Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will, and the brother Timotheus, to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia.

who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged of God.

But whether we are in tribulation, it is for your encouragement and salvation, wrought in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer,

(and our hope for you is sure;) or whether we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement and salvation: knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the encouragement.

even as also ye have recognised us in part, that we are your boast, even as ye are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

For whatever promises of God there are, in him is the yea, and in him the amen, for glory to God by us.

Not that we rule over your faith, but are fellow-workmen of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

For to this end also I have written, that I might know, by putting you to the test, if as to everything ye are obedient.

that we might not have Satan get an advantage against us, for we are not ignorant of his thoughts.

For we are a sweet odour of Christ to God, in the saved and in those that perish:

Ye are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read of all men,

not that we are competent of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our competency is of God;

But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit.

But if also our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those that are lost;

for we who live are always delivered unto death on account of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh;

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are for a time, but those that are not seen eternal.

For indeed we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; while yet we do not wish to be unclothed, but clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Therefore we are always confident, and know that while present in the body we are absent from the Lord,

we are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent, to be agreeable to him.

For we do not again commend ourselves to you, but we are giving to you occasion of boast in our behalf, that ye may have such with those boasting in countenance, and not in heart.

For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God; or are sober, it is for you.

and all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation:

We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as it were beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God.

Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your affections;

and what agreement of God's temple with idols? for ye are the living God's temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.

I do not speak for condemnation, for I have already said that ye are in our hearts, to die together, and live together.

But he who encourages those that are brought low, even God, encouraged us by the coming of Titus;

and his affections are more abundantly towards you, calling to mind the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

Whether as regards Titus, he is my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, they are deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.

For the arms of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful according to God to the overthrow of strongholds;

Do ye look at what concerns appearance? If any one has confidence in himself that he is of Christ, let him think this again in himself, that even as he is of Christ, so also are we.

because his letters, he says, are weighty and strong, but his presence in the body weak, and his speech naught.

Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when absent, such also present in deed.

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not intelligent.

For I reckon that in nothing I am behind those who are in surpassing degree apostles.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they seed of Abraham? I also.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) I above measure so; in labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in deaths oft.

Besides those things that are without, the crowd of cares pressing on me daily, the burden of all the assemblies.

for if indeed he has been crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power; for indeed we are weak in him, but we shall live with him by God's power towards you,)

Now I hope that ye will know that we are not reprobates.