και περισσοτερον τι καυχησωμαι περι της εξουσιας ημων ης εδωκεν ο κυριος ημιν εις οικοδομην και ουκ εις καθαιρεσιν υμων ουκ αισχυνθησομαι 10:9 ινα μη δοξω ως αν εκφοβειν υμας δια των επιστολων 10:10 οτι αι μεν επιστολαι φησιν βαρειαι και ισχυραι η δε παρουσια του σωματος ασθενης και ο λογος εξουθενημενος 10:11 τουτο λογιζεσθω ο τοιουτος οτι οιοι εσμεν τω λογω δι επιστολων αποντες τοιουτοι και παροντες τω εργω
10:12 ου γαρ τολμωμεν εγκριναι η συγκριναι εαυτους τισιν των εαυτους συνιστανοντων αλλα αυτοι εν εαυτοις εαυτους μετρουντες και συγκρινοντες εαυτους εαυτοις ου συνιουσιν 10:13 ημεις δε ουχι εις τα αμετρα καυχησομεθα αλλα κατα το μετρον του κανονος ου εμερισεν ημιν ο θεος μετρου εφικεσθαι αχρι και υμων 10:14 ου γαρ ως μη εφικνουμενοι εις υμας υπερεκτεινομεν εαυτους αχρι γαρ και υμων εφθασαμεν εν τω ευαγγελιω του χριστου 10:15 ουκ εις τα αμετρα καυχωμενοι εν αλλοτριοις κοποις ελπιδα δε εχοντες αυξανομενης της πιστεως υμων εν υμιν μεγαλυνθηναι κατα τον κανονα ημων εις περισσειαν 10:16 εις τα υπερεκεινα υμων ευαγγελισασθαι ουκ εν αλλοτριω κανονι εις τα ετοιμα καυχησασθαι 10:17 ο δε καυχωμενος εν κυριω καυχασθω 10:18 ου γαρ ο εαυτον συνιστων εκεινος εστιν δοκιμος αλλ ον ο κυριος συνιστησιν
3 Genesis 3:1-5, 3:13
4 Galatians 1:8
9 Philippians 4:15-18
23 Acts 16:23
24 Deuteronomy 25:3; Psalm 129:3; Galatians 6:17
25 Acts 14:19, 16:22
26 Acts 9:23, 14:5
32-33 Acts 9:23-25
33 John Dominic Crossan, In Search of Paul, p. 337
In Search of Paul
This is a marvelous and humorous finale. The Roman legionary soldier who swore he was first over the enemy’s city walls received the corona muralis, a battlemented gold crown for conspicuous bravery. I got, says Paul, in climaxing this lampoon of superior achievements, the corona ex-muralis, for getting away safely, for being the first over the wall in the opposite direction.
1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. 5 I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
7 Did I commit a sin in abasing myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel without cost to you? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in want, I did not burden any one, for my needs were supplied by the brethren who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12 And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish; but even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 (What I am saying I say not with the Lord’s authority but as a fool, in this boastful confidence; 18 since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast.) . 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if a man makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!
But whatever any one dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Ar’etas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.
11:1 οφελον ανειχεσθε μου μικρον τη αφροσυνη αλλα και ανεχεσθε μου 11:2 ζηλω γαρ υμας θεου ζηλω ηρμοσαμην γαρ υμας ενι ανδρι παρθενον αγνην παραστησαι τω χριστω 11:3 φοβουμαι δε μηπως ως ο οφις ευαν εξηπατησεν εν τη πανουργια αυτου ουτως φθαρη τα νοηματα υμων απο της απλοτητος της εις τον χριστον 11:4 ει μεν γαρ ο ερχομενος αλλον ιησουν κηρυσσει ον ουκ εκηρυξαμεν η πνευμα ετερον λαμβανετε ο ουκ ελαβετε η ευαγγελιον ετερον ο ουκ εδεξασθε καλως ηνειχεσθε 11:5 λογιζομαι γαρ μηδεν υστερηκεναι των υπερ λιαν αποστολων 11:6 ει δε και ιδιωτης τω λογω αλλ ου τη γνωσει αλλ εν παντι φανερωθεντες εν πασιν εις υμας
11:7 η αμαρτιαν εποιησα εμαυτον ταπεινων ινα υμεις υψωθητε οτι δωρεαν το του θεου ευαγγελιον ευηγγελισαμην υμιν 11:8 αλλας εκκλησιας εσυλησα λαβων οψωνιον προς την υμων διακονιαν 11:9 και παρων προς υμας και υστερηθεις ου κατεναρκησα ουδενος το γαρ υστερημα μου προσανεπληρωσαν οι αδελφοι ελθοντες απο μακεδονιας και εν παντι αβαρη υμιν εμαυτον ετηρησα και τηρησω 11:10 εστιν αληθεια χριστου εν εμοι οτι η καυχησις αυτη ου αβεις εμε εν τοις κλιμασιν της αχαιας 11:11 δια τι οτι ουκ αγαπω υμας ο θεος οιδεν
11:12 ο δε ποιω και ποιησω ινα εκκοψω την αφορμην των θελοντων αφορμην ινα εν ω καυχωνται ευρεθωσιν καθως και ημεις 11:13 οι γαρ τοιουτοι ψευδαποστολοι εργαται δολιοι μετασχηματιζομενοι εις αποστολους χριστου 11:14 και ου θαυμαστον αυτος γαρ ο σατανας μετασχηματιζεται εις αγγελον φωτος 11:15 ου μεγα ουν ει και οι διακονοι αυτου μετασχηματιζονται ως διακονοι δικαιοσυνης ων το τελος εσται κατα τα εργα αυτων
11:16 παλιν λεγω μη τις με δοξη αφρονα ειναι ει δε μηγε καν ως αφρονα δεξασθε με ινα καγω μικρον τι καυχησωμαι 11:17 ο λαλω ου λαλω κατα κυριον αλλ ως εν αφροσυνη εν ταυτη τη υποστασει της καυχησεως 11:18 επει πολλοι καυχωνται κατα την σαρκα καγω καυχησομαι 11:19 ηδεως γαρ ανεχεσθε των αφρονων φρονιμοι οντες 11:20 ανεχεσθε γαρ ει τις υμας καταδουλοι ει τις κατεσθιει ει τις λαμβανει ει τις επαιρεται ει τις υμας εις προσωπον δερει 11:21 κατα ατιμιαν λεγω ως οτι ημεις ησθενησαμεν εν ω
δ αν τις τολμα εν αφροσυνη λεγω τολμω καγω 11:22 εβραιοι εισιν καγω ισραηλιται εισιν καγω σπερμα αβρααμ εισιν καγω 11:23 διακονοι χριστου εισιν παραφρονων λαλω υπερ εγω εν κοποις περισσοτερως εν πληγαις υπερβαλλοντως εν φυλακαις περισσοτερως εν θανατοις πολλακις 11:24 υπο ιουδαιων πεντακις τεσσαρακοντα παρα μιαν ελαβον 11:25 τρις εραβδισθην απαξ ελιθασθην τρις εναυαγησα νυχθημερον εν τω βυθω πεποιηκα 11:26 οδοιποριαις πολλακις κινδυνοις ποταμων κινδυνοις ληστων κινδυνοις εκ γενους κινδυνοις εξ εθνων κινδυνοις εν πολει κινδυνοις εν ερημια κινδυνοις εν θαλασση κινδυνοις εν ψευδαδελφοις 11:27 εν κοπω και μοχθω εν αγρυπνιαις πολλακις εν λιμω και διψει εν νηστειαις πολλακις εν ψυχει και γυμνοτητι 11:28 χωρις των παρεκτος η επισυστασις μου η καθ ημεραν η μεριμνα πασων των εκκλησιων 11:29 τις ασθενει και ουκ ασθενω τις σκανδαλιζεται και ουκ εγω πυρουμαι
11:30 ει καυχασθαι δει τα της ασθενειας μου καυχησομαι 11:31 ο θεος και πατηρ του κυριου ιησου χριστου οιδεν ο ων ευλογητος εις τους αιωνας οτι ου ψευδομαι 11:32 εν δαμασκω ο εθναρχης αρετα του βασιλεως εφρουρει την δαμασκηνων πολιν πιασαι με θελων 11:33 και δια θυριδος εν σαργανη εχαλασθην δια του τειχους και εξεφυγον τας χειρας αυτου
7-10 E. Glenn Hinson, “Impasse and the Sufficiency of Grace,” Weavings (January/February 2008), p. 35-43
7-9 H. E. Fosdick, The Meaning of Prayer, p. 137 f.
9 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 286
1 I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6 Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less? 16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by guile. 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps I may come and find you not what I wish, and that you may find me not what you wish; that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness which they have practiced.
12:1 καυχασθαι δη ου συμφερει μοι ελευσομαι γαρ εις οπτασιας και αποκαλυψεις κυριου 12:2 οιδα ανθρωπον εν χριστω προ ετων δεκατεσσαρων ειτε εν σωματι ουκ οιδα ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν αρπαγεντα τον τοιουτον εως τριτου ουρανου 12:3 και οιδα τον τοιουτον ανθρωπον ειτε εν σωματι ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν 12:4 οτι ηρπαγη εις τον παραδεισον και ηκουσεν αρρητα ρηματα α ουκ εξον ανθρωπω λαλησαι 12:5 υπερ του τοιουτου καυχησομαι υπερ δε εμαυτου ου καυχησομαι ει μη εν ταις ασθενειαις μου 12:6 εαν γαρ θελησω καυχησασθαι ουκ εσομαι αφρων αληθειαν γαρ ερω φειδομαι δε μη τις εις εμε λογισηται υπερ ο βλεπει με η ακουει τι εξ εμου 12:7 και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελος σαταν ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι 12:8 υπερ τουτου τρις τον κυριον παρεκαλεσα ινα αποστη απ εμου 12:9 και ειρηκεν μοι αρκει σοι η χαρις μου η γαρ δυναμις μου εν ασθενεια τελειουται ηδιστα ουν μαλλον καυχησομαι εν ταις ασθενειαις μου ινα επισκηνωση επ εμε η δυναμις του χριστου 12:10 διο ευδοκω εν ασθενειαις εν υβρεσιν εν αναγκαις εν διωγμοις εν στενοχωριαις υπερ χριστου οταν γαρ ασθενω τοτε δυνατος ειμι
12:11 γεγονα αφρων καυχωμενος υμεις με ηναγκασατε εγω γαρ ωφειλον υφ υμων συνιστασθαι ουδεν γαρ υστερησα των υπερ λιαν αποστολων ει και ουδεν ειμι 12:12 τα μεν σημεια του αποστολου κατειργασθη εν υμιν εν παση υπομονη εν σημειοις και τερασιν και δυναμεσιν 12:13 τι γαρ εστιν ο ηττηθητε υπερ τας λοιπας εκκλησιας ει μη οτι αυτος εγω ου κατεναρκησα υμων χαρισασθε μοι την αδικιαν ταυτην
12:14 ιδου τριτον ετοιμως εχω ελθειν προς υμας και ου καταναρκησω υμων ου γαρ ζητω τα υμων αλλα υμας ου γαρ οφειλει τα τεκνα τοις γονευσιν θησαυριζειν αλλ οι γονεις τοις τεκνοις 12:15 εγω δε ηδιστα δαπανησω και εκδαπανηθησομαι υπερ των ψυχων υμων ει και περισσοτερως υμας αγαπων ηττον αγαπωμαι 12:16 εστω δε εγω ου κατεβαρησα υμας αλλ υπαρχων πανουργος δολω υμας ελαβον 12:17 μη τινα ων απεσταλκα προς υμας δι αυτου επλεονεκτησα υμας 12:18 παρεκαλεσα τιτον και συναπεστειλα τον αδελφον μη τι επλεονεκτησεν υμας τιτος ου τω αυτω πνευματι περιεπατησαμεν ου τοις αυτοις ιχνεσιν
12:19 παλιν δοκειτε οτι υμιν απολογουμεθα κατενωπιον του θεου εν χριστω λαλουμεν τα δε παντα αγαπητοι υπερ της υμων οικοδομης 12:20 φοβουμαι γαρ μηπως ελθων ουχ οιους θελω ευρω υμας καγω ευρεθω υμιν οιον ου θελετε μηπως ερεις ζηλοι θυμοι εριθειαι καταλαλιαι ψιθυρισμοι φυσιωσεις ακαταστασιαι 12:21 μη παλιν ελθοντα με ταπεινωσει ο θεος μου προς υμας και πενθησω πολλους των προημαρτηκοτων και μη μετανοησαντων επι τη ακαθαρσια και πορνεια και ασελγεια η επραξαν
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them -3 since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we shall live with him by the power of God.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed. 7 But we pray God that you may not do wrong — not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. What we pray for is your improvement. 10 I write this while I am away from you, in order that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
13:1 τριτον τουτο ερχομαι προς υμας επι στοματος δυο μαρτυρων και τριων σταθησεται παν ρημα 13:2 προειρηκα και προλεγω ως παρων το δευτερον και απων νυν γραφω τοις προημαρτηκοσιν και τοις λοιποις πασιν οτι εαν ελθω εις το παλιν ου φεισομαι 13:3 επει δοκιμην ζητειτε του εν εμοι λαλουντος χριστου ος εις υμας ουκ ασθενει αλλα δυνατει εν υμιν 13:4 και γαρ ει εσταυρωθη εξ ασθενειας αλλα ζη εκ δυναμεως θεου και γαρ ημεις ασθενουμεν εν αυτω αλλα ζησομεθα συν αυτω εκ δυναμεως θεου εις υμας
13:5 εαυτους πειραζετε ει εστε εν τη πιστει εαυτους δοκιμαζετε η ουκ επιγινωσκετε εαυτους οτι ιησους χριστος εν υμιν εστιν ει μη τι αδοκιμοι εστε 13:6 ελπιζω δε οτι γνωσεσθε οτι ημεις ουκ εσμεν αδοκιμοι 13:7 ευχομαι δε προς τον θεον μη ποιησαι υμας κακον μηδεν ουχ ινα ημεις δοκιμοι φανωμεν αλλ ινα υμεις το καλον ποιητε ημεις δε ως αδοκιμοι ωμεν 13:8 ου γαρ δυναμεθα τι κατα της αληθειας αλλ υπερ της αληθειας 13:9 χαιρομεν γαρ οταν ημεις ασθενωμεν υμεις δε δυνατοι ητε τουτο δε και ευχομεθα την υμων καταρτισιν 13:10 δια τουτο ταυτα απων γραφω ινα παρων μη αποτομως χρησωμαι κατα την εξουσιαν ην εδωκεν μοι ο κυριος εις οικοδομην και ουκ εις καθαιρεσιν
13:11 λοιπον αδελφοι χαιρετε καταρτιζεσθε παρακαλεισθε το αυτο φρονειτε ειρηνευετε και ο θεος της αγαπης και ειρηνης εσται μεθ υμων 13:12 ασπασασθε αλληλους εν αγιω φιληματι
13:13 ασπαζονται υμας οι αγιοι παντες 13:14 η χαρις του κυριου ιησου χριστου και η αγαπη του θεου και η κοινωνια του αγιου πνευματος μετα παντων υμων αμην