2 Corinthians 8:1

For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God,

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles—

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

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.

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

Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, “Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?

I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

For I say through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

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.

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often.

I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might

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.

My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,

although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.

I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”

For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

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.”

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.”

through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name’s sake;

I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

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

Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother.

I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.

For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain,

I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.

You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

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

We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds,

We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.

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.

For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

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

For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

But you who were faithful to Yahweh your God are all alive today.

When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

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.

strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.

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.”

He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek.

Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

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

This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

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.

But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.

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.’”

Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!

In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;

Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.

That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,

doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

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.

which has come to you, even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth,

to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.

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 now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

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;

But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,

I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service;

But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,

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

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

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.

But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting.

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,

while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

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.

To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;

For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.