And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.