But he that gives seed to the sower, will also give bread to the eater, and multiply your sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

Because the ministry of this contribution not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also overflows in many a thanksgiving to God.

Now I Paul, myself, appeal to you by the humble-heartedness and selflessness of Christ??aul who "in your presence is humble, but bold enough when he is absent"??2 I beseech you, and I say, do not make me show my boldness, when I come in the boldness with which I think I shall show my courage against some who think that I am walking on the low level of the flesh.

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Of course, we are living in the world, but we do not wage war in a world-like way.

for the weapons of my warfare are not weapons of the flesh, but mighty for God, in pulling down all fortresses.

If, however, I were to boast more loudly concerning the authority which the Lord gave me (not to cast you down, but to build you up), I should have no cause for shame.

but that I may not seem as if I would strike a terror in you by letters:

"His letters indeed," says one, "are mighty and forcible, but his personality 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 dare not class or compare ourselves with some who do, themselves, commend; but, they, among themselves, measuring, themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without discernment!

I, however, will not indulge in undue boasting, but will confine it within the limits of the sphere to which God has assigned me?? sphere which reaches even to you.

I am not "boasting beyond measure in the labors of others," but it is my hope that, as your faith goes on increasing among yourselves, by the enlargement of my appointed limits,

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For a man is proved worthy, not by his self-commendation, but when he is commended by the Lord.

O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me:

But I fear lest, just as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, so your minds should be seduced from your single-mindedness and purity toward Christ.

But I suppose that I fall nothing short of the very chief apostles.

And, even if uncultured in my discourse, certainly not in my knowledge, - but, in every way, having made it manifest, in all things, unto you.

Or did I [perhaps] sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted and honored, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?

But the truth of Christ in me, this boasting of mine shall never be stopped in the boundaries of Greece.

But, what I am doing, I also will do, - that I may cut off the occasion of them who are wishing an occasion, that, wherein they are boasting themselves, they may be found even as also, we.

therefore it is not strange if his agents are so disguised as to appear like ministers of the gospel; but their end shall be answerable to their actions.

Again, I say - let no one deem me to be, foolish; but, otherwise, at least, as foolish, give me welcome, that, I also, some little, may boast myself.

What I am about to say I am not speaking by the Lord's command, but as it were in pure folly, in this boldness of boasting.

I say this to our shame: We have been weak.

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

Are they the Messiah's servants? I am insane to talk like this, but I am a far better one! I have been involved in far greater efforts, far more imprisonments, countless beatings, and have faced death more than once.

Five times the Jews gave me forty blows but one.

many times on journeys, [exposed to] danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own countrymen, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger on the sea, danger among those posing as believers;

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, but I burn with indignation?

But if it behooves me to glory, I will glory in those things appertaining to my infirmities.

but through an opening in the wall I was let down in a basket, and so escaped and out of his hands.

I am forced to boast, though it is unprofitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I know a man in union with Christ fourteen years ago -- whether in the body or out of it, I do not know, but God knows -- who was caught up to the third heaven.

but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows,

Of such a one I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast except in my weaknesses.

If I should choose to continue boasting I should not be foolish, for I should be speaking the truth. But I refrain, lest by the stupendous grandeur of the revelation any one should estimate me beyond what he sees in me, or hears from me.

But, so that I would not become too conceited over the tremendous revelations [I received], a "thorn in the flesh" was given to me as a messenger from Satan to torment me. [Note: This "thorn" was probably some physical handicap, possibly defective eyesight. See Gal. 4:14-15; 6:11].

but he has answered me. "My grace is sufficient for you; it is in weakness that my power is perfected."

I have made a fool of myself, but you have forced me to do it, for I am the man who ought to have been constantly approved by you. For I am not a single bit inferior to your surpassingly superior apostles, though really I am "nobody."

The signs of an apostle were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders and miracles.

For what is there in which you were made less than the other churches, but in the one thing that I was not a trouble to you? Let me have forgiveness for this wrong.

And now for the third time I am preparing to visit you. I will not be a burden to you, for I am not seeking yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

But I will spend and be expended most gladly for your lives. If I love you much more, am I to be loved less?

But though it be granted that I was not a burden to you, yet, you say, this was my cunning with which I caught you by a trick.

But did I make a gain of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

All this time, think ye, that, unto you, we are making a defence? Before God in Christ, we speak; - but all these things, beloved, for your upbuilding.

Since you want a proof of Christ who is speaking in me, he who is not feeble toward you, but powerful among you.

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he now lives through the power of God. I also am weak, sharing in his weakness, but I shall live with him by the power of God.

Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; bring yourselves to the proof; are you so little acquainted with yourselves, as not to know whether Jesus Christ be in you? but if you are destitute of proofs,

But I hope you will find that I abide the proof.

And my prayer to God is that you may do no evil; not in order that I may appear approved, but that you may do what is noble, though I should seem unable to abide the proof.

For I have no power against the truth, but only in defense of the truth.

For I am always glad whenever I am weak, but you are strong. For this also I am praying, for your perfect reformation.

I am writing thus to you in absence, so that when I do come I may not have to deal sharply with you; I have the Lord's authority for that, but he gave it to me for building you up, not for demolishing you.