For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, thus through Christ our comfort overflows also.

And our hope for you [is] firm, [because we] know that as you are sharers in the sufferings, so also [you will be sharers] in the comfort.

just as you have also understood us in part, that we are your reason for boasting, just as you [are] also ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.

For as many as [are the] promises of God, in him [they are] "yes"; therefore also through him [is] the "amen" to the glory of God through us.

But I call upon God [as] witness against my life, that [in order to] spare you, I did not come again to Corinth.

For we are not like the majority who peddle the word of God, but as from pure motives--but as from God--we speak before God in Christ.

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as from ourselves, but our adequacy [is] from God,

who also makes us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

and not as Moses used to place a veil over his face, in order that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was transitory.

And we all, with unveiled face, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory into glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Because of this, [since we] have this ministry, just as we have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart,

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus [as] Lord, and ourselves [as] your slaves for the sake of Jesus.

Therefore indeed we have as our ambition, whether at home [in the body] or absent [from the body], to be acceptable to him.

For the love of Christ controls us, [because we] have concluded this: that one died for all; as a result all died.

Therefore we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as [if] God were imploring [you] through us. We beg [you] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

but commending ourselves as servants of God in every [way], in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties,

through glory and dishonor, through slander and good repute, [regarded] as deceivers and [yet] truthful,

as unknown and [yet] known completely, as dying, and behold, we go on living, as disciplined, and [yet] not put to death,

as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.

Now the same [way] [in] exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide [your hearts] also.

And what agreement [does the] temple of God [have] with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, "I will live in them and will walk about [among them], and I will be their God and they will be my people."

For if I have boasted anything to him about you, I have not been put to shame, but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, thus also our boasting to Titus {has proven to be true}.

And his affection for you is all the more [when he] remembers the obedience of all of you as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

and not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and [then] to us, by the will of God.

So we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun [it], thus he would also complete for you this [act of] grace.

But just as you excel in everything--in faith and in speaking and in knowledge and with all diligence and in the love from us [that is] in you--so may you excel in this grace also.

I am not saying [this] as a command, but proving the genuineness of your love by means of the diligence of others.

So now also complete the doing [of it], in order that just as [you have] the eagerness to want [to do it], thus also [you may] complete [it] from [what you] have.

For [this is] not that for others [there may be] relief, [and] for you difficult circumstances, but [as a matter] of equality.

just as it is written, "The [one] who [gathered] much did not have too much, and the [one] who [gathered] little did not have too little."

And not only [this], but he was also chosen by the churches [as] our traveling companion together with this gift that is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and [to show] our readiness [to help].

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you would not prove to be empty in this case, so that you may be prepared just as I was saying,

Therefore I considered [it] necessary to urge the brothers that they should go on ahead to you and make arrangements in advance for your generous gift that was promised previously, so this would be prepared as a generous gift and not as grudgingly granted.

Each one [should give] as he has decided in his heart, not {reluctantly} or from compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Just as it is written, "He scattered widely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness remains {forever}."

now I ask [when I] am present [that I will] not [need] to be bold with the confidence [with] which I propose to show boldness toward some who consider us as behaving according to the flesh.

You are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone is convinced he himself is Christ's, he should consider this concerning himself again: that just as Christ himself [is], so also [are] we.

so that I do not want to appear as if I were terrifying you by my letters,

But we will not boast {beyond limits}, but according to the measure of the assignment that God has assigned to us as a measure to reach even as far as you.

For we are not overextending ourselves, as [if we] had not reached you, because we have reached even as far as you with the gospel of Christ,

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,

For I am jealous [for] you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you [in marriage] to one husband, to present [you] [as] a pure virgin to Christ.

But I am afraid lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be led astray from the sincerity and the purity of [devotion] to Christ.

[As the] truth of Christ is in me, this boasting {of mine} will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

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.

For such people [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.

Therefore [it is] not a great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

Again I say, do not let anyone think I am foolish. But indeed, if [you do], accept me even as foolish, in order that I also may boast a little.

What I am saying in this project of boasting, I am not saying as the Lord [would say], but as in foolishness.

Are they servants of Christ?--I am speaking as though I were beside myself--I [am] more so, with far greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with beatings to a much greater degree, in [danger of] death many times.

For I am afraid lest somehow [when I] arrive, I will not find you as I want, and I may be found by you as you do not want. [I am afraid] lest somehow [there will be] strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, pride, disorder.

Now we pray to God that you not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even [though] we are [seen] as though unqualified.