And for this very reason I wrote you, that I might not come only to be grieved by those who ought to give me joy; and because I trusted in you all, that my joy is the joy of all of you.

I could get no peace of mind because I failed to find Titus, my brother. So I bade them good-bye and started off for Macedonia.

If, however, the administration of death, written with letters and engraved on stones, began in glory, so that the children of Israel could not gaze steadily on the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face?? glory even then fading??8 how much more shall the ministry of the Spirit abide in glory?

Indeed that which once was glorious has lost its glory, because of the glory which surpasses it.

Nay, their minds were made dull; for to this very day, at the public reading of the Old Testament, the same veil rests thereon, because it is not revealed to them that in Christ the veil is taken away.

So then, as I have this ministry because of God's mercy to me, I do not lose heart.

For everything is for your sakes, so that more abundant grace, because of the thanksgiving of many voices, might overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore I am always of good courage, because I well know that while I am at home in the body, I am in banishment from the Lord,

So, because I know the fear of God, I "persuade men." What I am is manifest to God, and I hope manifest also to your conscience.

For the love of Christ overmasters me; because I thus judge that if One has died for all, then all have died;

But now I am glad; not because you were pained; but because your pain led you to repentance.

This is what comforts me. In addition to this comfort of mine, I have been made still happier by the happiness of Titus; because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

because I am on my guard in this, that no one should blame me, in respect to this bounty which I am administering.

With them I am sending our brother of whose zeal I have often had proof in many ways, and who is now zealous because of his great confidence in you.

Because the ministry of this contribution not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also overflows in many a thanksgiving to God.

Moreover, in their prayers for you they will be longing after you, because of the exceeding grace of God that is resting upon you.

And why? Because I love you not? God knows I do.