Study Desk

For, such as these, are false apostles, deceitful workers, transfiguring themselves into apostles of Christ.

And no marvel! for, Satan himself, doth transfigure himself into a messenger of light!

For, gladly, do ye bear with the foolish, being yourselves , discreet, -

For ye bear with it - if anyone enslaveth you, if any devoureth, if anyone taketh, if anyone lifteth himself up, if anyone, on the face, doth smite you!

Apart from the things without, my daily care, - my anxiety for all the assemblies; -

How that he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter:

Although in fact, if I should wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for, the truth, would I speak; but I forbear, lest anyone, unto me, should reckon above what he beholdeth me to be , or heareth from me, - even by the exceeding greatness of the revelations.

And at once he said unto me - Sufficient for thee, is my favour, for, my power, in weakness, is made complete. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may spread a tent over me.

Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, and straits, in behalf of Christ; for, as soon as I am weak, then, am powerful.

I have become foolish, - ye, compelled me: - I, in fact, ought, by you, to have been commended; for, not a whit, have I come behind the exceeding overmuch apostles, - even if I am nothing:

For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, - save that, I myself, would not allow myself to be a burden unto you? Forgive me this wrong!

Lo! this third time, I am holding myself, in readiness, to come unto you, and I will not allow myself to be a burden; for I seek not yours, but you; - for, the children, ought not to lay up, for the parents, but the parents for the children; -

And, I, most gladly, will spend, and be fully spent, for your souls: - If I, exceedingly, love you, am I, the less, loved?

All this time, think ye, that, unto you, we are making a defence? Before God in Christ, we speak; - but all these things, beloved, for your upbuilding.

For I fear - lest, by any means, when I come, not such as I wish, should I find you, and, I, should be found by you, such as ye do not wish; - lest, by any means, I should find strife, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, factions, railings, whisperings, puffed up pretensions, confusions; -

For, although he was crucified through weakness, yet is he living through God's power, - for, although, we, are weak in him, yet shall we live with him, through God's power unto us-

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth;

For we rejoice - whensoever, we, are weak, and, ye, are, strong. This, also we pray for - your restoration: -

For this cause, these things, while absent, am I writing, that I may not, when present, deal sharply - according to the authority which, the Lord, hath given me, for building up and not for pulling down.

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, -