Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, and all the saints that are in Achaia:

that we may be able to comfort those, that are in any trouble, by the consolation wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.

And our hope is firm concerning you, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the consolation.

As ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, as ye also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

but was yea in Him, (for all the promises of God are in Him yea, and in Him amen,) to the glory of God by us:

not that we are lords over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

For to this end also did I write, that I might have proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.

for we are not ignorant of his devices.

For we are the sweet odor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, yea and in them that perish:

to these indeed we are an odor of death to death; to those an odor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not like many who adulterate the word of God: but as with sincerity, but as from God, and in the sight of God, we speak concerning Christ.

Ye are our epistle, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by all men:

being manifest that ye are the epistle of Christ, through our ministration, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on tables of the heart of flesh.

But we all with unveiled face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, as proceeding from the Spirit of the Lord.

Therefore having received this ministry, as we have obtained mercy, we are not disheartened:

For we, who are yet living, are always exposed to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

For all these things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the gratitude of many redound to the glory of God.

For which cause we are not disheartened: but though our outward man decayeth, yet the inward man is renewed daily.

For our short and light affliction is working out for us an infinite and eternal weight of glory, as we aim not at the things which are visible, but invisible:

for those, which are visible, are temporary, but the invisible are eternal.

And therefore whilst we are in this tabernacle we groan, being very desirous to be covered with our house which is from heaven: since though unclothed of this body,

For we who are in this tabernacle do groan, being burthened; wherefore we desire, not to be wholly unclothed, but to put on immortality, that the mortal part may be swallowed up in life.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we dwell in the body, we are absent from the Lord,

(for we walk by faith, not by sight,) we are confident, I say,

Wherefore we are also ambitious, whether dwelling in the body, or out of it, to be well-pleasing to Him.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men: but if not, we are manifest unto God, and I hope we are also manifested to your consciences:

for we are not again recommending ourselves to you, but giving you an occasion of glorying on our account; that ye may have somewhat to answer those who glory in appearance, and not in heart.

And therefore if any one be in Christ, he is created anew: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.

But all these things are from God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and made us ministers of the reconciliation;

We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, and as God exhorteth you by us, we intreat you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and I will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

I speak not this to condemn you: for I said before that ye are so much in our hearts that we could live and die with you.

But God, who comforteth those that are brought low, comforted us by the coming of Titus:

And his bowels are exceedingly moved towards you, when he calls to mind the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

looking to things that are right not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

If then there be any inquiry about Titus, he is my collegue and fellow-laborer among you: and if our brethren be inquired after, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

For though we are in the flesh, we do not carry on our war according to the flesh:

(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the demolishing of bulwarks:)

Do ye look at things according to the outward appearance? If any one is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again of himself, that as he is Christ's, so we also are Christ's.

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

But let such a one know this, that as we are in word by letters, when absent, such also shall we be in fact when present.

For we presume not to number, or compare ourselves with some who recommend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are void of understanding.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transformed into apostles of Christ.

Are they Hebrews? so am I: are they Israelites? so am I: are they the seed of Abraham?

so am I: are they ministers of Christ? (if I may speak as a fool) I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes far exceeding, in prisons more frequently, and often even in deaths.

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your substance, but your selves. For children are not expected to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Do ye then think that we are making apologies to you? No, we speak before God in Christ: and all, my beloved, for your edification.

For if He was crucified as from weakness, yet He now liveth by the power of God: for we also are weak in Him, but shall live with Him by the power of God manifested to you.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove yourselves: do ye not know yourselves to be such that Jesus Christ is in you? unless ye are reprovable.

But I hope ye will soon know that we are not disapproved.

For we rejoice when we exert not our power, and when ye are strong: as this is what we wish, even your perfection.