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,

(and our hope for you is sure;) or whether we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement and salvation: knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the encouragement.

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.

ye also labouring together by supplication for us that the gift towards us, through means of many persons, may be the subject of the thanksgiving of many for us.

For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and sincerity before God, (not in fleshly wisdom but in God's grace,) we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly towards you.

For we do not write other things to you but what ye well know and recognise; and I hope that ye will recognise to the end,

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, he who has been preached by us among you (by me and Silvanus and Timotheus), did not become yea and nay, but yea is in him.

For whatever promises of God there are, in him is the yea, and in him the amen, for glory to God by us.

Not that we rule over your faith, but are fellow-workmen of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

For if I grieve you, who also is it that gladdens me, if not he that is grieved through me?

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.

For to this end also I have written, that I might know, by putting you to the test, if as to everything ye are obedient.

But to whom ye forgive anything, I also; for I also, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sakes in the person of Christ;

that we might not have Satan get an advantage against us, for we are not ignorant of his thoughts.

Now when I came to Troas for the publication of the glad tidings of the Christ, a door also being opened to me in the Lord,

For we are a sweet odour of Christ to God, in the saved and in those that perish:

to the one an odour from death unto death, but to the others an odour from life unto life; and who is sufficient for these things?

For we do not, as the many, make a trade of the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, before God, we speak in Christ.

who has also made us competent, as ministers of the new covenant; not of letter, but of spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens.

For if the ministry of condemnation be glory, much rather the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory.

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.

in whom the god of this world has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine forth for them.

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus Lord, and ourselves your bondmen for Jesus' sake.

Because it is the God who spoke that out of darkness light should shine who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

for we who live are always delivered unto death on account of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh;

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

For our momentary and light affliction works for us in surpassing measure an eternal weight of glory;

while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are for a time, but those that are not seen eternal.

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

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.

Now he that has wrought us for this very thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

(for we walk by faith, not by sight;)

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

For we do not again commend ourselves to you, but we are giving to you occasion of boast in our behalf, that ye may have such with those boasting in countenance, and not in heart.

For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God; or are sober, it is for you.

For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died;

and he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them and has been raised.

We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as it were beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God.

Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.

(for he says, I have listened to thee in an accepted time, and I have helped thee in a day of salvation: behold, now is the well-accepted time; behold, now the day of salvation:)

but for an answering recompense, (I speak as to children,) let your heart also expand itself.

Be not diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? or what fellowship of light with darkness?

and what consent of Christ with Beliar, or what part for a believer along with an unbeliever?

and what agreement of God's temple with idols? for ye are the living God's temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.

and I will be to you for a Father, and ye shall be to me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God's fear.

I do not speak for condemnation, for I have already said that ye are in our hearts, to die together, and live together.

For indeed, when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way; without combats, within fears.

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.

For if also I grieved you in the letter, I do not regret it, if even I have regretted it; for I see that that letter, if even it were only for a time, grieved you.

Now I rejoice, not that ye have been grieved, but that ye have been grieved to repentance; for ye have been grieved according to God, that in nothing ye might be injured by us.

For grief according to God works repentance to salvation, never to be regretted; but the grief of the world works death.

For, behold, this same thing, your being grieved according to God, how much diligence it wrought in you, but what excusing of yourselves, but what indignation, but what fear, but what ardent desire, but what zeal, but what vengeance: in every way ye have proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

So then, if also I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of him that injured, nor for the sake of him that was injured, but for the sake of our diligent zeal for you being manifested to you before God.

For this reason we have been encouraged. And we the rather rejoiced in our encouragement more abundantly by reason of the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

and his affections are more abundantly towards you, calling to mind the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their free-hearted liberality.

For according to their power, I bear witness, and beyond their power, they were willing of their own accord,

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that ye by his poverty might be enriched.

And I give my opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.

For if the readiness be there, a man is accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.

For it is not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,

but on the principle of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality.

But thanks be to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.

For he received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;

for we provide for things honest, not only before the Lord, but also before men.

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.

I thought it necessary therefore to beg the brethren that they would come to you, and complete beforehand your fore-announced blessing, that this may be ready thus as blessing, and not as got out of you.

each according as he is purposed in his heart; not grievingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

according as it is written, He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains for ever.

Now he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating shall supply and make abundant your sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

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

they glorifying God through the proof of this ministration, by reason of your subjection, by profession, to the glad tidings of the Christ, and your free-hearted liberality in communicating towards them and towards all;

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

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable free gift.

For walking in flesh, we do not war according to flesh.

For the arms of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful according to God to the overthrow of strongholds;

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;

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not intelligent.

For we do not, as not reaching to you, overstretch ourselves, (for we have come to you also in the glad tidings of the Christ;)

For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

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.

But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craft, so your thoughts should be corrupted from simplicity as to the 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.

For I reckon that in nothing I am behind those who are in surpassing degree apostles.

I spoiled other assemblies, receiving hire for ministry towards you.

And being present with you and lacking, I did not lazily burden any one, (for the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied what I lacked,) and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will keep myself.

But what I do, I will also do, that I may cut off the opportunity of those wishing for an opportunity, that wherein they boast they may be found even as we.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

And it is not wonderful, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

For ye bear fools readily, being wise.

For ye bear if any one bring you into bondage, if any one devour you, if any one get your money, if any one exalt himself, if any one beat you on the face.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows he who is blessed for ever that I do not lie.

Well, it is not of profit to me to boast, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

For if I shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me to be, or whatever he may hear of me.

And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted.