The SECOND LETTER of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS Chapter 5

The Second Letter of Paul to the 

CORINTHIANS 

Chapter Five

Our Heavenly Dwelling

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The SECOND LETTER of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS Chapter 4

The Second Letter of Paul to the 

CORINTHIANS 

Chapter Four

The Light of the Gospel

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

PSALM 72

Psalm 72

Give the King Your Justice

1 Give the king your justice, O God,

    and your righteousness to the royal son!

2 

May he judge your people with righteousness,

    and your poor with justice!

3 

Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,

    and the hills, in righteousness!

4 

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

    give deliverance to the children of the needy,

    and crush the oppressor!

5 

May they fear you while the sun endures,

    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

6 

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

    like showers that water the earth!

7 

In his days may the righteous flourish,

    and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

8 

May he have dominion from sea to sea,

    and from the River to the ends of the earth!

9 

May desert tribes bow down before him,

    and his enemies lick the dust!

10 

May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands

    render him tribute;

may the kings of Sheba and Seba

    bring gifts!

11 

May all kings fall down before him,

    all nations serve him!

12 

For he delivers the needy when he calls,

    the poor and him who has no helper.

13 

He has pity on the weak and the needy,

    and saves the lives of the needy.

14 

From oppression and violence he redeems their life,

    and precious is their blood in his sight.

15 

Long may he live;

    may gold of Sheba be given to him!

May prayer be made for him continually,

    and blessings invoked for him all the day!

16 

May there be abundance of grain in the land;

    on the tops of the mountains may it wave;

    may its fruit be like Lebanon;

and may people blossom in the cities

    like the grass of the field!

17 

May his name endure forever,

    his fame continue as long as the sun!

May people be blessed in him,

    all nations call him blessed!

18 

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

    who alone does wondrous things.

19 

Blessed be his glorious name forever;

    may the whole earth be filled with his glory!

Amen and Amen!

20 

The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

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Psalm 72 Psalm Song - Give the King Your Justice O God

PSALMS 70 and 71

Psalm 70

O Lord, Do Not Delay

To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering.

1 

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!

    O Lord, make haste to help me!

2 

Let them be put to shame and confusion

    who seek my life!

Let them be turned back and brought to dishonour

    who delight in my hurt!

3 

Let them turn back because of their shame

    who say, “Aha, Aha!”

4 

May all who seek you

    rejoice and be glad in you!

May those who love your salvation

    say evermore, “God is great!” 

5 

But I am poor and needy;

    hasten to me, O God!

You are my help and my deliverer;

    O Lord, do not delay!

Singing the Psalms - Jason Silver

https://youtu.be/tRtYA--EwuU

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Psalm 71

Forsake Me Not When My Strength Is Spent

1 

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;

    let me never be put to shame!

2 

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;

    incline your ear to me, and save me!

3 

Be to me a rock of refuge,

    to which I may continually come;

you have given the command to save me,

    for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.

5 

For you, O Lord, are my hope,

    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

6 

Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;

    you are he who took me from my mother's womb.

My praise is continually of you.

7 

I have been as a portent to many,

    but you are my strong refuge.

8 

My mouth is filled with your praise,

    and with your glory all the day.

9 

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;

    forsake me not when my strength is spent.

10 

For my enemies speak concerning me;

    those who watch for my life consult together

11 

and say, “God has forsaken him;

    pursue and seize him,

    for there is none to deliver him.”

12 

O God, be not far from me;

    O my God, make haste to help me!

13 

May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;

    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered

    who seek my hurt.

14 

But I will hope continually

    and will praise you yet more and more.

15 

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,

    of your deeds of salvation all the day,

    for their number is past my knowledge.

16 

With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;

    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

17 

O God, from my youth you have taught me,

    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18 

So even to old age and gray hairs,

    O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

    your power to all those to come.

19 

Your righteousness, O God,

    reaches the high heavens.

You who have done great things,

    O God, who is like you?

20 

You who have made me see 
many troubles and calamities

    will revive me again;

from the depths of the earth

    you will bring me up again.

21 

You will increase my greatness

    and comfort me again.

22 

I will also praise you with the harp

    for your faithfulness, O my God;

I will sing praises to you with the lyre,

    O Holy One of Israel.

23 

My lips will shout for joy,

    when I sing praises to you;

    my soul also, which you have redeemed.

24 

And my tongue will talk of your righteous help 
all the day long,

for they have been put to shame and disappointed

    who sought to do me hurt.

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Palm 71 in songs  -
Jason Silver 

https://youtu.be/MonSOqdyuK4
Ian White
https://youtu.be/-8v30NvH2YI

The SECOND LETTER of PAUL To The CORINTHIANS Chapter 3

The Second Letter of Paul to the  

CORINTHIANS

Chapter 3

Ministers of the New Covenant

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 

2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 

3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 

6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 

8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 

9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 

10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 

11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 

13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 

14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 

15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 

16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

The SECOND LETTER of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS Chapter 2

The Second  Letter of Paul to the  

CORINTHIANS

Chapter Two

1 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Forgive the Sinner

5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Triumph in Christ

12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.