2 Corinthians 11:9

He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.

but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.

We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.

He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of Yahweh’s house.

We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

Have we no right to eat and to drink?

If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.

But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat.

He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.

and they fetched Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.

You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.

but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,

because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.

I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.

For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.

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

to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this, and live, for I fear God.

Here I am. Witness against me before Yahweh, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”

Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.

But the noble devises noble things; and he will continue in noble things.

Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm.

Servants rule over us. There is no one to deliver us out of their hand.

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

I don’t receive glory from men.

But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,

But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality.”

contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.

(I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don’t know whether I baptized any other.)

Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him?

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.

What then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.

But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Moses was very angry, and said to Yahweh, “Don’t respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them.”

Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”

For calamity from God is a terror to me. Because of his majesty, I can do nothing.

So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.

who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.

subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.

for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more;

whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people; but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.

A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”

and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.

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

but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one.

Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,

For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,

neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you,

They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—