Letters to the Churches

`because the letters indeed--saith one-- are weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.'

This one--let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, we are in deed.

For we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, among themselves measuring themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,

and we in regard to the unmeasured things will not boast ourselves, but after the measure of the line that the God of measure did appoint to us--to reach even unto you;

for not as not reaching to you do we stretch ourselves overmuch, for even unto you did we come in the good news of the Christ,

not boasting of the things not measured, in other men's labours, and having hope--your faith increasing--in you to be enlarged, according to our line--into abundance,

in the places beyond you to proclaim good news, not in another's line in regard to the things made ready, to boast;

and he who is boasting--in the Lord let him boast;

for not he who is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord doth commend.

O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me:

for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did betroth you to one husband, a pure virgin, to present to Christ,

and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in the Christ;

for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another Jesus whom we did not preach, or another Spirit ye receive which ye did not receive, or other good news which ye did not accept--well were ye bearing it ,

for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,

and even if unlearned in word--yet not in knowledge, but in every thing we were made manifest in all things to you.

The sin did I do--myself humbling that ye might be exalted, because freely the good news of God I did proclaim to you?

other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for your ministration;

and being present with you, and having been in want, I was chargeable to no one, for my lack did the brethren supply--having come from Macedonia--and in everything burdenless to you I did keep myself, and will keep.

The truth of Christ is in me, because this boasting shall not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia;

wherefore? because I do not love you? God hath known!

and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those wishing an occasion, that in that which they boast they may be found according as we also;

for those such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,

and no wonder--for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;

no great thing, then, if also his ministrants do transform themselves as ministrants of righteousness--whose end shall be according to their works.

Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.