Monday, March 31, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 7:23-31
(Geneva Bible Translation)
23 Give not thine heart also to all the words that men speak, lest thou do hear thy servant cursing thee.
24 For oftentimes also thine heart knoweth that thou likewise hast cursed others. (a)
25 All this have I proved by wisdom: I thought, I will be wise, but it went far from me.
26 It is far off, what may it be? and it is a profound deepness, who can find it?
27 I have compassed about, both I and mine heart to know and to inquire and to search wisdom, and reason, and to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness,
28 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is as nets and snares, and her hands as bands: he that is good before God, shall be delivered from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
29 Behold, saith the Preacher, this have I found, seeking one by one to find the count:
30 And yet my soul seeketh, but I find it not. I have found one man of a thousand: but a woman among them all have I not found.
31 Only lo, this have I found, that God hath made man righteous: but they have sought many inventions.
(a) Read James 3
Sunday, March 30, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 7:15-22
(Geneva Bible Translation)
16 In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man should find nothing after him.
17 I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his justice, and there is a wicked man that continueth long in his malice.
18 Be not thou just overmuch, neither make thyself overwise: wherefore shouldest thou be desolate?
19 Be not thou wicked overmuch, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time? (b)
20 It is good that thou lay hold on this: but yet withdraw not thine hand from that: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
21 Wisdom shall strengthen the wise men more than ten mighty princes that are in the city. (c)
22 Surely there is no man just in the earth that doeth good and sinneth not. (d)
(a) Job 12:14
(b) Psalm 37
(c) Psalm 3:12-14; Proverbs 4
(d) Psalm 53:2-4
Saturday, March 29, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 7:1-14
(Geneva Bible Translation)
1 Surely there be many things that increase vanity, and what availeth it a man?
2 For who knoweth what is good for man in the life, and in the number of the days of the life of his vanity, seeing he maketh them as a shadow? for who can show unto man what shall be after him under the sun?
3 A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of death, than the day that one is born.
4 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, because this is the end of all men: and the living shall lay it to his heart.
5 Anger is better than laughter: for by a sad look the heart is made better.
6 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
7 Better it is to hear the rebuke of a wise man, than that a man should hear the song of fools.
8 For like the noise of the thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
9 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the reward destroyeth the heart.
10 The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
11 Be not thou of an hasty spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
12 Say not thou, Why is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely of this thing. (a)
13 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sun.
14 For man shall rest in the shadow of wisdom, and in the shadow of silver: but the excellency of the knowledge of wisdom giveth life to the possessors thereof.
(a) Which of us has not thought or said the expression “the good old days”? We look back in retrospect so often, forgetting that there were also times of adversities mixed in with the good. While we might fondly reminisce on earlier times, (mostly as children), we were unaware that through both good and bad we gained wisdom. Perhaps it is that, that makes us long for those days. So often, I know I have said, I wish I could be as young as I was, but know what I know now. God’s word tells us the past, is past, we, can remember, but cannot change on iota of it. Additionally His word instructs us to serve Him in the present, while keeping our eyes on the future, that is to say, joining Him in His heavenly kingdom when this race is run.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 6:1-10
(Geneva Bible Translation)
1 There is an evil, which I saw under the sun, and it is much among men:
2 A man to whom God hath given riches and treasures and honor, and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth: but God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a strange man shall eat it up: this is vanity, and this is an evil sickness.
3 If a man beget an hundred children and live many years, and the days of his years be multiplied: and his soul be not satisfied with good things, and he be not buried, I say that an untimely fruit is better than he.
4 For he cometh into vanity, and goeth into darkness: and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Also he hath not seen the sun, nor known it: therefore this hath more rest than the other.
6 And if he had lived a thousand years twice told, and had seen no good, shall not all go to one place?
7 All the labor of man is for his mouth: yet the soul is not filled.
8 For what hath the wise man more than the fool? what hath the poor that knoweth how to walk before the living?
9 The sight of the eye is better than to walk in the lusts: this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit. (a)
10 What is that that hath been? the name thereof is now named: and it is known that it is man: and he cannot strive with him that is stronger than he.
(a) Matthew 6:19-20, 22, 25, 31-34
A simple thanks and praise to my Heavenly Father. Lord, I am not wealthy, but each night I sleep in a warm bed, my home is warm, my family fed. We’ve clothes to wear daily.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 5:7-20
7 If in a country thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the defrauding of judgment and justice, be not astonied at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest, regardeth, and there be higher than they.
8 And the abundance of the earth is over all: the king also consisteth by the field that is tilled.
9 He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver, and he that loveth riches, shall be without the fruit thereof: this is also vanity.
10 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good cometh to the owners thereof, but the beholding thereof with their eyes?
11 The sleep of him that travaileth, is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the satiety of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
12 There is an evil sickness that I have seen under the sun: to wit, riches reserved to the owners thereof for their evil.
13 And these riches perish by evil travail, and he begetteth a son, and in his hand is nothing.
14 As he came forth of his mother’s belly, he shall return naked to go as he came, and shall bear away nothing of his labor, which he hath caused to pass by his hand.
15 And this also is an evil sickness, that in all points as he came, so shall he go, and what profit hath he that he hath travailed for the wind?
16 Also all his days he eateth in darkness with much grief, and in his sorrow and anger.
17 Behold then, what I have seen good, that it is comely to eat, and to drink, and to take pleasure in all his labor, wherein he travaileth under the sun, the whole number of the days of his life, which God giveth him: for this is his portion.
18 Also to every man to whom God hath given riches and treasures, and giveth him power to eat thereof, and to take his part, and to enjoy his labor: this is the gifts of God.
19 Surely he will not much remember the days of his life, because God answereth to the joy of his heart.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 5:1-7
1 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.
2 Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few.
3 For a dream comes through much activity,
And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;
For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed—
5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?
7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God
Monday, March 24, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 4:13-16
14 For out of the prison he cometh forth to reign: when as he that is born in his kingdom, is made poor. (a)
15 I beheld all the living, which walk under the Sun with the second child, which shall stand up in his place.
16 There is none end of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not rejoice in him: surely this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
(a) Read Genesis 41:12-14
Sunday, March 23, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 4:9-12
9 Two are better wages for their labor.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe unto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him up.
11 Also if two sleep together, then shall they have heat: but to one how should there be heat?
12 And if one overcome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefold cord is not easily broken.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 4:4-8
4 Also I beheld all travail, and all perfection of works, that this is the envy of a man against his neighbor: this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The fool foldeth his hands, and eateth up his own flesh.
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and vexation of spirit.
7 Again I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither son nor brother, yet is there none end of all his travail, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doth he think, For whom do I travail and defraud my soul of pleasures? this also is vanity, this is an evil travail.
Friday, March 21, 2014
The of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 4:1-3
1 So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought under the sun, and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and none comforteth them, and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppress them, and none comforteth them.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which now are dead, above the living, which are yet alive.
3 And I count him better than them both, which hath not yet been: for he hath not seen the evil works which are wrought under the sun
Thursday, March 20, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 3:16-22
17 I thought in mine heart, God will judge the just and the wicked: for time is there for every purpose and for every work. (a)
18 I considered in mine heart the state of the children of men, that God had purged them: yet to see too, they are in themselves as beasts.
19 For the condition of the children of men, and the condition of beasts are even as one condition unto them. As the one dieth, so dieth the other: for they have all one breath, and there is no excellency of man above the beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go to one place, and all was of the dust, and all shall return to the dust.
21 Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend upward, and the spirit of the beast descend downward to the earth?
22 Therefore I see that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his affairs, because that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
(a) Re: vss 16-17 - Read Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6-11
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 3:9-15
9 What profit hath he that worketh of the thing wherein he travaileth?
10 I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of men, to humble them thereby.
11 He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, yet cannot man find out the work that God hath wrought from the beginning even to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing good in them, but to rejoice, and to do good in his life. (a)
13 And also that every man eateth and drinketh, and seeth the commodity of all his labor. This is the gift of God.
14 I know that whatsoever God shall do, it shall be forever: to it can no man add, and from it can none diminish: for God hath done it, that they should fear before him.
15 What is that that hath been? that is now: and that that shall be, hath now been: for God requireth that which is past
(a) Re: vs 12 - Read Matthew 22:37-39; Galatians 6:10; Titus 2:7; Hebrews 13:21; James 1:17;
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 3:1-8
1 To all things there is an appointed time, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
2 A time to be born, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
3 A time to slay, and a time to heal: a time to break down, and a time to build.
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones: a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing.
6 A time to seek, and a time to lose: a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
7 A time to rent, and a time to sow: a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate: a time of war, and a time of peace.
Monday, March 17, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 2:17-26
17 Therefore I hated life: for the work that is wrought under the Sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity, and vexation of the spirit.
18 I hated also all my labor, wherein I had travailed under the Sun, which I shall leave to the man that shall be after me.
19 And who knoweth whether he shall be wise or foolish? yet shall he have rule over all my labor, wherein I have travailed, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the Sun. This is also vanity.
20 Therefore I went about to make mine heart abhor all the labor, wherein I had travailed under the Sun.
21 For there is a man whose travail is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity: yet to a man that hath not travailed herein, shall he give his portion: this also is vanity, and a great grief.
22 For what hath man of all his travail and grief of his heart, wherein he hath travailed under the Sun?
23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief: his heart also taketh not rest in the night: which also is vanity.
24 There is no profit to man, but that he eat and drink, and delight his soul with the profit of his labor: I saw also this, that it was of the hand of God. (a)
25 For who could eat, and who could haste to outward things more than I?
26 Surely to a man that is good in his sight, God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth pain to gather, and to heap to give to him that is good before God: this also is vanity, and vexation of the spirit.
(a) Re: vs 24 - Read Ecclesiastes 3:13; Matthew 6:18-21, 25-34; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Corinthian 15:32; 1 Timothy 6:17;
Sunday, March 16, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 2:12-16
12 And I turned to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: (for who is the man that will come after the King in things, which men now have done?)
13 Then I saw that there is profit in wisdom more than in folly: as the light is more excellent than darkness.
14 For the wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walketh in darkness: yet I know also that the same condition falleth to them all.
15 Then I thought in mine heart, It befalleth unto me, as it befalleth to the fool. Why therefore do I then labor to be more wise? And I said in mine heart, that this also is vanity.
16 For there shall be no remembrance of the wise, nor of the fool forever: for that that now is, in the days to come, shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man, as doth the fool?
Saturday, March 15, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 2:1-11
1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with joy: therefore take thou pleasure in pleasant things: and behold, this also is vanity.
2 I said of laughter, Thou art mad: and of joy, What is this that thou doest?
3 I sought in mine heart to give myself to wine, and to lead mine heart in wisdom, and to take hold of folly, till I might see where is that goodness of the children of men, which they enjoy under the Sun, the whole number of the days of their life.
4 I have made my great works: I have built me houses: I have planted me vineyards.
5 I have made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them trees of all fruit.
6 I have made me cisterns of water, to water therewith the woods that grow with trees.
7 I have gotten servants and maids, and had children born in the house: also I had great Possession of beeves and sheep above all that were before me in Jerusalem.
8 I have gathered unto me also silver and gold, and the chief treasures of Kings and provinces: I have provided me men singers, and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as a woman taken captive, and women taken captives.
9 And I was great, and increased above all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired, I withheld it not from them: I withdrew not mine heart from any joy: for mine heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my travail.
11 Then I looked on all my works that mine hands had wrought, and on the travail that I had labored to do: and behold, all is vanity and vexation of the spirit: and there is no profit under the Sun. (a)
(a) While we may take joy in all endeavors in which we put our hands, and minds, true joy is only profitable from the Word of God.
Friday, March 14, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 1:12-18
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem:
13 And I have given mine heart to search and find out wisdom by all things that are done under the heaven: (this sore travail hath God given to the sons of men, to humble them thereby.)
14 I have considered all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, and vexation of the spirit.
15 That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be numbered.
16 I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excel in wisdom all them that have been before me in Jerusalem: and mine heart hath seen much wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I gave mine heart to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and foolishness: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.
18 For in the multitude of wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 1:1-11
The Circular Nature of Life
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher: vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What remaineth unto man in all his travail, which he suffereth under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth forever.
5 The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and draweth to his place where he riseth.
6 The wind goeth toward the South, and compasseth toward the North: the wind goeth round about, and returneth by his circuits.
7 All the rivers go into the sea, yet the sea is not full: for the rivers go unto the place whence they return, and go.
8 All things are full of labor: man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What is it that hath been? that that shall be: and what is it that hath been done? that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there anything, whereof one may say, Behold this, it is new? it hath been already in the old time that was before us.
11 There is no memory of the former, neither shalt there be a remembrance of the latter that shall be, with them that shall come after
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
The Second Epistle to the Church at Corinth
Chapter 13:1-14
1 Lo this is the third time that I come unto you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand.
2 I told you before, and tell you before: as though I had been present the second time, so write I now being absent to them, which heretofore have sinned, and to all others, that if I come again, I will not spare,
3 Seeing that ye seek experience of Christ, that speaketh in me, which toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified concerning his infirmity, yet liveth he through the power of God. And we no doubt are weak in him, but we shall live with him, through the power of God toward you.
5 Prove yourselves whether ye are in the faith: examine yourselves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 Now I pray unto God that ye do none evil, not that we should seem approved, but that ye should do that which is honest: though we be as reprobates.
8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad when we are weak, and that ye are strong: this also we wish for, even your perfection.
10 Therefore write I these things being absent, lest when I am present, I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me, to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally brethren, fare ye well: be perfect: be of good comfort: be of one mind: live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12 Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the Saints salute you.
13 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all, Amen.
Friday, March 7, 2014
The Second Epistle to the Church at Corinth
Chapter 12:14-21
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come unto you, and yet will I not be slothful to your hindrance: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the fathers, but the fathers for the children.
15 And I will most gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for your souls: though the more I love you, the less I am loved.
16 But be it that I charged you not: yet for as much as I was crafty, I took you with guile.
17 Did I pill you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 I have desired Titus, and with him I have sent a brother: did Titus pill you of any things? walked we not in the selfsame spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 For I fear lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would: and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: and lest there be strife, envying, wrath, contentions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord.
21 I fear lest when I come again, my God abase me among you, and I shall bewail many of them which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and wantonness which they have committed. (a)
Editor’s thought - Re: vs 21 - herein Paul admonishes the church at Corinth for committing acts of unrighteousness, (for which this epistle was written), and have not yet repented of their actions. His warning is this time is written, and is an advance notice so to speak that if they have not yet done so by the time he arrives, the will openly condemn them in person.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
The Second Epistle to the Church at Corinth
Chapter 12:11-13
11 I was a fool to boast myself: ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I inferior unto the very chief Apostles, though I be nothing.
12 The signs of an Apostle were wrought among you with all patience, with signs, and wonders and great works.
13 For what is it, wherein ye were inferiors unto other Churches, except that I have not been slothful to your hindrance? forgive me this wrong.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
The Second Epistle to the Church at Corinth
Chapter 12:7-10
7 And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given unto me a prick in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakness. Very gladly therefore will I rejoice rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (a)
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguish for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
(a) Editor’s thought - Re: vs 9 - Key is power See Psalm 62:11-12
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
The Second Epistle to the Church at Corinth
Chapter 12:1-6
1 It is not expedient for me no doubt to rejoice: for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether he were in the body, I cannot tell, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) which was taken up into the third heaven.
3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth.)
4 How that he was taken up into Paradise, and heard words which cannot be spoken, which are not possible for man to utter.
5 Of such a man will I rejoice: of myself will I not rejoice, except it be of mine infirmities.
6 For though I would rejoice, I should not be a fool, for I will say the truth: but I refrain, lest any man should think of me above that he seeth in me, or that he heareth of me.
Monday, March 3, 2014
The Second Epistle to the Church at Corinth
Chapter 11:22-33
22 They are Hebrews, so am I: they are Israelites, so am I: they are the seed of Abraham, so am I.
23 They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labors more abundant: in stripes above measure: in prison more plenteously: in death oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 I was thrice beaten with rods: I was once stoned: I suffered thrice shipwreck: night and day have I been in the deep sea.
26 In journeying I was often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of mine own nation, in perils among the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren,
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and in nakedness.
28 Beside the things which are outward, I am cumbered daily, and have the care of all the Churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs rejoice, I will rejoice of mine infirmities.
31 The God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor of the people under King Aretas, laid watch in the city of the Damascenes, and would have caught me.
33 But at a window was I let down in a basket through the wall, and escaped his hands
Sunday, March 2, 2014
The Second Epistle to the Church at Corinth
Chapter 11:16-21
16 I say again, Let no man think that I am foolish, or else take me even as a fool, that I also may boast myself a little.
17 That I speak, I speak it not after the Lord: but as it were foolishly, in this my great boasting.
18 Seeing that many rejoice after [the] flesh, I will rejoice also.
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, because that ye are wise.
20 For ye suffer, even if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take your goods, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21 I speak as concerning the reproach: as though that we had been weak: but wherein any man is bold (I speak foolishly) I am bold also.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Today’s Reading
The Second Epistle to the Church at Corinth
Chapter 11:5-15
5 Verily I suppose that I was not inferior to the very chief Apostles.
6 And though I be rude in speaking, yet I am not so in knowledge, but among you we have been made manifest to the uttermost, in all things.
7 Have I committed an offence, because I abased myself, that ye might be exalted, and because I preached to you the Gospel of God freely? (a)
8 I robbed other Churches, and took wages of them to do you service.
9 And when I was present with you, and had need, I was not slothful to the hindrance of any man: for that which was lacking unto me, the brethren which came from Macedonia, supplied, and in all things I kept, and will keep myself, that I should not be grievous unto you.
10 The truth of Christ is in me, that this rejoicing shall not be shut up against me in the regions of Achaia.
11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
12 But what I do, that will I do, that I may cut away occasion from them which desire occasion, that they might be found like unto us in that wherein they rejoice.
13 For such false apostles are deceitful workers, and transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers transform themselves, as though they were the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.
(a) Editor’s thought - Re: vs 7 & 13 - Herein is where I find some of the TV evangelists, and those of the mega-churches, run into trouble. Do they have a love for God; Yes. But somewhere along the way they become as the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and Scribes, in the time of Christ. They take joy in the praise of men, and forget that it is only, as mentioned yesterday, that they should only glory in God, and in the spreading of the Gospel. He is the final arbitrator of their wages.
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