2 Corinthians 1:23

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day

Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.

I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,

For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.

Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.

Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.

to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus:

Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds,

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.

In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.

You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You will pay your vows.

My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.

I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people.

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples.

When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,

being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,

of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.

to the assembly of God which is at Corinth—those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:

For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.

for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy,

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.

This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.

Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life.”

He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol.

Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.

who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and live together.

As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.

But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”

When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Stay this night, and in the morning, if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, good. Let him do the kinsman’s duty. But if he will not do the duty of a kinsman for you, then I will do the duty of a kinsman for you, as Yahweh lives. Lie down until the morning.”

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,

I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.

But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not “Yes and no.”

Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie.

For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,

For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),

of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.