to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.

But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them.

Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.

Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority -- the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!