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

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

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort,

He comforting us in all our trouble, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in every trouble, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, so that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity; not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God; we have had our conduct in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yes and no.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us; by me and Silas and Timothy; was not yes and no, but in Him was, yes!

For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

But He confirming us and anointing us with you in Christ is God.

And I call God as witness to my soul that in order to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.

Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and He revealing through us the odor of the knowledge of Him in every place.

For we are to God a sweet savor of Christ, in those being saved, and in those being lost;

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

it having been made plain that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, not having been written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but in fleshly tablets of the heart.

And we have such trust through Christ toward God,

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

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the Word of God, but by the revelation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.

For it is God who said, "Out of darkness Light shall shine;" who shone in our hearts to give the brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us;

For all things are for your sake, so that the superabounding grace might be made to abound through the thanksgiving of the greater number, to the glory of God.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

And He who has worked in us for this same thing is God, who also is giving to us the earnest of the Spirit.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to that which he has done, whether good or bad.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are revealed to God, and I trust also that we are revealed in your consciences.

For if we are out of our mind, it is to God; or if we are in our senses, it is for you.

And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

whereas God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and putting the word of reconciliation in us.

Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

But working together, we also call on you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

but in everything commending ourselves as God's servants, in much patience, in troubles, in emergencies, in distresses,

in the Word of Truth, in the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers and yet true;

And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

Then having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to God, so that you might suffer loss by nothing in us.

For the grief according to God works repentance to salvation, not to be regretted, but the grief of the world works out death.

For behold this same thing (you being grieved according to God); how much it worked out earnestness in you; but also defense; but also indignation; but also fear; but also desire; but also zeal; but also vengeance! In everything you approved yourselves to be clear in the matter.

Then, though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered wrong, but for the sake of revealing our earnestness on your behalf, for you before God.

And, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given among the churches of Macedonia;

And not as we hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God,

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

Each one, as he purposes in his heart, let him give; not of grief, or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self-sufficiency, you may abound to every good work;

you being enriched in everything to all generosity, which works out thanksgiving to God through us.

For the ministry of this service not only supplies the things lacking of the saints, but also multiplying through many thanksgivings to God,

through the proof of this ministry they glorify God for your freely expressed submission to the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of the fellowship toward them and toward all,

and in their prayer for you, who long after you, because of the exceeding grace of God on you.

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable free gift.

For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,

pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ;

But we will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the rule which the God of measure distributed to us, to reach even to you.

Or did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows.

But what I do, that I will do, so that I may cut off occasion from those who desire occasion; so that in the thing in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I do not lie.

I know a man in Christ fourteen years before (whether in the body, I do not know; or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows) such a one was caught up to the third Heaven.

And I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows),

Again, do you think we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your building up.

lest in my coming again my God will humble me with you; and I shall mourn many who have already sinned, and not repenting over the uncleanness, and fornication, and lustfulness which they have practiced.

for even if He was crucified out of weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For indeed even we are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you),

But I pray to God for you not to do evil, none. And not that we may appear approved, but that you should do the good things, though we are deemed to be reprobates.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Perfect yourselves; encourage yourselves; mind the same thing; be at peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.