Liturgy Gospel
Paulines Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Corinthians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
2 Corinthians 11 : 16 - 12 : 12
Chapter 11
| 16 | I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
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| 17 | What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
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| 18 | Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
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| 19 | For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!
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| 20 | For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
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| 21 | To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold--I speak foolishly--I am bold also.
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| 22 | Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
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| 23 | Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
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| 24 | From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
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| 25 | Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
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| 26 | in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
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| 27 | in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--
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| 28 | besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
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| 29 | Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
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| 30 | If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
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| 31 | The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
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| 32 | In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
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| 33 | but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
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Chapter 12
| 1 | It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:
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| 2 | I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
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| 3 | And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--
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| 4 | how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
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| 5 | Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
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| 6 | For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
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| 7 | And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
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| 8 | Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
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| 9 | And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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| 10 | Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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| 11 | I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
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| 12 | Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
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The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
