We want you, Brothers, to know that, in the troubles which befell us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life.

But, as my life shall answer for it, I call God to witness that it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth.

I wrote to you in sore trouble and distress of heart and with many tears, not to give you pain, but to let you see how intense a love I have for you.

So I entreat you to assure him of your love.

To the latter we are an odor which arises from death and tells of Death; to the former an odor which arises from life and tells of Life. But who is equal to such a task?

Our fitness comes from God, who himself made us fit to be ministers of a New Covenant, of which the substance is, not a written Law, but a Spirit. For the written Law means Death, but the Spirit gives Life.

We always bear on our bodies the marks of the death that Jesus died, so that the Life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our bodies.

Indeed, we who still live are continually being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the Life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our mortal nature.

And so, while death is at work within us, Life is at work within you.

For we who are in this 'tent' sigh under our burden, unwilling to take it off, yet wishing to put our heavenly body over it, so that all that is mortal may be absorbed in Life.

For at the Bar of the Christ we must all appear in our true characters, that each may reap the results of the life which he has lived in the body, in accordance with his actions--whether good or worthless.

It is the love of the Christ which compels us, when we reflect that, as one died for all, therefore all died;

And that he died for all, so that the living should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose for them.

Therefore, if any one is in union with Christ, he is a new being! His old life has passed away; a new life has begun!

By purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindliness, by holiness of spirit, by unfeigned love;

There is room there for you, yet there is not room, in your love, for us.

I am not saying this to condemn you. Indeed, I have already said that you are in our very heart, to live and die together.

We would remind you, Brothers, of the love that God has shown to the Churches in Macedonia--

And with many an appeal to us for permission, they showed their love, and contributed their share towards the fund for their fellow-Christians.

And this led us to urge upon Titus that, as he had started the work for you, he should also see to the completion of this expression of your love.

And, remembering how you excel in everything--in faith, in teaching, in knowledge, in unfailing earnestness, and in the affection that we have awakened in you--I ask you to excel also in this expression of your love.

And not only that, but he has been elected by the Churches to accompany us on our journey, in Keynesian with this expression of your love, which we are personally administering to the honor of the Lord, and to show our deep interest.

And they also, in their prayers for you, express their longing to see you, because of the surpassing love of God displayed toward you.

For, though we live an earthly life, we do not wage an earthly war.

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows that I do!

For my part, I will most gladly spend, and be spent, for your welfare. Can it be that the more intensely I love you the less I am to be loved?

I urged Titus to go, and I sent our Brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did not we live in the same Spirit, and tread in the same footsteps?

For though his crucifixion was due to weakness, his life is due to the power of God. And we, also, are weak in his weakness, but with him we shall live for you through the power of God.

And now, brothers, good-bye. Aim at perfection; take courage; agree together; live in peace. And then God, the source of all love and peace, will be with you.

May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion with the Holy Spirit, be with you all.