But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead:

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 conducted ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silas and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

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

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

For if I make you sorry, who is he then that makes me glad, but the same who is made sorry by me?

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

But if any has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overburden you all.

I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.

For we are not as many, who corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Since you 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 fleshly tables of the heart.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil not taken away in the reading of the old covenant; which veil is done away in Christ.

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their hearts.

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

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

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

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

So then death works in us, but life in you.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to boast on our behalf, that you may have something to answer them who boast in appearance, and not in heart.

And that he died for all, that they who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.

But in all things presenting ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

You are not constrained in us, but you are constrained in your own affections.

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our body had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

And not by his coming only, but by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not regret, though I did regret: for I perceive that the same epistle has made you sorry, though it were but for a time.

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.

For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be regretted: but the sorrow of the world works death.

Therefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause who had done the wrong, nor for his cause who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

For if I have boasted anything to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found to be truth.

And this they did, not as we expected, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

I speak not by commandment, but to prove by the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love.

And in this I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to desire a year ago.

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more earnest, of his own accord he went unto you.

And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and a testimony of your eagerness:

Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

But this I say, He who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

For the administration of this service not only supplies the need of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am humble among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, though I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

But we will not boast of things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the field which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

Not boasting of things beyond our measure, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be strengthened by you according to our field abundantly,

But he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his cunning, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

But though I be unskilled in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them who desire occasion; that when they glory, they may be found even as we.

I say again, Let no man think me foolish; but if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

That which I speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. But in whatsoever way any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

Of such a one will I boast: yet of myself I will not boast, but in my weaknesses.

For though I would desire to boast, 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 sees me to be, or that he hears of me.

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I took you with guile.

Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you.

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

But I trust that you shall know that we are not counterfeits.

Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that you should do that which is honest, though we be as failures.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.