Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, NRSV At the end of today’s reading, Paul presents us with the paradox of strength in weakness. Earlier in this reading, Paul revealed that he had undergone…
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But whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman—I am a better one: with far…
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I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your thoughts…
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The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, NRSV Paul again writes about giving…
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We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, NRSV Paul needed to deal with…
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On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it (a sprig from a cedar tree),in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Ezekiel 17:22-24, NRSV The prophet Ezekiel was speaking to the exiled Jews in Babylon. These were a people who had lost so much – their…
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So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their…
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When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them.I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love.I was to them like those…
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For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of…
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For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory! Indeed, what once had glory has lost its glory because of the greater glory; for if what was set aside came through glory, much more has the permanent come in glory! 2 Corinthians 3:4-11, NRSV…
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