Have you been thinking all this time that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and all [these things], dear friends, [are] for your edification.

For God, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, is my witness, how constantly I make mention of you,

I am telling the truth in Christ--[I am] not lying; my conscience bears witness to me in the Holy Spirit--

(Now [the things] which I am writing to you, behold, [I assure you] before God that I am not lying.)

{For never} did we come with a word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext of greediness (God [is] witness),

for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am speaking the truth, [I am] not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

No man shall stop me of this boasting

But what I am doing, I will also do, in order that I may remove the opportunity of those who want an opportunity, that they may be found just as also we [are] in what they are boasting about.

not boasting {beyond limits} in the labors of others, but having hope [that as] your faith is growing to be enlarged greatly by you according to our assignment,

But I have not made use of any of these [rights]. And I am not writing these [things] in order that it may be thus with me. For [it would be] better to me rather to die than [for] anyone to deprive me of my reason for boasting.

The regions

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in all Achaia.

because I know your readiness [to help], [concerning] which I keep on boasting to the Macedonians about you, that Achaia has been ready [to help] since last year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority [of them].

Now [when] Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one purpose against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

also [greet] the church in their house. Greet Epenetus my dear [friend], who is {the first convert} of Asia for Christ.

Now I urge you, brothers--you know about the household of Stephanas, that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the ministry for the saints--

so that you became an example to all those who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia,

General references

my lips surely will not speak falseness, and my tongue surely will not utter deceit.