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.

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,

as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.

Just as it is written, "He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever."

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.

For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God's power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God's power toward you.

Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.

For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.