Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:

who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings that we suffer.

For as many as are the promises of God, in him they are Yes. And so through him we speak our Amen to the glory of God.

For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.

in order that Satan might gain no advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

For we are not, like so many, peddling the word of God; but as men of sincerity, as from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?

You yourselves are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men.

You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of carnal hearts.

Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves; but our competence is from God,

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

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of the radiance that was fading away.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

For we who live are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are unseen are eternal.

so that when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Therefore we are always of good courage; and we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

We are confident, I say, and would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

We are not again commending ourselves to you, but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you may have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.

We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

I do not say this to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.

Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his preaching of the gospel;

and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will.

We intend that no one should blame us about this liberal gift which we are administering,

And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many matters, but who is now more diligent than ever because of his great confidence in you.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; and as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

For the weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds.

and we are ready to punish every disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

You look at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.

For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is weak, and his speech of no account."

Let such people realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

For we do not dare to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you; we were the first to come even as far as you with the gospel of Christ.

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

Are they servants of Christ? I am a better oneI am talking like a madmanin far more labors, in far more imprisonments, with more beatings, and often in danger of death.

For he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God for you.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in youunless, indeed, you fail the test?

For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. What we pray for is your perfection.