Textus Receptus Bibles
English Majority Text Version 2009
New Testament
| 12:1 | It is indeed not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: |
| 12:2 | 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. |
| 12:3 | And I know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows- |
| 12:4 | that he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not permitted for a man to utter. |
| 12:5 | Concerning such a one I will boast, but concerning myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. |
| 12:6 | For if I should desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak [the] truth. But I spare [you], lest anyone consider me to be beyond what he sees me [to be] or hears something from me. |
| 12:7 | And lest I exalt myself above measure by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, that it might beat me, lest I exalt myself above measure. |
| 12:8 | Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. |
| 12:9 | And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness."Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may rest upon me. |
| 12:10 | Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong. |
| 12:11 | I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me! For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing have I been inferior to the super apostles, though I am nothing. |
| 12:12 | Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and miracles. |
| 12:13 | For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! |
| 12:14 | Now for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you. For I do not seek what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. |
| 12:15 | And I gladly will spend and be expended for your souls; although the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. |
| 12:16 | But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I took you with guile! |
| 12:17 | Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? |
| 12:18 | I urged Titus, and I sent with him the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did [we] not [walk] in the same Spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps? |
| 12:19 | Again, do you think that we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. |
| 12:20 | For I am afraid, lest perhaps when I come, I will not find you as I desire, and that I will be found by you as you do not desire; lest perhaps there[ be] contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, disputes, slanders, gossipings, pride, disorders; |
| 12:21 | lest, when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will mourn for many who have previously sinned and have not repented for the impurity and fornication and lewdness which they practiced. |
English Majority Text Version
PREFACE
Welcome to the third edition of The English Majority Text Version (EMTV) of the Holy Bible. This latest edition has Greek explanatory notes throughout the Bible, to aid the reader in understanding the meanings in some select places of the original Koine Greek. Also, the third edition finds itself closer to the Robinson/Pierpoint printed edition of the Byzantine majority text, rather than the Hodges/Farstad text, which the EMTV was translated from. You will notice these differences in John 7:53-8:11, as well as the entire book of Revelation.
The English Majority Text Version draws from the work of both Dr.’s Hodges and Farstad, and their text, “The Greek New Testament According to the Majority Text,” as well as from Dr. Wilbur Pickering, ThM. PhD., and the EMTV has incorporated his hard work in the field of producing evidence of just what does constitute a majority reading, and, as a result of his work, and the work of others, John 7:53-8:11, and the book of Revelation reflect these variant readings. This is one of the great things about having a Bible that is translated from the majority of the trustworthy Byzantine manuscripts that are in existence—the much greater probability of accuracy.
On the other side of the fence, most modern Bibles are translated from a few scant manuscripts (literally), and more often than not they do not even agree with each other. Not so with a Bible that is translated out of the majority! The experts in linguistics who have put these readings together, and diligently compared the manuscripts, had hundreds and hundreds of manuscripts to compare. It is my prayer that this work will bring honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to our God and Father; because all of this, all that we do, we do to know Him better, and to better understand His word, which He has given to mankind. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Prove 30:5,6). Peace of Christ to you all. In His service, Paul W Esposito Stauros Ministries