2Cor 2:12-7:5 | ESV | STEP | When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ , even though a door was opened for me in the Lord ,

12 When ^aI came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though ^ba door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit ^cwas 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 ^dthanks be to God, who in Christ always ^eleads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads ^fthe fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among ^gthose who are being saved and among ^hthose who are perishing, 16 ⁱto one a fragrance from death to death, ^jto the other a fragrance from life to life. ^kWho 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.

2 Corinthians 3

Ministers of the New Covenant

1 ^lAre we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, ^mas some do, ⁿletters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 ^oYou yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our ^{▼▼Some manuscripts your} 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 ^qthe living God, not on ^rtablets of stone but on ^stablets of ^thuman hearts. ^{▼▼Greek fleshly hearts}

4 ^vSuch is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 ^wNot that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but ^xour sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ^yministers of ^za new covenant, not of ^aathe letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but ^abthe Spirit gives life.

7 Now if ^acthe ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory ^adthat 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 ^aethe ministry of condemnation, ^afthe 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, ^agwe are very bold, 13 not like Moses, ^ahwho 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 ^aitheir minds were ^ajhardened. For to this day, ^akwhen they read ^althe 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 ^amone ^{▼▼Greek he} turns to the Lord, ^aothe veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord ^{▼▼Or this Lord} is the Spirit, and where ^aqthe Spirit of the Lord is, there is ^arfreedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, ^asbeholding ^atthe glory of the Lord, ^{▼▼Or reflecting the glory of the Lord} ^avare being transformed into the same image ^awfrom one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 4

The Light of the Gospel

1 Therefore, having ^axthis ministry ^ayby the mercy of God, ^{▼▼Greek as we have received mercy} we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced ^badisgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice ^{▼▼Greek to walk in} cunning or ^bcto tamper with God’s word, but ^bdby the open statement of the truth ^bewe would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even ^bfif our gospel is veiled, ^bgit is veiled to ^bhthose who are perishing. 4 In their case ^bithe god of this world ^bjhas blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing ^bkthe light of ^blthe gospel of the glory of Christ, ^bmwho is the image of God. 5 For what ^bnwe proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ^boourselves as your servants ^{▼▼Greek bondservants} for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, ^bq“Let light shine out of darkness,” ^brhas shone in our hearts to give ^bsthe 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 ^btjars of clay, ^buto show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are ^bvafflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but ^bwnot forsaken; ^bxstruck down, but not destroyed; 10 ^byalways carrying in the body the death of Jesus, ^bzso 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 ^cadeath is at work in us, but life in you.

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

16 So we do not lose heart. ^cjThough our outer self ^{▼▼Greek man} is wasting away, ^clour inner self ^cmis being renewed day by day. 17 For ^cnthis light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 ^coas 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.

2 Corinthians 5

Our Heavenly Dwelling

1 For we know that if ^cpthe tent that is ^cqour earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ^cra house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent ^cswe groan, longing to ^ctput on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on ^{▼▼Some manuscripts putting it off} 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 ^cvmay be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, ^cwwho has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that ^cxwhile we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for ^cywe walk by faith, not ^czby sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^dawould 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 ^dbplease him. 10 For ^dcwe must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^ddso 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 ^dethe fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^dfwhat we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 ^dgWe are not commending ourselves to you again but ^dhgiving 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 ^diare beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ ^djcontrols us, because we have concluded this: that ^dkone has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, ^dlthat those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^dmfor him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, ^dnwe 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 ^doin Christ, he is ^dpa new creation. ^{▼▼Or creature} ^drThe old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, ^dswho through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^dtthe ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling ^{▼▼Or God was in Christ, reconciling} the world to himself, ^dvnot counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^dwthe message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, ^dxwe are ambassadors for Christ, ^dyGod making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 ^dzFor our sake he made him to be sin ^eawho knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^ebthe righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 6

1 ^ecWorking together with him, then, ^edwe appeal to you ^eenot to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

^ef“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, ^egnow is the ^ehfavorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We ^eiput no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but ^ejas servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: ^ekby great endurance, ^elin afflictions, ^emhardships, calamities, 5 ^enbeatings, imprisonments, ^eoriots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 ^epby purity, ^eqknowledge, patience, kindness, ^erthe Holy Spirit, ^esgenuine love; 7 by ^ettruthful speech, and ^euthe power of God; with ^evthe weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, ^ewthrough slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and ^exyet well known; ^eyas dying, and behold, we live; ^ezas punished, and yet not killed; 10 ^faas sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; ^fbas poor, yet making many rich; ^fcas having nothing, ^fdyet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, ^{▼▼Greek Our mouth is open to you} Corinthians; ^ffour heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but ^fgyou are restricted in your own affections. 13 ^fhIn return (I speak ^fias to children) widen your hearts also.

The Temple of the Living God

14 ^fjDo not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For ^fkwhat partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or ^flwhat fellowship has light with darkness? 15 ^fmWhat accord has Christ with Belial? ^{▼▼Greek Beliar} Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ^fowe are the temple of the living God; as God said,

^fp“I will make my dwelling among them and ^fqwalk among them,
and ^frI will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore ^fsgo out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 ^ftand I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 7:1-5

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, ^fulet us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body ^{▼▼Greek flesh} and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul’s Joy

2 ^fwMake room in your hearts ^{▼▼Greek lacks in your hearts} for us. ^fyWe have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that ^fzyou are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with ^gagreat boldness toward you; ^gbI have great pride in you; ^gcI am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5 For even ^gdwhen we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn— ^gefighting without and fear within.