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:

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.

For as the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in us: even so is our consolation plenteous by Christ.

and whether we be in tribulation, it is for your comfort and salvation, that is wrought in the enduring of the same sufferings that we also suffer; whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort and salvation;

My hopes for you are unshaken. For I know that just as surely as you share my sufferings, just so surely you will share my comfort.

because you are helping me by your prayers for me, so that thanks to God will be given by many on my behalf for God's gracious gift to me in answer to the prayers of many.

For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God -- not by human wisdom but by the grace of God -- we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

For what we are writing you is nothing more than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely,

even as ye have found us partly, for we are your rejoicing, even as ye are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

When I planned this, I did not do it lightly, did I? Are my plans so fickle that I can say "Yes" and "No" at the same time?

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

Not that we are the masters of you and your faith; we are working with you to make you happy, for in your faith you stand firm enough.

And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I came, I would not be filled with sorrow by those who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you.

for, for this also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether in regard to all things ye are obedient.

lest Satan should prevent us. For his thoughts are not unknown unto us.

and to God are thanks, who at all times is leading us in triumph in the Christ, and the fragrance of His knowledge He is manifesting through us in every place,

For we are unto God the sweet savor of Christ, both among them that are saved, and also among them which perish:

to the one part are we the savor of death unto death; and unto the other part are we the savor of life unto life. And who is mete unto these things?

For we are not as many are, which chop and change with the word of God: but even out of pureness, and by the power of God and in the sight of God, so speak we in Christ.

Are we beginning to recommend ourselves again? Unlike some people, we do not need letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we?

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

in that ye are known, how that ye are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us and written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.

not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as it were of ourselves; but our ableness cometh of God;

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

and are not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,

But their minds were slow to learn. Indeed, to this very day, at the public reading of the Old Covenant, the same veil remains unlifted; only for those who are in union with Christ does it pass away.

But to this day, a veil remains on their minds whenever [the writings of] Moses are read.

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.

Therefore having received this ministry, as we have obtained mercy, we are not disheartened:

If our Gospel be yet hid, it is hid among them that are lost,

Men whose minds have been blinded by the God of this Age, unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the very incarnation of God, should not shine for them.

For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.

but this treasure is lodg'd in such earthen vessels as we are, that the exceeding efficacy of it may appear to be from God, and not from us.

We are troubled on every side, yet are we not without shift. We are in poverty: but not utterly without somewhat.

We are persecuted: but are not forsaken. We are cast down: nevertheless we perish not.

We are always carrying around the death of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our bodies.

For we which live, are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might appear in our mortal flesh.

Thus we are constantly dying, while you are in full enjoyment of Life.

But having the same spirit of faith, as it is said in the Writings, The words of my mouth came from the faith in my heart; in the same way, our words are the outcome of our faith;

Because we are certain that he who made the Lord Jesus come back from the dead, will do the same for us, and will give us a place in his glory with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Wherefore, we are not wearied: but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our short and light affliction is working out for us an infinite and eternal weight of glory, as we aim not at the things which are visible, but invisible:

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.

For we are conscious that if this our tent of flesh is taken down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in heaven.

And therefore whilst we are in this tabernacle we groan, being very desirous to be covered with our house which is from heaven: since though unclothed of this body,

since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

For as long as we are in this tabernacle, we sigh and are grieved: for we would not be unclothed: but would be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

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 walk by faith, not by sight,) we are confident, I say,

Nevertheless we are of good comfort, and had rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore also we are ambitious, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to him,

For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].

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.

I am not trying to recommend myself to you again. I am giving you ground for speaking well of me, that you may have something to say to those who are constantly prating about external privileges and not concerned about the state of the heart.

For if we be too fervent, to God are we too fervent: if we keep measure, for your cause keep we measure.

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

that they who are in a state of life should not live at their own discretion, but to the service of him who 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.

We are to tell how God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging men's transgressions to their account, and that He has entrusted to us the Message of this reconciliation.

Now then are we messengers in the room of Christ: even as though God did beseech you through us. So pray we you, in Christ's stead, that ye be at one with God:

Since, then, we are working with God, we plead with you not to accept God's grace in vain.

[We are] giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found [with it],

Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities;

through honour and ignominy, through calumny and praise. We are looked upon as impostors and yet are true men;

as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet -- see! -- we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed;

as sad, but we are always joyful; as poor, but we bestow wealth on many; as having nothing, and yet we securely possess all things.

We have spoken frankly to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are wide open.

ye are in no strait in us, but are in a strait in your own hearts.

Are you not become associates with infidels? but what affinity is there between virtue and vice? and what communication has light with darkness?

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."

As these promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, and perfect our holiness in the fear of God.

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have showed you before that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

My words to you are without fear, I am full of pride on account of you: I have great comfort and joy in all our troubles.

for also we, having come to Macedonia, no relaxation hath our flesh had, but on every side we are in tribulation, without are fightings, within -- fears;

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

And it is not only by his arrival that we are encouraged, but also by the encouragement which he received from you; for he tells us of your strong affection, your penitence, and your zeal on my behalf--so that I am happier still.

See how earnest this God-given pain has made you! how eager to clear yourselves, how indignant, how alarmed, how eager to see me, how zealous, how avenging! At every point you have proved that you are clear of this matter.

So, although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the person who did the wrong, nor for the one who was wronged, but so that you could realize before God how devoted to us you are.

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.

And his bowels are exceedingly moved towards you, when he calls to mind the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

how that the abundance of their rejoicing is, that they are tried with much tribulation. And thereto, though they were exceeding poor, yet have they given exceeding richly, and that in singleness.

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.

This say I not as commanding: but because others are so fervent, therefore prove I your love, whether it be perfect or no.

For ye are taking knowledge of the favour of our Lord Jesus Christ, - how that, for your sakes, he became destitute - although he was, rich, in order that, ye, by his destitution, might be enriched.

Then make the doing of it complete; so that as you had a ready mind, you may give effect to it as you are able.

Nor are other people to be relieved, and you to be distressed;

At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair.

And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel.

More than that, he has also been selected by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this work of kindness for the glory of the Lord and as evidence of our eagerness to help.

We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking.

looking to things that are right not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times in many [things] that he is diligent, but now much more diligent [because of his] great confidence in you.

hath caused me this to do: partly for Titus' sake - which is my fellow, and helper as concerning you - partly because of others which are our brethren, and the messengers of the congregations, and the glory of Christ.

Make clear then to them, as representatives of the churches, the quality of your love, and that the things which we have said about you are true.

As to the services which are being rendered to God's people, it is really unnecessary for me to write to you.

for I know how willing you are to help in it; I boast of you for it to the people in Macedonia, telling them that Greece has been ready since last year, and your enthusiasm has been a stimulus to most of them.

So my reason for sending our Brothers is to prevent what we said about you from proving, in this particular matter, an empty boast, and to enable you to be as well prepared as I have been saying that you are.