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

grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from 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 affliction,

that we may be able to comfort those, that are in any trouble, by the consolation wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.

but we had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:

For this is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and pious sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and especially towards you.

But the faithful God, He knows, that our word to you was not yes and no.

For Jesus Christ the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, even by me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, was not yea and nay,

but was yea in Him, (for all the promises of God are in Him yea, and in Him amen,) to the glory of God by us:

but He that establisheth us as well as you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us,

But I call God to witness on my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet to Corinth:

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

For we are the sweet odor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, yea and in them that perish:

For we are not like many who adulterate the word of God: but as with sincerity, but as from God, and in the sight of God, we speak concerning Christ.

being manifest that ye are the epistle of Christ, through our ministration, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on tables of the heart of flesh.

And such confidence have we through Christ towards God:

not that we can of ourselves reckon upon any thing as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.

but have rejected shameful disguises, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth, recommending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God.

among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, doth not shine unto them:

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

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

For all these things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the gratitude of many redound to the glory of God.

For we know that if our earthly house, which is but as a tent, were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Now He, that hath wrought us hereunto, is God; who hath also given us the earnest of the Spirit.

For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, that every one may receive for the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it were good or bad.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men: but if not, we are manifest unto God, and I hope we are also manifested to your consciences:

For whether we be in extasies, it is to God: or if we be composed, it is for your benefit.

But all these things are from God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and made us ministers of the reconciliation;

to declare, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing to them their trespasses, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, and as God exhorteth you by us, we intreat you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

For He hath made Him, who knew no sin, to be a sin-offering for us, that in Him we might be made righteous before God.

And we co-operating with Him do also exhort you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

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

by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, with the armour of righteousness on the right and on the left; through honor and dishonor,

through evil report and good report;

and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and I will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

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

But God, who comforteth those that are brought low, comforted us by the coming of Titus:

Wherefore if I wrote in such a manner to you, it was not merely on his account who had done the wrong, nor for his sake who had been injured; but that our care for you in the sight of God might be manifested among you.

Now we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God conferred on the churches of Macedonia:

And this they did not merely as we hoped, but first gave themselves unto the Lord, and to us by the will of God.

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

Let every one give as he chuses in his own heart; not with reluctance, or constraint: for God loveth a chearful giver.

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

being in every thing enriched to all liberality, which produceth through us thanksgiving to God.

For the ministration of this service not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also, through many thanksgivings, to the glory of God.

(While from the experience of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and the liberality of your communication to them, and to all men.)

And in their prayer for you, who long after you because of the transcendent grace of God towards you.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the demolishing of bulwarks:)

destroying false reasonings, and every height that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and captivating every thought to the obedience of Christ.

But we will not glory of things beyond our bounds, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath given to us, a measure to come even unto you.

Have I committed an offence in humbling myself that ye might be exalted? and in that I have preached the gospel of God to you gratis?

God knoweth. But what I do, I will do, that I may cut off occasion from those that desire an occasion of boasting or censure, that in what they boast of they may be found to do even as we do.

And the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lye not.

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

I know not, God knoweth) that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unutterable words, which it is not permitted unto man to speak.

Do ye then think that we are making apologies to you? No, we speak before God in Christ: and all, my beloved, for your edification.

when I come again, my God should humble me among you, and I should be grieved for many of those who have sinned heretofore, and have not repented of the impurity, and fornication, and lewdness which they have practised.

For if He was crucified as from weakness, yet He now liveth by the power of God: for we also are weak in Him, but shall live with Him by the power of God manifested to you.

I pray to God that ye may do no evil: and not that we may appear to be approved by your punishment, but that ye may do that which is good, though we should seem to be disapproved.

Finally, my brethren, farewel: be reformed, be exhorted, be of one mind, live in peace: and the God of love and peace will be with you.

and the love of God, and the communication of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.