while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God’s grace.

and to go on to Macedonia with your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by you on my journey to Judea.

He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.

I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours.

Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up.

For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.

We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

As it is written:

He scattered;
He gave to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.

especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself.

I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient,