Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timothy. Unto the congregation of God, which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Blessed be God the father of our Lord Jesus the Christ, father of mercy, and the God of all comfort,

which comforteth us in all our tribulation, insomuch that we are able to comfort them which are troubled, in whatsoever tribulation it be, with the same comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

and which delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver - on whom we trust, that yet hereafter he will deliver us,

Our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in singleness of heart and with godly pureness - and not in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God - we have had our conversation in the world, and most of all to you-wards.

For all the promises of God, in him are "Yea": and are in him "Amen," unto the laud of God through us.

And I wrote this same epistle unto you, lest if I came, I should take heaviness of them, of whom I ought to rejoice. Certainly this confidence have I in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

If any man hath caused sorrow, the same hath not made me sorry: but partly - lest I should grieve - you all.

For this cause verily did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye should be obedient in all things.

Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is understood and read of all men;

But we all behold the glory of the Lord with his face open, and we are changed unto the same similitude, from glory to glory, even of the spirit of the Lord.

for all things I do for your sakes, that the plenteous grace by thanks given of many, may redound to the praise of God.

while we look not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen. For things which are seen, are temporal: but things which are not seen are eternal.

Therefore, we are always of good cheer, and know well that as long as we are at home in the body we are absent from God.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every man may receive the works of his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Seeing, then, that we know how the Lord is to be feared, we fare fair with men. For we are known well enough unto God. I trust also that we are known in your consciences.

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, if one be dead for all, that then are all dead:

and that he died for all, because that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves: but unto him which died for them and rose again.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new.

Nevertheless, all things are of God, which hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given unto us the office to preach the atonement.

For he saith, "I have heard thee in a time accepted: and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee." Behold, now is that well accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

but in all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God. In much patience, in afflictions, in necessity, in anguish,

as sorrowing and yet always merry, as poor and yet make many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

How agreeth the temple of God with images? And ye are the temple of the living God, as said God, "I will dwell among them, and walk among them, and will be their God: and they shall be my people."

Wherefore, "Come out from among them, and separate yourselves," saith the Lord, "and touch none unclean thing: so will I receive you,

and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be unto me sons and daughters," saith the Lord almighty.

Seeing that we have such promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and grow up to full holiness in the fear of God.

I am very bold over you, and rejoice greatly in you. I am filled with comfort and am joyous in all our tribulations.

Behold what diligence this godly sorrow that ye took hath wrought in you: yea it caused you to clear yourselves. It caused indignation, it caused fear, it caused desire, it caused a fervent mind, it caused punishment. For in all things ye have showed yourselves that ye were clear in that matter.

Therefore we are comforted, because ye are comforted: yea and exceedingly the more joyed we, for the joy that Titus had: because his spirit was refreshed of you all.

I am therefore not now ashamed, though I boasted myself to him of you. For as all things which I preached unto you are true, even so is our boasting - that I boasted myself to Titus withal - found true.

I rejoice that I may be bold over you in all things.

And this they did, not as we looked for; but gave their own selves first to the Lord, and after unto us by the will of God:

Now therefore, as ye are rich in all parts, in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all ferventness, and in love, which ye have to us: even so see that ye be plenteous in this benevolence.

And I give counsel hereto: For this is expedient for you, which began - not to do only, but also to will - a year ago.

Now therefore perform the deed, that as there was in you a readiness to will, even so ye may perform the deed, of that which ye have.

For he accepted the request. Yea, rather he was so well willing, that of his own accord came unto you.

We have sent with him that brother whose laud is in the gospel throughout all the congregations:

God is able to make you rich in all grace, that ye in all things having sufficient unto the utmost, may be rich unto all manner good works,

He that findeth the sower seed, shall minister bread for food, and shall multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness - that on all parts

ye may be made rich in all singleness, which causeth through us, thanksgiving unto God.

which praise God for the obedience of your professing the gospel of Christ, and for your singleness, in distributing to them, and to all men.

wherewith we overthrow imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity all understanding to the obedience of Christ,

and are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

For we cannot find in our hearts to make ourselves of the number of them, or to compare ourselves to them, which laud themselves. Nevertheless, while they measure themselves with themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they understand nought.

But we will not rejoice above measure: but according to the quantity of the measure which God hath distributed unto us, a measure that reacheth even unto you.

For if he that cometh to you preach another Jesus than him whom we preached, or if ye receive another spirit than that which ye have received, either another gospel than that ye have received; ye might right well have been content.

Though I be rude in speaking, yet I am not so in knowledge. Howbeit, among you we are known to the utmost what we are in all things.

And when I was present with you and had need, I was grievous to no man. For that which was lacking unto me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I kept myself that I should not be grievous to you: and so will I keep myself.

Nevertheless what I do, that will I do to cut away occasion from them which desire occasion, that they might be found like unto us in that wherein they rejoice:

That I speak, I speak it not after the ways of the Lord: but as it were foolishly, while we are now come to boasting.

Seeing that many rejoice after the flesh, I will rejoice also.

And beside the things which outwardly happen unto me, I am cumbered daily and do care for all congregations.