while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

I planned with this confidence to come to you first, so you could have a double benefit,

and to go on to Macedonia with your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by you on my journey to Judea.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—did not become “Yes and no”; on the contrary, a final “Yes” has come in Him.

I call on God as a witness, on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.

In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.

I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours.

When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door for me.

Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stones, came with glory, so that the Israelites were not able to look directly at Moses’ face because of the glory from his face—a fading glory—

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.

In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears inside.

For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation.

For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ.

When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.

Now I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

I urged Titus to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps?

For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want; there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity they practiced.

I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient,