Letters to the Churches

So that on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

Wherefore, I beseech you that you would confirm your charity towards him.

For to this end also did I write, that I may know the experiment of you, whether you be obedient in all things.

And to whom you have pardoned any thing, I also. For, what I have pardoned, if I have pardoned any thing, for your sakes have I done it in the person of Christ:

That we be not overreached by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his devices.

And when I was come to Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened unto me in the Lord,

I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but bidding them farewell, I went into Macedonia.

Now thanks be to God, who always maketh us to triumph in Christ Jesus and manifesteth the odour of his knowledge by us in every place.

For we are the good odour of Christ unto God, in them that are saved and in them that perish.

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?

For we are not as many, adulterating the word of God: but with sincerity: but as from God, before God, in Christ we speak.

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?

You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men:

Being manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written: not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone but in the fleshly tables of the heart.

And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God.

Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.

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.

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:

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.

For even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified by reason of the glory that excelleth.

For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is in glory.

Having therefore such hope, we use much confidence.

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.

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).