We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.

我们所夸的是自己的良心，见证我们凭着神的圣洁和诚实；在世为人不靠人的聪明，乃靠神的恩惠，向你们更是这样。

我们所夸的是：我们在世为人，特别是跟你们的关系，是凭着上帝所赐的坦率和真诚，不是靠人的聪明，而是靠上帝的恩惠；这是我们的良心可以作证的。

我们所夸的是：我们在世为人，特别是跟你们的关系，是凭着神所赐的坦率和真诚，不是靠人的聪明，而是靠神的恩惠；这是我们的良心可以作证的。

我们感到自豪的是：我们本着上帝所赐的圣洁和诚实为人处世，倚靠祂的恩典，不倚靠人的聪明才智，对待你们更是这样。这一点，我们的良心可以作证。

我们引以为荣的，就是我们处世为人，是本着神的圣洁和真诚，不是靠着人的聪明，而是靠着神的恩典，对你们更是这样，这是我们的良心可以作证的。

我们所夸耀的是这一点：我们的良心见证了我们在世上行事为人带着属神的忠实和真诚，不是靠属肉体的智慧，而是靠神的恩典；对你们更是如此。

我們所誇的是自己的良心，見證我們憑着神的聖潔和誠實；在世為人不靠人的聰明，乃靠神的恩惠，向你們更是這樣。

我們所誇的是：我們在世為人，特別是跟你們的關係，是憑着上帝所賜的坦率和真誠，不是靠人的聰明，而是靠上帝的恩惠；這是我們的良心可以作證的。

我們所誇的是：我們在世為人，特別是跟你們的關係，是憑着神所賜的坦率和真誠，不是靠人的聰明，而是靠神的恩惠；這是我們的良心可以作證的。

我們感到自豪的是：我們本著上帝所賜的聖潔和誠實為人處世，倚靠祂的恩典，不倚靠人的聰明才智，對待你們更是這樣。這一點，我們的良心可以作證。

我們引以為榮的，就是我們處世為人，是本著神的聖潔和真誠，不是靠著人的聰明，而是靠著神的恩典，對你們更是這樣，這是我們的良心可以作證的。

我們所誇耀的是這一點：我們良知的明證指出我們在世界上之起居為人、是怎樣本着上帝所賜的聖善和純潔，不是本着屬肉體的智慧，乃是本着上帝的恩；對於你們、更是如此。

我們所誇耀的是這一點：我們的良心見證了我們在世上行事為人帶著屬神的忠實和真誠，不是靠屬肉體的智慧，而是靠神的恩典；對你們更是如此。

夫我所以誇者、乃良心作證、非恃形軀之智、惟恃上帝之恩、以上帝所賦之聖與誠、為人於世、於爾曹為尤甚、

我非恃人智、恃上帝恩、以上帝所賦之丹心誠意、往來於世、在爾間為尤甚、此我所喜、心所證也、

我之良心、證我處世為人、常以天主所賜之誠心實意、不恃肉體之智慧、惟恃天主之恩寵、我在爾中更如是、此乃我所誇者也、

蓋吾儕所引以為榮、而問心無疚者、則吾儕立身處世、尤在爾我之間、一秉天主之正直及至誠、不徇私智、惟恃天主聖寵而已。

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

Here is what we take pride in. Our sense of what is right and wrong tells us how we have acted. We have lived with honor and godly honesty. We have depended on God’s grace and not on the world’s wisdom. We lived that way most of all when we were dealing with you.

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace.

For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you- ward.

For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God’s grace.

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.

Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began:“ Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

“ But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside.I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.

You yourselves are our witnesses— and so is God— that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.

All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant.Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path.Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death.If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.

And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.

And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.

But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me— and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

I will never concede that you are right; I will defend my integrity until I die.I will maintain my innocence without wavering. My conscience is clear for as long as I live.

God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.

I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

“ Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.

O Lord my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice,if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause,then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude

“ I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?Isn’t it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil?Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take?“ Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone?Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity.If I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin,then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted.“ If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife,then let my wife serve another man; let other men sleep with her.For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished.It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.“ If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me,how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me?For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb.“ Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans?No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear,did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?“ If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side,then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket!That would be better than facing God’s judgment. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?“ Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold?Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own?“ Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway,and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship?If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.“ Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way?No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge.“ My servants have never said,‘ He let others go hungry.’I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone.“ Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart?Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?“ If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown.For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.“ If my land accuses me and all its furrows cry out together,or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners,then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.” Job’s words are ended.

But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say“ Yes” when they really mean“ No”?

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,“ God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

“ So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.

With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.