In fact, we felt that we had received a death sentence so we would not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

This is the very reason I wrote you, so that when I did come I might not be made sad by those who should have made me happy. For I had confidence that all of you would share the joy that I have.

I had also written to you to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in every way.

We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from this body and to live with the Lord.

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God's righteousness would be produced in us.

Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find out that you are not ready, we would be humiliated to say nothing of you in this undertaking.

We would not dare put ourselves in the same class with, or compare ourselves to, those who recommend themselves. Whenever they measure themselves by their own standards or compare themselves among themselves, they show how foolish they are.

I wish you would tolerate a little of my foolishness. Yes, please tolerate me!

However, if I did want to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I am not going to do it in order to keep anyone from thinking more of me than what he sees and hears about me.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.