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 manner of life in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

And in this confidence I purposed to come to you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

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

And I wrote this same to you, lest, coming I should have sorrow from them by whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted by many.

For to this end also I wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

But their minds were blinded: for until this day the same vail remaineth untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

But even to this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them.

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

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our house which is from heaven:

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

Now he that hath wrought us for this same thing is God, who also hath given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

For behold this very thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what avenging! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

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

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

And in this I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward 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:

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

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

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

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings to God;

While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them, and to all men;

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trusteth to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

Let such one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

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

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

For what is that in which ye were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

This is the third time I am coming to you: By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.