2Corinthians:9-10

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* For as touching the ministering to the saints , it is superfluous for me to write to you : * For I know the forwardness of your mind , for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia , that Achaia was ready a year ago ; and your zeal hath provoked very many . * Yet have I sent the brethren , lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf ; that , as I said , ye may be ready : * Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me , and find you unprepared , we (that we say not , ye ) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting . * Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren , that they would go before unto you , and make up beforehand your bounty , whereof ye had notice before , that the same might be ready , as a matter of bounty , and not as of covetousness . * But this I say , He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly ; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully . * Every man according as he purposeth in his heart , so let him give ; not grudgingly , or of necessity : for God loveth a cheerful giver . * And God is able to make all grace abound toward you ; that ye , always having all sufficiency in all things , may abound to every good work : * (As it is written , He hath dispersed abroad ; he hath given to the poor : his righteousness remaineth for ever . * Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food , and multiply your seed sown , and increase the fruits of your righteousness ;) * Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness , which causeth through us thanksgiving to God . * For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints , but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God ; * Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ , and for your liberal distribution unto them , and unto all men ; * And by their prayer for you , which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you . * Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift . * Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ , who in presence am base among you , but being absent am bold toward you : * But I beseech you , that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence , wherewith I think to be bold against some , which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh . * For though we walk in the flesh , we do not war after the flesh : * (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal , but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;) * Casting down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God , and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ; * And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience , when your obedience is fulfilled . * 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 . * For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority , which the Lord hath given us for edification , and not for your destruction , I should not be ashamed : * That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters . * For his letters , say they , are weighty and powerful ; but his bodily presence is weak , and his speech contemptible . * 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 . * For we dare not make ourselves of the number , or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves : but they measuring themselves by themselves , and comparing themselves among themselves , are not wise . * But we will not boast of things without our measure , but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us , a measure to reach even unto you . * For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure , as though we reached not unto you : for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ : * Not boasting of things without our measure , that is , of other men 's labours ; but having hope , when your faith is increased , that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly , * To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you , and not to boast in another man 's line of things made ready to our hand . * But he that glorieth , let him glory in the Lord . * For not he that commendeth himself is approved , but whom the Lord commendeth . * Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly : and indeed bear with me .

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