2 Corinthians 3-6
English Standard Version
Chapter 3
1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
5Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
6who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses ' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,
8will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
9For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
10Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.
11For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
13not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.
14But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
15Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.
16But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Chapter 4
1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God 's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone 's conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus ' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies.
11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus ' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak,
14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Chapter 5
1For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened — not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
12We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.
13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Chapter 6
1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3We put no obstacle in anyone 's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;
7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;
10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.
12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
13In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
