Bible in a Year.

On day 341, we follow Paul concluding his ministry in Acts 20, strengthening the faith of the church. In 2 Corinthians 3-5, we reflect on the power of the new covenant and transformation by the Spirit, while Proverbs 28:25-28 teaches us about humility, generosity, and justice in our Christian walk.

1. And after the tumult was ceased, Paul calling to him the disciples, and exhorting them, took his leave, and set forward to go into Macedonia.

2. And when he had gone over those parts, and had exhorted them with many words, he came into Greece;

3. Where, when he had spent three months, the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria; so he took a resolution to return through Macedonia.

4. And there accompanied him Sopater the son of Pyrrhus, of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus, and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5. These going before, stayed for us at Troas.

6. But we sailed from Philippi after the days of the Azymes, and came to them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days.

7. And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, being to depart on the morrow: and he continued his speech until midnight.

8. And there were a great number of lamps in the upper chamber where we were assembled.

9. And a certain young man named Eutychus, sitting on the window, being oppressed with a deep sleep, (as Paul was long preaching,) by occasion of his sleep fell from the third loft down, and was taken up dead.

10. To whom, when Paul had gone down, he laid himself upon him, and embracing him, said: Be not troubled, for his soul is in him.

11. Then going up, and breaking bread and tasting, and having talked a long time to them, until daylight, so he departed.

12. And they brought the youth alive, and were not a little comforted.

13. But we, going aboard the ship, sailed to Assos, being there to take in Paul; for so he had appointed, himself purposing to travel by land.

14. And when he had met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

15. And sailing thence, the day following we came over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus.

16. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, lest he should be stayed any time in Asia. For he hasted, if it were possible for him, to keep the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem.

17. And sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the ancients of the church.

18. And when they were come to him, and were together, he said to them: You know from the first day that I came into Asia, in what manner I have been with you, for all the time,

19. Serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and temptations which befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews;

20. How I have kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have preached it to you, and taught you publicly, and from house to house,

21. Testifying both to Jews and Gentiles penance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

22. And now, behold, being bound in the spirit, I go to Jerusalem: not knowing the things which shall befall me there:

23. Save that the Holy Ghost in every city witnesseth to me, saying: That bands and afflictions wait for me at Jerusalem.

24. But I fear none of these things, neither do I count my life more precious than myself, so that I may consummate my course and the ministry of the word which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25. And now behold, I know that all you, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26. Wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all men;

27. For I have not spared to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

28. Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29. I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30. And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31. Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day.

32. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified.

33. I have not coveted any man's silver, gold, or apparel, as

34. You yourselves know: for such things as were needful for me and them that are with me, these hands have furnished.

35. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how he said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive.

36. And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with them all.

37. And there was much weeping among them all; and falling on the neck of Paul, they kissed him,

38. Being grieved most of all for the word which he had said, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him on his way to the ship.

Chapter 3

1. Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?

2. You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men:

3. Being manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart.

4. And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God.

5. Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.

6. Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth.

7. Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void:

8. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?

9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.

10. For even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is in glory.

12. Having therefore such hope, we use much confidence:

13. And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the face of that which is made void.

14. But their senses were made dull. For, until this present day, the selfsame veil, in the reading of the old testament, remaineth not taken away (because in Christ it is made void).

15. But even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

16. But when they shall be converted to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

17. Now the Lord is a Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18. But we all beholding the glory of the Lord with open face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Chapter 4

1. Therefore, seeing we have this ministration, according as we have obtained mercy, we faint not;

2. But we renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God.

3. And if our gospel be also hid, it is hid to them that are lost,

4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine unto them.

5. For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord; and ourselves your servants through Jesus.

6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus.

7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God, and not of us.

8. In all things we suffer tribulation, but are not distressed; we are straitened, but are not destitute;

9. We suffer persecution, but are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we perish not:

10. Always bearing about in our body the mortification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies.

11. For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake; that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13. But having the same spirit of faith, as it is written: I believed, for which cause I have spoken; we also believe, for which cause we speak also:

14. Knowing that he who raised up Jesus, will raise us up also with Jesus, and place us with you.

15. For all things are for your sakes; that the grace abounding through many, may abound in thanksgiving unto the glory of God.

16. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man is corrupted, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17. For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.

18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen, are temporal; but the things which are not seen, are eternal.

Chapter 5

1. For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

2. For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation that is from heaven.

3. Yet so that we be found clothed, not naked.

4. For we also, who are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burthened; because we would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that that which is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

5. Now he that maketh us for this very thing, is God, who hath given us the pledge of the Spirit.

6. Therefore having always confidence, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord.

7. (For we walk by faith, and not by sight.)

8. But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

9. And therefore we labour, whether absent or present, to please him.

10. For we must all be manifested before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.

11. Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we use persuasion to men; but to God we are manifest. And I trust also that in your consciences we are manifest.

12. We commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory in our behalf; that you may have somewhat to answer them who glory in face, and not in heart.

13. For whether we be transported in mind, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it is for you.

14. For the charity of Christ presseth us: judging this, that if one died for all, then all were dead.

15. And Christ died for all; that they also who live, may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.

16. Wherefore henceforth, we know no man according to the flesh. And if we have known Christ according to the flesh; but now we know him so no longer.

17. If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new.

18. But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

19. For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation.

20. For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.

21. Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us, that we might be made the justice of God in him.

25. He that boasteth, and puffeth up himself, stirreth up quarrels: but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed.

26. He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that walketh wisely, he shall be saved.

27. He that giveth to the poor, shall not want: he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence.

28. When the wicked rise up, men shall hide themselves: when they perish, the lust shall be multiplied.