1 Corinthians 16

The Collection for Jerusalem

1 Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God's people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.3 When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem.4 And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

Paul's Final Instructions

5 I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia,s for I am planning to travel through Macedonia.6 Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination.7 This time I don't want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me.8 In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost.9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.
  10 When Timothy comes, don't intimidate him. He is doing the Lord's work, just as I am.11 Don't let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.s
  12 Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.
  13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.s Be strong.14 And do everything with love.
  15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece,s and they are spending their lives in service to God's people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,s16 to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion.17 I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren't here to give me.18 They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

Paul's Final Greetings

19 The churches here in the province of Asias send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscillas and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings.20 All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with Christian love.s
  21 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting —Paul .
  22 If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come!s
  23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
  24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.s

2 Corinthians 1

Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
  I am writing to God's church in Corinth and to all of his holy people throughout Greece.s
  2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

God Offers Comfort to All

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
  8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,s about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

Paul's Change of Plans

12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holinesss and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can't understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us,14 even if you don't understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesuss returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.
  15 Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice—16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia.s Then you could send me on my way to Judea.
  17 You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say "Yes" when they really mean "No"?18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between "Yes" and "No."19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between "Yes" and "No." He is the one whom Silas,s Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God's ultimate "Yes," he always does what he says.20 For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.
  21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us,22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
  23 Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn't return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.24 But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.

2 Corinthians 2

1 So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit.2 For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved.3 That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won't be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn't want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

Forgiveness for the Sinner

5 I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me.6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough.7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.
  9 I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions.10 When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ's authority for your benefit,11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
  12 When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.13 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn't yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.

Ministers of the New Covenant

14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
  17 You see, we are not like the many hucksterss who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ's authority, knowing that God is watching us.