For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, thus through Christ our comfort overflows also.

But if we are afflicted, [it is] for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, [it is] for your comfort that is at work in the patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.

And our hope for you [is] firm, [because we] know that as you are sharers in the sufferings, so also [you will be sharers] in the comfort.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning our affliction that happened in the [province of] Asia, that we were burdened to an extraordinary degree, beyond [our] strength, so that we were in despair even of living.

[while] you also join in helping {on our behalf} by prayer, so that thanks may be given {on our behalf} by many persons for this gracious gift [given] to us through [the help] of many.

For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness and purity of motive from God, not in merely human wisdom, but by the grace of God.

For we are not writing [anything] else to you except what you can read or also understand. But I hope that you will understand {completely},

just as you have also understood us in part, that we are your reason for boasting, just as you [are] also ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, did not become "yes" and "no," but has become "yes" in him.

For as many as [are the] promises of God, in him [they are] "yes"; therefore also through him [is] the "amen" to the glory of God through us.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.

For I have decided this for myself, not to come to you again in sorrow.

For if I [cause] you sorrow, then who will make me glad except the one who is caused to be sad by me?

For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you.

This punishment by the majority [is] sufficient for such a person.

Therefore I urge you to confirm [your] love for him.

Because for this [reason] also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything.

Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also [do]; for indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, [it is] {for your sake} in the presence of Christ,

in order that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

Now [when I] arrived in Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened for me by the Lord,

I did not experience rest in my spirit, [because] I did not find Titus my brother, but saying farewell to them, I departed for Macedonia.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, [and] to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who [is] qualified for these [things]?

For we are not like the majority who peddle the word of God, but as from pure motives--but as from God--we speak before God in Christ.

who also makes us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

For if [there was] glory in the ministry of condemnation, by much more will the ministry of righteousness overflow with glory.

For indeed what had been glorified has not been glorified in this case, on account of the glory that surpasses [it].

For if what was transitory [came] with glory, by much more what remains [is] with glory.

But their minds were hardened. For until this very day, the same veil remains upon the reading of the old covenant, not being uncovered, because it is done away with in Christ.

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus [as] Lord, and ourselves [as] your slaves for the sake of Jesus.

For God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness," [is the one] who has shined in our hearts for the enlightenment of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

For we who are alive [are] continually being handed over to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.

For all [these things] {are for your sake}, in order that the grace that is increasing through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory {beyond all measure and proportion},

[because] we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen [is] temporary, but what is not seen [is] eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house, the tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.

For indeed, in this [house] we groan, [because we] desire to put on our dwelling from heaven,

For indeed we who are in this tent groan, being burdened {for this reason, that} we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now the one who has prepared us for this very [thing] [is] God, who has given us the down payment, the Spirit.

for we live by faith, not by sight--

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive back the [things] through the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Therefore, [because we] know the fear of the Lord, we are attempting to persuade people, but we are revealed to God, and I hope to be revealed in your consciences.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to boast about us, in order that you may have [an answer] for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

For if we are out of our senses, [it is] for God; if we are of sound mind, [it is] for you.

For the love of Christ controls us, [because we] have concluded this: that one died for all; as a result all died.

And he died for all, in order that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

For he says, "At the acceptable time I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now [is] the acceptable time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation!

[We are] giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found [with it],

in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand,

Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation [is there between] righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship [does] light [have] with darkness?

And what agreement [does the] temple of God [have] with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, "I will live in them and will walk about [among them], and I will be their God and they will be my people."

Therefore [since we] have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of body and spirit, accomplishing holiness in the fear of God.

{Make room for us in your hearts}. We have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have defrauded no one.

For even [when] we arrived in Macedonia, our body had no rest, but we were afflicted in every [way]--quarrels outside, fears within.

and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort [with] which he was comforted among you, [because he] reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

For if indeed I grieved you by my letter, I do not regret [it]. Even if I did regret [it] (I see that that letter grieved you, even though for {a short time}),

now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to [the will of] God, so that you suffered loss in no way through us.

For grief according to [the will of] God brings about a repentance [leading] to salvation, not to be regretted, but worldly grief brings about death.

For behold how much diligence this very [thing], being grieved according to [the will of] God, has brought about in you: what defense [of yourselves], what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! In everything you have demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

For if I have boasted anything to him about you, I have not been put to shame, but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, thus also our boasting to Titus {has proven to be true}.

And his affection for you is all the more [when he] remembers the obedience of all of you as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

So we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun [it], thus he would also complete for you this [act of] grace.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that [although he] was rich, for your sake he became poor, in order that you, by his poverty, may become rich.

And I am giving an opinion in this [matter], because this is profitable for you who not only began previously, a year ago, to do [something], but also to want [to do it].

For if the eagerness is present {according to what one has}, [it is] acceptable not {according to what one does not have}.

For [this is] not that for others [there may be] relief, [and] for you difficult circumstances, but [as a matter] of equality.

At the present time your abundance [will be] for their need, in order that their abundance may also be for your need, so that there may be equality,

For we are taking into consideration what is honorable not only before the Lord, but also before people.

If [there is a question] concerning Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow worker for you. If [there is a question concerning] our brothers, [they are] messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

For it is unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the ministry to the saints,

Therefore I considered [it] necessary to urge the brothers that they should go on ahead to you and make arrangements in advance for your generous gift that was promised previously, so this would be prepared as a generous gift and not as grudgingly granted.

Each one [should give] as he has decided in his heart, not {reluctantly} or from compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed, and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow,

being made rich in every [way] for all generosity, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,

and [they are] longing for you in their prayers for you, because of the surpassing grace of God to you.

Thanks [be] to God for his indescribable gift!

For [although we] are living in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh,

for the weapons of our warfare [are] not merely human, but powerful to God for the tearing down of fortresses, tearing down arguments

For even if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave [us] {for building you up and not for tearing you down}, I will not be put to shame,

For we do not dare to classify or to compare ourselves with some who commend themselves, but [they] themselves, [when they] measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, do not understand.

But we will not boast {beyond limits}, but according to the measure of the assignment that God has assigned to us as a measure to reach even as far as you.

For we are not overextending ourselves, as [if we] had not reached you, because we have reached even as far as you with the gospel of Christ,

For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but [the one] whom the Lord commends.

For I am jealous [for] you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you [in marriage] to one husband, to present [you] [as] a pure virgin to Christ.

For if the one who comes proclaims another Jesus whom we have not proclaimed, or you receive a different spirit which you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you put up with [it] well [enough]!

For I consider myself in no way to be inferior to the preeminent apostles.

I robbed other churches [by] accepting support [from them] for the ministry to you.

And [when I] was present with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will keep [myself from being a burden].

For such people [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.

For [because you] are wise, you put up with foolish people gladly!

For you put up with [it] if someone enslaves you, if someone devours [you], if someone takes advantage of [you], if someone is presumptious [toward you], if someone strikes you in the face.

Are they servants of Christ?--I am speaking as though I were beside myself--I [am] more so, with far greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with beatings to a much greater degree, in [danger of] death many times.

that he was caught up to paradise and heard words not to be spoken, which [it is] not permitted for a person to speak.

For if I want to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be telling the truth, but I am refraining, so that no one can credit to me more than what he sees [in] me or hears anything from me,

And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, because the power is perfected in weakness." Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me.

Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

I have become a fool! You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for [I am] in no way inferior to the preeminent apostles, even if I am nothing.

{For in what respect are you made worse off} more than the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Behold, this third [time] I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden [to you]. For I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.