The Bible in Its Traditions

2 Corinthians 12:0; 11:1–18:14

Byz Nes V TR
S

Oh, that you would bear with me a little in my foolishness; but indeed you do bear with me.

I WISH you to be patient with me for a while, so that I may speak plainly, and I am sure you will be.

Byz Nes V S TR

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Byz Nes V TR
S

But I fear, lest perhaps as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

But I am afraid, that just as the serpent through his deceitfulness misled Eve, so your minds should be corrupted from the sincerity that is in Christ.

Byz Nes TR S
V
TR

For if he who comes [to you ]preaches another Jesus whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you may well put up with him!

For if anyone arrives preaching another Christ, one whom we have not preached; or if you receive another Spirit, one whom you have not received; or another Gospel, one which you have not been given: you might permit him to guide you.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Byz V
Nes S TR

For I consider [myself] [in] nothing to have been inferior to the most super apostles.

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

Byz Nes TR
V
S TR

But even if I [am] unskilled in speech, yet [I am] not [inferior ]in knowledge, but in every [way] I was made known to you in all things.

For although I may be unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge. But, in all things, we have been made manifest to you.

But though I am a poor speaker, I am not poor in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

Byz Nes V
S
TR

Or did I commit sin in humbling myself in order that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

Probably I have acted foolishly in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God freely.

Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Byz Nes TR
V
S

I robbed other churches, taking wages [from them] to minister to you,

I have taken from other churches, receiving a stipend from them to the benefit of your ministry.

I deprived other churches, taking supplies from them, in order to minister to you.

Byz Nes V TR
S

and when I was present with you, and in need, I did not burden anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. And in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and so I will keep myself.

And when I came to you and was in need, I did not burden any of you for my wants were supplied by the brethren who came from Mac-e-doÆni-a : I have taken care of myself in every way and I will so continue to keep myself that I will not be a burden to you.

Byz Nes S TR
V

10  As the truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting will not be silenced in me in the regions of Achaia.

10  The truth of Christ is in me, and so this glorying shall not be broken away from me in the regions of Achaia.

Byz S
Nes TR
V

11  Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

11  Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

11  Why so? Is it because I do not love you? God knows I do.

Byz V
Nes TR
S

12  But what I am doing, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity of those who desire an opportunity, that in what they boast they may be found just as we [are].

12  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.

12  But what I do, I will continue to do, so as to give no occasion to those who seek an occasion; and that, in whatever they boast, they may not be found equal to us;

Byz Nes TR
V
S

13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

13  For false apostles, such as these deceitful workers, are presenting themselves as if they were Apostles of Christ.

13  For they are false apostles, and deceitful workers, posing as apostles of Christ.

Byz Nes V TR
S

14  And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

14  There is no marvel in this; for if Satan disguises himself as the angel of light,

15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

15  It is no great thing if his ministers also pose as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Byz S TR
Nes
V

16  Again I say, let no one think me a fool. Otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

16  I say again, let no man think me foolish; but if [ye do], yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

16  I say again. And let no one consider me to be foolish. Or, at least, accept me as if I were foolish, so that I also may glory a small amount.

Byz S
Nes TR
V

17  What I speak, I speak not according to YHWH, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

17  That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.

17  What I am saying is not said according to God, but as if in foolishness, in this matter of glorying.

Byz V
Nes TR
S

18  Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I also will boast.

18  Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

18  Because many boast on the things of the flesh, I boast also.

Byz Nes S TR
V

19  For you bear with fools gladly, being wise [yourselves]!

19  For you freely accept the foolish, though you yourselves claim to be wise.

Byz V Nes S TR

20  For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you in the face.

Byz
Nes TR S
V

21  To our shame, I say that we were too weak [for that]! But in whatever anyone is bold (I speak foolishly) I am bold also.

21  I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

21  I speak according to disgrace, as if we had been weak in this regard. In this matter, (I speak in foolishness) if anyone dares, I dare also.

Byz Nes V TR
S

22  Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

22  Now if they are Hebrews, so am I. If they are Israelites, so am I. If they are descendants of Abraham, so am I.

Byz Nes TR
V
S

23  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] even more: in labors far more, in beatings immeasurably, in imprisonments far more, in deaths often.

23  They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as if I were less wise); more so am I: with many more labors, with numerous imprisonments, with wounds beyond measure, with frequent mortifications.

23  If they are ministers of Christ, I speak as a fool, I am greater than they; in labor more than they, in wounds more than they, in imprisonments more frequent than they, and in danger of death many times.

Byz TR Nes
V
S

24  By [the] Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.

24  On five occasions, I received forty stripes, less one, from the Jews.

24  By the Jews I was scourged five times, each time forty stripes less one.

Byz V S
Nes TR

25  Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have spent in the depth [of the sea].

25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep;

Byz V
Nes TR S

26  In journeys often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers;

26  [in] journeyings often, [in] perils of rivers, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils from [my] countrymen, [in] perils from the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;

Byz S Nes TR
V

27  in labor and hardship, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-

27  with hardships and difficulties, with much vigilance, in hunger and thirst, with frequent fasts, in cold and nakedness,

Byz
Nes TR V S

28  apart from what I leave unmentioned, what comes against me daily: the anxiety for all the churches.

28  Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

Byz Nes V TR
S

29  Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I do not burn [with indignation]?

29  Who is sick that I do not feel the pain? Who stumbles that does not have my heartfelt sympathy?

Byz Nes S
V
TR

30  If I must boast, I will boast about the things concerning my weakness.

30  If it is necessary to glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weaknesses.

30  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

Byz Nes V S TR

31  The God and Father of YHWH Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

Byz Nes TR
V S

32  In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;

32  At Damascus, the governor of the nation under Aretas the king, watched over the city of the Damascenes, so as to apprehend me.

Byz Nes TR
V
S

33  but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

33  And, through a window, I was let down along the wall in a basket; and so I escaped his hands.

33  And I was lowered in a basket from a window over the city wall, and thus I escaped from his hands.

Byz TR
Nes TR V
S

12:1  It is indeed not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of YHWH

I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

BOASTING is proper, but there is no advantage in it, and I prefer to relate the visions and revelations of our LORD.

Byz Nes V S
TR

12:2  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a one was caught up to the third heaven.

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Byz Nes V
S
TR

12:3  And I know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-

And I still know this man, but whether in the body or whether without the body, I cannot tell; God knows;

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

Byz
Nes S TR
V

12:4  that he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not permitted for a man to utter.

how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak.

Byz Nes V S
V
TR

12:5  Concerning such a one I will boast, but concerning myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities.

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

Byz Nes TR
V
S

12:6  For if I should desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak [the] truth. But I spare [you], lest anyone consider me to be beyond what he sees me [to be] or hears something from me.

For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me.

But even if I would desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will tell the truth: but now I refrain, lest any one should think more of me than what he sees me to be and what he hears from me.

Byz S TR
Nes
V

12:7  And lest I exalt myself above measure by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, that it might beat me, lest I exalt myself above measure.

And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.

And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly.

Byz Nes S TR
V

12:8  Concerning this I pleaded with YHWH three times that it might depart from me.

Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me.

12:9  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness."Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.

Byz TR Nes S
V

12:10  Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

10  Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.

Byz V TR
Nes TR
S

12:11  I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me! For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing have I been inferior to the super apostles, though I am nothing.

11  I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.

11  Behold, I am foolish to boast but you have forced me: for you ought to have testified concerning me: for in no way am I less than those apostles who are highly honored, though I am nothing.

Byz Nes TR
V
S

12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and miracles.

12  And the seal of my Apostleship has been set over you, with all patience, with signs and wonders and miracles.

12  The miracles which the apostles have wrought I have wrought among you also in all patience, in signs, in wonders, and mighty deeds.

Byz TR Nes V S

12:13  For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Byz Nes TR
V S

12:14  Now for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you. For I do not seek what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

14  Behold, this is the third time I have prepared to come to you, and yet I will not be a burden to you. For I am seeking not the things that are yours, but you yourselves. And neither should the children store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Byz TR Nes
V
S

12:15  And I gladly will spend and be expended for your souls; although the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

15  And so, very willingly, I will spend and exhaust myself for the sake of your souls, loving you more, while being loved less.

15  I will gladly pay my expenses, and I will even give myself for the sake of your souls; though the more I love you, the less you love me.

Byz TR
Nes S
V

12:16  But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I took you with guile!

16  But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

16  And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile.

Byz Nes V TR
S

12:17  Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

17  Why? Did I extort anything from you by any of the men whom I sent to you?

Byz Nes TR
V
S

12:18  I urged Titus, and I sent with him the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did [we] not [walk] in the same Spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

18  I asked for Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

18  I requested Titus to visit you, and I sent brethren with him. Did Titus extort anything from you? Did we not walk in the same spirit, and did we not walk in the same steps?

Byz S TR
Nes V

12:19  Again, do you think that we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

19  Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, [are] for your edifying.

Byz S
Nes TR
V

12:20  For I am afraid, lest perhaps when I come, I will not find you as I desire, and that I will be found by you as you do not desire; lest perhaps there[ be] contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, disputes, slanders, gossipings, pride, disorders;

20  For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means [there should be] strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;

20  Yet I fear, lest perhaps, when I have arrived, I might not find you such as I would want, and I might be found by you, such as you would not want. For perhaps there may be among you: contention, envy, animosity, dissension, detraction, whispering, self-exaltation, and rebellion.

Byz Nes S
V
TR

12:21  lest, when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will mourn for many who have previously sinned and have not repented for the impurity and fornication and lewdness which they practiced.

21  If so, then, when I have arrived, God may again humble me among you. And so, I mourn for the many who sinned beforehand, and did not repent, over the lust and fornication and homosexuality, which they have committed.

21  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Byz Nes TR
V
S

13:1  This [will be] the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."

Behold, this is the third time that I am coming to you. By the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall stand.

THIS is the third time I am ready to come to you, for by the mouth of two or three witnesses every charge is sustained.

Byz Nes V S TR

13:2  I have previously said, and I say beforehand, as being present the second [time], and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare [you,]

Byz TR S
Nes
V

13:3  since you are seeking proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but strong in you.

seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you-ward is not weak, but is powerful in you

Do you seek evidence that it is Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak with you, but is powerful with you?

Byz V TR
Nes
S

13:4  For although He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we are weak in Him, yet we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.

For though Jesus was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. As we are weak with him, so we are alive with him by the power of God who is among you.

Byz Nes V
S TR

13:5  Scrutinize yourselves as to whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you are reprobates?

Examine yourselves, whether you are in the same faith; heal your souls. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is among you? If this is not so, then you are rejected.

Byz Nes S TR
V

13:6  But I trust that you will know that we are not reprobates.

But I hope you know that we ourselves are not reprobates.

Byz Nes TR
V
S

13:7  Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do what is honorable, though we may be as reprobates.

Now we pray to God that you shall do nothing evil, not so that we may seem to be approved, but so that you may do what is good, even if we seem like reprobates.

And I pray to God that our investigation will find nothing wrong with you; but that you may be found doing good things, even though we may appear as though we were rejected.

Byz Nes V S TR

13:8  For we can do nothing against the truth, but on behalf of the truth.

Byz V
Nes
S TR

13:9  For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.

For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we pray for, that you may be perfected.

Byz Nes V S
TR

13:10  Because of this I write these things being absent, in order that when I am present I may not deal sharply with you, according to the authority which YHWH gave me for edification and not for destruction.

10  Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

Byz
Nes TR S
V

13:11  Finally brothers, farewell. Restore [yourselves,] comfort [yourselves], be in agreement, be at peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

11  As to the rest, brothers, rejoice, be perfect, be encouraged, have the same mind, have peace. And so the God of peace and love will be with you.

Byz Nes V S TR

13:12  Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Byz Nes S TR

13:13  All the saints greet you.

Byz Nes V S TR

13:14  The grace of YHWH Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.