Chapter 2
Chapters 3 and 4 of 2 Corinthians. This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Recording by Simon Wainwright.
The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. King James Version. Chapter 3. First Chapter 2. Do we begin again to commend ourselves?
Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. For as much as ye are manifestly declared
to be the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone,
but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to Godward, not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament,
not of the letter, but of the Spirit? For the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. But if the menstruation of death,
written and engraven in stone, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance,
which glory was to be done away, how shall not the menstruation of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the menstruation of condemnation be glory, much more doth the menstruation of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech, and not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel
could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. But their minds were blinded, for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament,
which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless,
when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we, all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Chapter 4 Therefore, seeing we have this ministry,
as we have received mercy, we faint not, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully,
but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God. But, if our gospel be hid,
it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God,
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But,
we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down,
but not destroyed, always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then, death worketh in us, but life in you. We,
having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken, we also believe,
and therefore speak, knowing, that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through, the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not,
but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed, day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal.
But the things which are not seen are eternal. End of chapter four, second chapter in section two, recording by Simon Wainwright.
