PAUL an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy a brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation;

who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we might be able to comfort those who are in all tribulation, by the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted of God.

for we ourselves, in ourselves have received the sentence of death, that we should have no confidence in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.

For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and peculiarly towards you.

But as sure as God is true, our word to you was not yea and nay.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us??y me and Silvanus and Timotheus??as not yea and nay, but there was yea in him;

for all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

But I appeal to God as a witness unto my soul, that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth:

But thanks be to God, who causeth us always to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

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

For we are not as the many, adulterating the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

because ye are manifestly seen to be the letter of Christ, of which we have been the secretaries, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tables of stone, but on the fleshly tables of the heart.

And such confidence have we through Christ towards God:

not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account any thing of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.

but have renounced all shameful secret practices, not conducting ourselves with artifice, nor deceitfully disguising the word of God, but by clear manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience as in the presence of God.

among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dart its bright beams upon them.

For the God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, he hath shined into our hearts, to give illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the transcendent excellence of the power might be of God, and not of us.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace, through the thanksgiving of more persons, may more abound to the glory of God.

FOR we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle should be taken down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

But he that hath wrought us for this very thing is God, who also hath given us the earnest of the spirit.

For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body according to what he hath done, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we have been made manifest to God, and I hope also have been made manifest in your consciences.

For if we are transported out of ourselves, it is for God; or if we are sober-minded, it is for your sake.

But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

namely, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing to them their offences: and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God exhorted you by us; we entreat you for Christ's sake, be ye reconciled to God.

For he hath made him, who knew no sin, to be a sin offering for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

WE then as labourers with him, exhort you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

but in every thing approving ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits,

by the word of truth, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left,

through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, yet true men;

or what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, "I will inhabit in them, and walk about in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be for me a people."

HAVING therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

But God that comforteth the lowly comforted us by the coming of Titus:

And indeed though I wrote unto you, I did it not [merely] for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause who had suffered the injury, but that our diligent attention for you might be more abundantly manifested to you in the presence of God.

NOW we inform you, brethren, of the grace of God which hath been bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

And not [merely] as we hoped, but gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us according to the will of God.

But thanks be to God, who put the same solicitude for you into the heart of Titus.

Let every man, as he hath purposed in heart, give, not with reluctance or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that in every case having always all sufficiency, ye may abound unto every good work:

being in every thing enriched unto all liberality, which [causeth] by us thanksgiving to God.

For the ministration of this [charitable] service not only abundantly supplies the deficiencies of the saints, but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God;

(while by the evidence of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberality towards them, and towards all men;)

and with their prayers for you, greatly longing after you, on account of the transcendent grace of God in you.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift.

for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the casting down the strong holds [of corruption];

laying low proud reasonings, and every high thing which exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and making every thought captive to the obedience of Christ:

But we will not glory in things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath marked out for us?? measure that hath reached even unto you.

Am I chargeable with a fault (humbling myself that you might be exalted), that I preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Wherefore? Because I love you not? God knoweth.

But what I do, I will do also, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire occasion, that wherein they boast, they may be found even as we.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not: God knoweth;) such a one was caught up unto the third heavens.

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body or out of the body I know not: God knoweth,)

Think ye that we are again making an apology to you? In the sight of God speak we in Christ: but all things, beloved, for your edification.

and lest when I come to you again, my God should bow me down, and I should lament over many who have sinned before, and have not repented of the impurities, and whoredom, and lasciviousness which they have committed.

For though he was crucified in weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God: for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God [displayed] towards you.

Now I pray unto God that ye do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you may do that which is laudable, though we should be as reprobates.

Finally, brethren, rejoice: be perfectly united together, be comforted, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.