Indeed, I had in myself, and still have, the sentence of death, in order that I might not rely on myself, but on God who raises the dead to life.

For this is my proud boast, the testimony of my conscience, that it was in holiness and with pure motives before God, not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God, that I have conducted myself in the world, and above all in my relations with you.

For Jesus Christ, Son of God, who was proclaimed among you by us, that is, by Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not wavering between "Yes" and "No," but in him is the everlasting "Yes."

But for my part I call God to witness, as my soul shall answer for it, that it was to spare you that I came not to Corinth

(not that I am attempting to lord it over your faith, but rather to work with you for your happiness); for your faith is stedfast.

For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart, through many tears; not to pain you, but to convince you of my love, my abundant love for you.

As to him who has been, and now is, causing pain, it is not I whom he has pained, but all of you??t least some of you (not to overstate the case).

But thanks be to God, who in every place is leading me in the train of Christ's triumph, and is making manifest through me the knowledge of him, an odor of incense everywhere.

I am; for I am not like most, trafficking in the word of God, but rather from a sincere heart, like a man of God, I speak in Christ, in the very presence of God.

Since all can see that you are a letter of Christ transcribed by men, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts as tablets.

Not that I am sufficient in myself to reach any conclusion in my own wisdom; but my sufficiency is from God.

It is he who has also made me sufficient as a minister of a new covenant; not of a letter but of a spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit makes alive.

but when their heart turns to our Lord the veil is stripped away.

I have renounced the hidden things of shame, not spending my life in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God; but setting forth the truth openly, I strive to commend myself to every man's conscience as in the sight of God.

But even if my gospel, too, is "veiled," it is among those who are on the way to perish that it is "veiled."

It is not myself that I proclaim, but Christ Jesus as Master, and myself that I proclaim, and myself your slave for Jesus' sake.

But I hold this treasure in an earthen vessel, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God, and not from myself.

On every side I am hard pressed, yet not hemmed in; perplexed, but not in despair;

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

But having the same spirit of faith of which it is written, I believed, and therefore have spoken, I also believe and so I speak.

For this reason, as I have said, I do not lose courage, but even though my outward man is wasting away, my inward man is being renewed, day by day.

For my light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

while I am gazing not at things seen, but at things unseen; for things seen are temporal, but things unseen are eternal.

For in this tent of mine I am groaning in deep trouble; not that I wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up in life.

I am not "commending myself to you again," but I am giving you an occasion of boasting on my behalf, so that you may have an answer ready for those who boast in externals, and not in the heart.

and that he died for all in order that the living may live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again for them.

but in every way I am striving to commend myself as God's minister by stedfast endurance, by afflictions, by troubles, by distresses,

as unknown and yet well known; as at death's door, yet, strange to tell, I live on; as chastened, but not killed;

as grieved, but always glad; as poor, but making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

There is no narrowness in my love; but the narrowness is in your own.

For even after I reached Macedonia, my flesh had no rest, but I was troubled on every hand. Without were fights; within were, fears.

But the God who comforts the down-hearted comforted me by the coming of Titus,

and not alone by his coming, but also by the comfort you had been to him. For he told me of your eager longing, of your penitence, and of your zeal on my behalf, so that I was happier still.

But now I am glad; not because you were pained; but because your pain led you to repentance.

For your pain came from God, and so you took no harm from me. For the pain which is from God works repentance leading to salvation, a repentance never to be regretted. But the world's pain works death.

So then, even if I did write to you, it was not for the sake of the wrong-doer, or of him who had been wronged, but to make clear to yourselves in the sight of God your earnest care for me.

Although I have been boasting a little to him about you, I have not been put to shame. But as in every matter I have spoken the truth to you, so also my boast to Titus has been proved to be the truth.

And this not as I had expected, but in accordance with the will of God, they first gave themselves to God and to me.

I do not say this by way of command, but by the zeal of others I am trying to prove the reality of your love.

And I will give you my opinion in this matter; for this offering is fitting in your case, considering that you made a beginning before others, not only in the willingness to do something but also in actually doing something a year ago.

but burdens are to be equalized. Now your abundance at this present time present time is a supply for their want, in supply for your want; and so burdens be equalized,

But thanks be to God who has inspired in the heart of Titus the same zeal on your behalf that I have.

For he not only consented to my request, but being thoroughly in earnest, comes to you of his own accord.

For I aim at being above reproach, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

But let each give according to the purpose of his heart; not grudgingly of under compulsion. It is a cheerful giver that God loves.

Because the ministry of this contribution not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also overflows in many a thanksgiving to God.

Now I Paul, myself, appeal to you by the humble-heartedness and selflessness of Christ??aul who "in your presence is humble, but bold enough when he is absent"??2 I beseech you, and I say, do not make me show my boldness, when I come in the boldness with which I think I shall show my courage against some who think that I am walking on the low level of the flesh.

for the weapons of my warfare are not weapons of the flesh, but mighty for God, in pulling down all fortresses.

If, however, I were to boast more loudly concerning the authority which the Lord gave me (not to cast you down, but to build you up), I should have no cause for shame.

"His letters indeed," says one, "are mighty and forcible, but his personality is weak, and his speech contemptible."

I, however, will not indulge in undue boasting, but will confine it within the limits of the sphere to which God has assigned me?? sphere which reaches even to you.

I am not "boasting beyond measure in the labors of others," but it is my hope that, as your faith goes on increasing among yourselves, by the enlargement of my appointed limits,

For a man is proved worthy, not by his self-commendation, but when he is commended by the Lord.

But I fear lest, just as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, so your minds should be seduced from your single-mindedness and purity toward Christ.

What I am about to say I am not speaking by the Lord's command, but as it were in pure folly, in this boldness of boasting.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, but I burn with indignation?

but through an opening in the wall I was let down in a basket, and so escaped and out of his hands.

I am forced to boast, though it is unprofitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

Of such a one I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast except in my weaknesses.

If I should choose to continue boasting I should not be foolish, for I should be speaking the truth. But I refrain, lest by the stupendous grandeur of the revelation any one should estimate me beyond what he sees in me, or hears from me.

but he has answered me. "My grace is sufficient for you; it is in weakness that my power is perfected."

And now for the third time I am preparing to visit you. I will not be a burden to you, for I am not seeking yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

But though it be granted that I was not a burden to you, yet, you say, this was my cunning with which I caught you by a trick.

Since you want a proof of Christ who is speaking in me, he who is not feeble toward you, but powerful among you.

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he now lives through the power of God. I also am weak, sharing in his weakness, but I shall live with him by the power of God.

But I hope you will find that I abide the proof.

And my prayer to God is that you may do no evil; not in order that I may appear approved, but that you may do what is noble, though I should seem unable to abide the proof.

For I have no power against the truth, but only in defense of the truth.

For I am always glad whenever I am weak, but you are strong. For this also I am praying, for your perfect reformation.