Letters to the Churches

For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.

Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.

For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:

not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto further abundance,

so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another’s province in regard of things ready to our hand.

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me.

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him.

For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.

Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you;

and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.

Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.

It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but ifye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.