But in all {things} approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, {approving: Gr. commending}

We then, {as} workers together {with him}, beseech {you} also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

As every man hath received the gift, {even so} minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. {giveth life: or, quickeneth}

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

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

{Forasmuch as ye are} manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I {am} more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think {of himself} more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. {soberly: Gr. to sobriety}

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. {receive: or, take unto himself}

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. {talents: a talent is one hundred and eighty seven pounds ten shillings}

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation {of the gospel} is committed unto me.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. {diversities: or, kinds}

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; {to fulfil...: or, fully to preach the word}

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both {shall be} alike good. {shall prosper: Heb. shall be right}

He must increase, but I {must} decrease.

For {the kingdom of heaven is} as a man travelling into a far country, {who} called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, {and} mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

For who maketh thee to differ {from another}? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive {it}, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received {it}? {maketh...: Gr. distinguisheth thee}

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. {giveth life: or, quickeneth}

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. {receive: or, take unto himself}

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only {are my} fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. {fellowhelpers: or, joint-labourers}

And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

For which cause {both} thou and all thy company {are} gathered together against the LORD: and what {is} Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

As touching {our} brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

But in all {things} approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, {approving: Gr. commending}

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I {am} more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: {men} shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

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:

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but {now} I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me {to be}, or {that} he heareth of me.

And when they go forth into the utter court, {even} into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. {offering up: or, sacrificing}

And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Neither as being lords over {God's} heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. {being lords over: or, overruling}

{For the Son of man is} as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and {be} not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, {and} which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, {are} in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred {by} all {that is} before them. {I considered...: Heb. I gave, or, set to my heart}

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.