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

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

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.

Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort.

as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

For however many are the promises of God, in him they are "Yes." Therefore also through him they are "Amen," to the glory of God through us.

Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.

that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;

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

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? We do not need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you, do we?

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

being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing;

We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.

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

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

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

We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.

For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;

We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

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

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

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

We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty in God for the tearing down of strongholds,

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.

For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ; and all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

For indeed he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.

Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or do you not know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you??unless indeed you are disqualified.

But I hope that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Now we pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate.

For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.