2 Corinthians 7:2

But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:

For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.

Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

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.

and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.

Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.

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.

by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ,

Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning,

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.”

Yahweh says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, “Peace!” and whoever doesn’t provide for their mouths, they prepare war against him:

Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,

and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”

Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.

Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”

When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!”

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void.

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

For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God, and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.

in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

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.

For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me.

That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

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.

Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.

Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God;

Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even may he be shaken out and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.

He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and tell them, even the shepherds, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep?

Now when they fall, they will be helped with a little help; but many will join themselves to them with flatteries.

Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.

Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me.

We also speak these things, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.

For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.

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.

But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.

If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be cursed. Come, Lord!

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.

that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

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

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.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us.

If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

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

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

“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

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

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

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.”

Whoever doesn’t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.

He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.

Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you.

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

For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.

When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. “But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.”

I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”),

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

You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,