For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.

And if we are troubled, it is for your consolation and salvation, being worked out in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer; if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

For, brothers, we would not have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength; so much so that we despaired even of life.

with you also helping together by prayer for us, so that the gracious gift by many persons be the cause of thanksgiving through many for us.

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity; not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God; we have had our conduct in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

For we write no other things to you than what you read or recognize, and I trust you shall recognize them even to the end,

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us; by me and Silas and Timothy; was not yes and no, but in Him was, yes!

For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

Not that we have dominion over your faith, but we are helpers of your joy; for by faith you stand.

For if I make you sorry, who then is he who makes me glad, but the same who has been made sorry by me?

For out of much trouble and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.

This punishment by the majority is enough for such a one;

For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.

But to whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if I forgave anything, for your sakes I forgave it to him in the person of Christ;

so that we should not be overreached by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his devices.

For we are to God a sweet savor of Christ, in those being saved, and in those being lost;

to the one we are the savor of death to death, and to the other we are the savor of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not as many, hawking the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.

For if the ministry of condemnation is glorious, much more does the ministry of righteousness exceed in glory.

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels.

For if that which has been done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.

(But their thoughts were blinded; for until the present the same veil remains on the reading of the old covenant, not taken away.) But this veil has been done away in Christ.

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

For it is God who said, "Out of darkness Light shall shine;" who shone in our hearts to give the brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

For we who live are always being delivered to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus might also be revealed in our body.

For we, having the same spirit of faith (according as it is written, "I believed, and therefore I have spoken"); we also believed and therefore speak,

For all things are for your sake, so that the superabounding grace might be made to abound through the thanksgiving of the greater number, to the glory of God.

For this cause we do not faint; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

For the lightness of our present affliction works out for us a far more excellent eternal weight of glory,

we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.

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

For indeed in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our dwelling-place out of Heaven;

For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened; inasmuch as we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed, so that the mortal might be swallowed up by the life.

And He who has worked in us for this same thing is God, who also is giving to us the earnest of the Spirit.

for we walk by faith, not by sight;

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to that which he has done, whether good or bad.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are revealed to God, and I trust also that we are revealed in your consciences.

For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but are giving you occasion to glory on our behalf, so that you may have it to answer those boasting in appearance, and not in heart.

For if we are out of our mind, it is to God; or if we are in our senses, it is for you.

For the love of Christ constrains us, judging this, that if one died for all, then all died;

and He died for all, that the living ones may live no more to themselves, but to Him who died for them and having been raised.

For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

(For He says, "In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation, I helped you;" Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.)

But for the same reward, (I speak as to children), you also be enlarged.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness?

And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

Then having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Make room for us. We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we overreached no one.

I do not speak this to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts for us to die together, and to live together.

For, indeed, coming into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but being troubled in every way, with fightings on the outside, and fears on the inside.

And not only by his coming, but by the comfort with which he was comforted over you, telling us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced the more.

For even if I grieved you in the letter, I do not regret; if indeed I did regret; for I see that that letter grieved you for an hour.

Now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to God, so that you might suffer loss by nothing in us.

For the grief according to God works repentance to salvation, not to be regretted, but the grief of the world works out death.

For behold this same thing (you being grieved according to God); how much it worked out earnestness in you; but also defense; but also indignation; but also fear; but also desire; but also zeal; but also vengeance! In everything you approved yourselves to be clear in the matter.

Then, though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered wrong, but for the sake of revealing our earnestness on your behalf, for you before God.

For if I have boasted anything about you to him, I was not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting as to Titus became truth.

And his tender feelings are more abundant toward you, remembering the obedience of you all, as you received him with fear and trembling.

For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability; they gave willingly;

for us to call on Titus, that even as he began before, so he would also complete this grace to you also.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor, in order that you might be made rich through His poverty.

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

For if the eagerness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, and not according to what one does not have.

For it is not that others may have ease, but you trouble;

but by equality in the present time; your abundance for their need, that their abundance also may be for your need; so that there may be equality;

But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

For indeed he accepted the entreaty. But being more earnest, of his own accord he went to you.

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

If anyone inquires of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-worker for you, or of our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

For indeed regarding the ministry to the saints, it is not necessary for me to write to you.

For I know your eagerness, of which I boast to Macedonia on your behalf, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has aroused the greater number.

Each one, as he purposes in his heart, let him give; not of grief, or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Now He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, may He supply and multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness

For the ministry of this service not only supplies the things lacking of the saints, but also multiplying through many thanksgivings to God,

through the proof of this ministry they glorify God for your freely expressed submission to the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of the fellowship toward them and toward all,

and in their prayer for you, who long after you, because of the exceeding grace of God on you.

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable free gift.

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

For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,

For even if I also should boast somewhat more fully of our authority (which the Lord has given us for building up, and not for pulling you down) I will not be put to shame;

For indeed they say, the letters are weighty and powerful, but the bodily presence is weak, and his speech is contemptible.

For we do not dare to rank or compare ourselves with some of the ones commending themselves. But they, measuring themselves among themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, are not perceptive.

For we do not overstretch ourselves as though not reaching to you. For we also came to you in the gospel of Christ;

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

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one Man, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, so your thoughts should be corrupted from the simplicity due to Christ.

For if, indeed, the one coming proclaims another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another gospel, which you never accepted, you might well endure these .

For I judge myself to have come behind the highest apostles in nothing.

I stripped other churches, taking wages for the serving of you.

And being present with you, and in need, I was not a burden to anyone. For the brothers from Macedonia made up completely my need. And in every way I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will keep myself.

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

For you gladly bear with fools, being wise.

For you endure if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone strikes you in the face.

Indeed, it is not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

that he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not allowed for a man to utter.

For if I desire to boast, I shall not be foolish. For I will speak the truth. But I spare, lest anyone should think of me as being beyond what he sees me, or hears of me;

For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.

And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me.

Therefore I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am powerful.