Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will, and the brother Timotheus, to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia.

who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged of God.

But whether we are in tribulation, it is for your encouragement and salvation, wrought in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer,

For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, as to our tribulation which happened to us in Asia, that we were excessively pressed beyond our power, so as to despair even of living.

For out of much tribulation and distress of heart I wrote to you, with many tears; not that ye may be grieved, but that ye may know the love which I have very abundantly towards you.

Sufficient to such a one is this rebuke which has been inflicted by the many;

(But if the ministry of death, in letters, graven in stones, began with glory, so that the children of Israel could not fix their eyes on the face of Moses, on account of the glory of his face, a glory which is annulled;

For also that which was glorified is not glorified in this respect, on account of the surpassing glory.

For if that annulled was introduced with glory, much rather that which abides subsists in glory.

But their thoughts have been darkened, for unto this day the same veil remains in reading the old covenant, unremoved, which in Christ is annulled.

For indeed in this we groan, ardently desiring to have put on our house which is from heaven;

For indeed we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; while yet we do not wish to be unclothed, but clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

and not by his coming only, but also through the encouragement with which he was encouraged as to you; relating to us your ardent desire, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I the more rejoiced.

begging of us with much entreaty to give effect to the grace and fellowship of the service which was to be rendered to the saints.

avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us;

For concerning the ministration which is for the saints, it is superfluous my writing to you.

For I know your readiness, which I boast of as respects you to Macedonians, that Achaia is prepared since a year ago, and the zeal reported of you has stimulated the mass of the brethren.

enriched in every way unto all free-hearted liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.

and in their supplication for you, full of ardent desire for you, on account of the exceeding grace of God which is upon you.

but I beseech that present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I think to be daring towards some who think of us as walking according to flesh.

For and if I should boast even somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord has given to us for building up and not for your overthrowing, I shall not be put to shame;

Now we will not boast out of measure, but according to the measure of the rule which the God of measure has apportioned to us, to reach to you also.

to announce the glad tidings to that which is beyond you, not to be boasting in another's rule of things made ready to hand.

For I am jealous as to you with a jealousy which is of God; for I have espoused you unto one man, to present you a chaste virgin to Christ.

For if indeed he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or ye get a different Spirit, which ye have not got, or a different glad tidings, which ye have not received, ye might well bear with it.

The truth of Christ is in me that this boasting shall not be stopped as to me in the regions of Achaia.

If it is needful to boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things said which it is not allowed to man to utter.

For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that I be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest there might be strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

lest my God should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.

On this account I write these things being absent, that being present I may not use severity according to the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for overthrowing.