Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 4

The Light of the Gospel

¹ Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy,^(a) we do not give up.^{(b) 2} Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking^(c) in deceit or distorting God's message,^(d) but commending ourselves to every person's conscience in God's sight by an open display of the truth.^{(e) 3} But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ In their case, the god of this age^(f) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,^[a](g) who is the image of God.^{(h) 5} For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,⁽ⁱ⁾ and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus. ⁶ For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"^(j) has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge^(k) of God's glory^(l) in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Clay Jars

⁷ Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power^(m) may be from God and not from us. ⁸ We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; ⁹ we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry the death of Jesus⁽ⁿ⁾ in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always given over to death^(o) because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. ¹² So death works in us, but life in you. ¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, ^(p)[b] we also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴ We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus^(q) and present us with you. ¹⁵ Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving^(r) to increase to God's glory.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not give up.^(s) Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person^(t) is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction^[c](u) is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.^{(v) 18} So we do not focus on what is seen,^(w) but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Chapter 5

Our Future after Death

¹ For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling^[a](a) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling^[b] in the heavens,^(b) not made with hands.^{(c) 2} Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring^(d) to put on our dwelling from heaven, ³ since, when we are clothed,^[c] we will not be found naked.^{(e) 4} Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality^(f) may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

⁶ So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith,^(g) not by sight,^{(h) 8} and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.^{(i) 9} Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing^(j) to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the tribunal^(k) of Christ,^(l) so that each may be repaid^(m) for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

¹¹ Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,⁽ⁿ⁾ we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance^[d] rather than in the heart. ¹³ For if we are out of our mind,^(o) it is for God; if we have a sound mind,^(p) it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ's love compels^[e] us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all,^(q) then all died. ¹⁵ And He died for all^(r) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,^(s) but for the One^(t) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶ From now on, then, we do not know^[f] anyone in a purely human way.^[g] Even if we have known^[h] Christ in a purely human way,^[i] yet now we no longer know^[j] Him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(u) old things have passed away, and look,^(v) new things^[k] have come.^{(w) 18} Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:^{(x) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(y) to Himself,^(z) not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(aa) for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ's behalf,^(ab) "Be reconciled to God." ²¹ He made the One who did not know sin^(ac) to be sin^[l] for us,^(ad) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Chapter 6

¹ Working together^[a] with Him, we also appeal to you, "Don't receive God's grace in vain." ² For He says:

Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.^(b)

The Character of Paul's Ministry

³ We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed. ⁴ But as God's ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:

¹¹ We have spoken openly^[c] to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. ¹² You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. ¹³ I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.

Separation to God

¹⁴ Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?^(m) Or what fellowship does light⁽ⁿ⁾ have with darkness?^{(o) 15} What agreement does Christ have with Belial?^[d] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement does God's sanctuary have with idols?^(p) For we^[e] are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:

Chapter 7

¹ Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises,^(a) let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit,^(b) completing our sanctification^[a] in the fear of God.^(c)

Joy and Repentance

² Accept us.^[b] We have wronged no one, corrupted^(d) no one, defrauded no one. ³ I don't say this to condemn you, for I have already said that you are in our hearts, to live together and to die together. ⁴ I have great confidence in you; I have great pride in you. I am filled with encouragement; I am overcome with joy in all our afflictions.

⁵ In fact, when we came into Macedonia,^(e) we^[c] had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts^(f) on the outside, fears^(g) inside. ⁶ But God, who comforts the humble,^(h) comforted us by the arrival of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he received from you. He told us about your deep longing, your sorrow,^[d] and your zeal⁽ⁱ⁾ for me, so that I rejoiced even more. ⁸ For even if I grieved you with my letter,^(j) I do not regret it—even though I did regret it since I saw that the letter grieved you, yet only for a little while. ⁹ Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn't experience any loss from us. ¹⁰ For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.^{(k) 11} For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure^(l) in this matter. ¹² So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your diligence for us might be made plain to you in the sight of God. ¹³ For this reason we have been comforted.

In addition to our comfort, we rejoiced even more over the joy Titus^(m) had,^[e] because his spirit was refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴ For if I have made any boast to him about you, I have not been embarrassed; but as I have spoken everything to you in truth,⁽ⁿ⁾ so our boasting to Titus has also turned out to be the truth. ¹⁵ And his affection toward you is even greater as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you received him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I rejoice that I have complete confidence in you.