But, whether we be in tribulation, it is for your consolation and salvation; or, whether we are consoled, it is for your consolation, which is effective in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our tribulation which befell us in Asia; that we were exceedingly weighed down beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the mercy bestowed upon us by means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

For we write no other things to you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge to the end;

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who was preached among you through us??hrough me and Sylvanus and Timothy??as not "Yea" and "Nay," "Nay," but in Him is "Yea."

For however many are the promises of God, in Him is the "Yea"; wherefore, also, through Him is the "Amen," to the glory of God through us.

Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye have been standing.

But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

For, if I make you sorry, who, indeed, is he that makes me glad, but he that is made sorry by me?

For out of much tribulation and anguish of heart I wrote to you, through many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly toward you.

Sufficient for such a one was the punishment inflicted by the many;

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

And to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also; for what I also have forgiven??f I have forgiven anything??or your sakes have I forgiven it in the person of Christ;

that we might not be over-reached by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Now, having come to Troas for the Gospel of Christ, and a door having been opened to me in the Lord,

to the one class a savor of death unto death, and to the other a savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not as the many, making merchandise of the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

Who also qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.

For, if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

For even that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, on account of the surpassing glory;

for, if that which is passing away comes through glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

But their minds were unimpressible; for until this day upon the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted; which in Christ is done away.

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

For we who live are always delivered up to death for Jesus' sake, 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 make the thanksgiving abound, to the glory of God.

For our momentary light tribulation is working out for us more and more exceedingly 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 temporal, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

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

For verily, in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from Heaven;

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

Now He Who wrought us for this very thing is God, Who gave to us the earnest of the Spirit.

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

For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to the things which he practiced, whether good or evil.

Knowing, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but to God we have been made manifest, and I hope that we have been made manifest also in your consciences.

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

For the love of Christ is constraining us; having judged this, that One died for all; consequently, they all died:

and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to Him Who died for them, and rose again.

(for He saith, "At an acceptable time I heard Thee, and in a day of salvation did I succor Thee;" behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation);

Now, for a recompense in like kind (I am speaking as to my children), be ye also enlarged.

Become not unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what fellowship have righteousness and lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

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

Having, therefore, these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Make room for us; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we defrauded no one.

I say it not with the view to your condemnation; for I have said before that ye are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

For even when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief; but we were in tribulation on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

and not by his coming only, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled over you; rehearsing to us your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced the more:

because, even if I did make you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it; for I see that that letter made you sorry, though but for a season.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that in nothing ye might receive damage from us.

For godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world works death.

For, behold this very thing??hat ye were made sorry after a godly manner??hat diligence it wrought in you; yea, what defense of yourselves; yea, what indignation; yea, what fear; yea what earnest desire; yea, what zeal; yea, what avenging! In everything ye proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

For this cause, we have been consoled; but, in our consolation, we rejoice the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

For, if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not made ashamed; but, as we spake all things to you in truth, so also our glorying before Titus was found to be truth.

And his tender affections are more abundantly toward you, while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

For, according to their power, I bear witness, and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord;

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich.

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

for, if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he has not.

For it is not that there may be relief to others, but distress to you;

but, by the rule of equality, your abundance being a supply, at the present time, for their deficiency; that also their abundance may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality:

But thanks be to God Who putteth the same diligence for you into the heart of Titus.

For he accepted, indeed, our exhortation; but, being very earnest, he went forth to you of his own accord.

for we provide things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

For, respecting the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past; and your zeal stirred up the majority of them.

Let each one do as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

And He Who supplieth seed to the sower, and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;

through the proof of this ministry, glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the Gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;

they also, with supplication for you, longing after you on account of the exceeding grace of God upon you.

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!

For, though walking in flesh, we are not warring according to the flesh,

(for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God for the casting down of strongholds);

For, even if I glory somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority??hich the Lord gave for building you up, and not for tearing you down?? shall not be put to shame;

For we are not bold to judge ourselves among, or to compare ourselves with, some of those who commend themselves; but they measuring themselves among themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as if not reaching to you; for we came even as far as to you in the Gospel of Christ;

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

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy; for I espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a pure virgin to Christ;

but I fear lest, by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and purity which is toward Christ.

For, if he that comes preaches another Jesus, Whom we did not preach; or, if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different Gospel, which ye did not accept; well do ye bear with him.

For I reckon that I am in no respect behind the most eminent apostles.

and, being present with you, and being in want, I was a burden to no one; for the brethren, coming from Macedonia, supplied my lack; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will keep myself.

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

and no wonder, for even Satan transforms himself into an angel of light!

for ye gladly bear with the foolish, being yourselves wise.

For ye bear with it, if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes you captive, if one exalts himself, if one smites you on the face.

Apart from those things without, that which is a pressure upon me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.

It is needful for me to glory, though, indeed, not profitable; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, which it is not lawful for a man to speak.

For, if I should desire to glory, I would not be foolish, for I shall be speaking truth; but I forbear, lest some one should think, in regard to me, above what he sees me to be, or hears from me.

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

Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I powerful.

I have become foolish; ye compelled me; for I ought to be commended by you; for in nothing was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even if I am nothing.

For what is there in which ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong!

Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I to be loved the less?

Think ye all this time that we are excusing ourselves to you? Before God in Christ we are speaking; and all, beloved, for your edification.

For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I desire, and that I, too, should be found by you such as ye do not desire; lest, by any means, there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;

lest, when I come again, my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of those who have heretofore sinned, and repented not of the uncleanness, and fornication and lasciviousness which they practiced.

for, indeed, He was crucified through weakness, but He liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him through the power of God toward you.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.