[This letter is from] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Timothy, our brother. [It is being sent] to the church of God at Corinth, with all the saints [i.e., God's holy people] who are in the entire province of Achaia [Note: This was the southern province of Greece].

who is comforting us in all our tribulation, for our being able to comfort those in any tribulation through the comfort with which we are comforted ourselves by God;

And if we are troubled, it is for your consolation and salvation, being worked out in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer; if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Ye also labouring together on our behalf, by your supplication, that, unto many persons, being due the gift of favour, unto us, through means of many, might thanks be given in our behalf.

And being certain of this, it was my purpose to come to you before, so that you might have a second grace;

This, then, being my purpose, perhaps, after all, with lightness, I dealt with the matter ? or, the things that I purpose, according to the flesh, I purpose, - that, with me, should be the Yea, yea, and the Nay, nay?

For Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the one being preached by us, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but it was yes in him.

For, if, I, grieve you, who then is he that is to gladden me, - save he who is being grieved through me;

and I wrote to you upon that disagreeable subject, that when I came, I might not receive uneasiness from those from whom I ought to receive comfort, being persuaded that you will all think yourselves interested to promote my satisfaction.

so you must do the opposite, freely forgive and comfort him, to keep him from being overwhelmed by his excessive sadness.

to keep us from being worsted by Satan, for we know what his intentions are.

Now when I came to Troas for the publication of the glad tidings of the Christ, a door also being opened to me in the Lord,

That, of Christ, a grateful odour, are we, unto God, - in them who are being saved, and in them who are being lost:

For we are not like the great number who make use of the word of God for profit: but our words are true, as from God, being said as before God in Christ.

you are my epistle, your conversion being writ in. my heart, known and read by all men:

being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.

and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless,

for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory.

Such being my hope then, I am quite frank and open ??13 not like Moses, who used to hang a veil over his face to keep the children of Israel from gazing at the last rays of a fading glory.

and are not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,

but their minds were hardened, for unto this day the same vail at the reading of the Old Covenant doth remain unwithdrawn -- which in Christ is being made useless --

And, we all, with unveiled face, receiving and reflecting, the glory of the Lord, into the same image, are being transformed, from glory into glory, - even as from a Spirit that is Lord.

Therefore, being engaged in this service and being mindful of the mercy which has been shown us, we are not cowards.

But also if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those being lost,

on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in despair;

always being persecuted, but not deserted; always getting a knockdown, but never a knockout;

always being exposed to death as Jesus was, so that in my body the life of Jesus may be clearly shown.

For, evermore, we, the living, unto death are being delivered, for Jesus' sake, in order that, the life also of Jesus, may be made manifest 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 unto the glory of God.

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.

For in this tent I am groaning, earnestly longing to be under the cover of my heavenly habitation; if so be that being so covered,

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

And verily, we who are in the tent, do sigh, being weighed down, while yet we are not wishing to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves over, - in order that, what is mortal, may be swallowed up, by life.

Now God is the One who has prepared us for this very thing [i.e., the receiving of a new body to live in]. He has [also] given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment. [Note: This refers to the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit as being a guarantee that we will receive the balance of our inheritance in the form of a new body].

having courage, then, at all times, and knowing that being at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord, --

So we have a cheerful confidence, and we anticipate with greater delight being banished from the body and going home to the Lord.

Therefore we are truly ambitious, whether being present or absent, to be well pleasing unto him.

Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.

For the love of Christ constraineth us, being fully persuaded of this, that if One died for all, then were all dead.

So if anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new being; the old state of things has passed away; there is a new state of things.

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

And being also co-laborers we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain,??2 for he says, In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you; behold, now is an acceptable time, behold, now is a day of salvation,??3 giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry may not be blamed,

To keep my ministry from being found fault with, I am trying not to put a single hindrance in anybody's way.

In a clean heart, in knowledge, in long waiting, in being kind, in the Holy Spirit, in true love,

as unknown yet recognized;
as dying and look—we live;
as being disciplined yet not killed;

As being grieved, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had not one relief, but being oppressed in everything: battles outside, fears within.

In fact, if I did pain you by that letter, I do not regret it. I did regret it when I discovered that my letter had pained you even for the time being,

For lo! this very thing - the being caused to grieve, according to God: - what manner of diligence it wrought out in you, - nay! defence, - nay! sore displeasure, - nay! fear, - nay! earnest desire, - nay! jealousy, - nay! avenging. In every way, ye shewed yourselves to be, chaste, in the matter.

Hence, if I even wrote unto you, it was not for the sake of him that did the wrong, naynot even for the sake of him that suffered the wrong; but for the sake of your earnestness, which was on our account, being made manifest unto you, before God:-

who tho' labouring under great trial of affliction, and extreme poverty, have notwithstanding with exceeding cheerfulness contributed very liberally: being forward of themselves to the utmost of their power,

with earnest entreaty, they kept on begging me for the favor of sharing in this service that is being rendered to God's people.

for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor -- being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.

in this I only advise you: it being for your credit, since you have not only begun to execute it, but you were the first that form'd the design a year ago.

but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

For he not only consented to my request, but being thoroughly in earnest, comes to you of his own accord.

Not only so, however, but he hath also been appointed by the assemblies, as a fellow-traveler with us in this favour, which is being ministered by us with a view to the Lord's glory and our earnest desire: -

Arranging this - lest anyone, upon us, should cast blame, in this munificence which is being ministered by us;

For I aim at being above reproach, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

and we sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,

Therefore, show these men, in the sight of the churches, the proof of your love and our reason for being proud of you.

It is really superfluous for me to write to you about this service which is being rendered to God's people,

But I have sent the brothers [See 8:18, 22], so that our boasting about you being prepared will not prove to be empty words.

to keep me -- not to mention you -- from being humiliated for having such confidence in you, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready.

Therefore I think it necessary to urge the Brothers to go to you in advance, and to complete the arrangements for the gift, which you have already promised, so that it may be ready, as a gift, before I come, and not look as if it were being given under pressure.

and God is able to make every charitable gift redound to your advantage; that being always sufficiently supply'd in every thing, you may excel in every good work:

In every thing, being enriched, unto every kind of liberality, - which, indeed, worketh out, through us, thanksgiving unto God;

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

and I beseech you, that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;

For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards,

and being in readiness to avenge every disobedience, whenever your obedience may be fulfilled.

This, let such a one reckon - that, what we are, in our word, through means of letters, being absent, such, also, being present, are we, in our deed.

not boasting of things unmeasured in the labors of others, but having a hope, your faith being increased, that we shall be magnified among you according to our rule abundantly,

I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

I robbed other churches, having received support for your ministry, and being present with you and being destitute, I burdened no one;

Even when I lacked the actual necessities of life while I was with you, I was a burden to no one; for whatever I lacked, the brothers from Macedonia supplied, when they came. So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

But I will persist in the same line of conduct in order to cut the ground from under the feet of those who desire an opportunity of getting themselves recognized as being on a level with us in the matters about which they boast.

For such the falsely sent, crafty workers, being transformed into the sent of Christ.

To return to what I was saying. Let no one suppose that I am foolish. Or if you must, at any rate make allowance for me as being foolish, in order that I, as well as they, may boast a little.

For, gladly, do ye bear with the foolish, being yourselves , discreet, -

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.

Who is weak without my being weak too? Who is caused to fall without my being fired with indignation?

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one being blessed forever, knows that I lie not.

In Damascus the governor under king Aretas, kept the city of the Damascenes with a guard, being determined to apprehend me.

And being let down in a basket from the wall through a window, I got free from his hands.

I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known -- such an one being caught away unto the third heaven;

And I know that this man?? do not know whether it was in the body or out of it, God knows??4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard things that must not be told, which no human being can repeat.

who was caught up into Paradise, and heard unutterable words which no human being is permitted to utter.

I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.

For if I desire to boast, I shall not be foolish. For I will speak the truth. But I spare, lest anyone should think of me as being beyond what he sees me, or hears of me;

So, to keep me from being over-elated, there was sent upon me a physical disease, sharp as a piercing stake, a messenger of Satan, to continue afflicting me, and so to keep me, I repeat, from being over-elated.

So I take pleasure in being feeble, in unkind words, in needs, in cruel attacks, in troubles, on account of Christ: for when I am feeble, then am I strong.

Truly, I endured [opposition] patiently, while showing evidence of being an apostle among you. I performed [supernatural] signs, and wonders and powerful miracles.

But let it be! - I, myself, did not burden you, - Notwithstanding, being crafty, with guile, I caught you?

I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

For we [apostles] have no power [to act] against the truth, but [only] for the truth. [Note: Paul here alludes to his gifts and ministry being intended only to promote what was right according to God's truth].

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.