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.

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.

even as you have recognized us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, so that you might have a second benefit,

And I call God as witness to my soul that in order to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.

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

And I wrote this to you, lest when I came I should have sorrow from the ones of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

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.

And we have such trust through Christ toward God,

Then since we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.

Therefore since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not faint.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the Word of God, but by the revelation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us;

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 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 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.

So as we now know no one according to flesh, but even if we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we no longer know Him so.

So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

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 Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?

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."

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.

My boldness of speech is great toward you; my glorying on your behalf is much. I have been filled with comfort, I am overflowing with joy on all our trouble.

Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort, and we rather rejoiced more abundantly over the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

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.

Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.

But now also finish the doing of it, so that, as there was a readiness to will, so also the finishing, giving out of what you have.

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;

as it is written, "He gathering much, he had nothing left over; and he gathering little did not have less."

And we have sent with him the brothers whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest by the great confidence which I have in you.

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.

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.

But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet not in knowledge; but in every way I have been clearly revealed to you in all things.

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.

I speak according to dishonor, as though we have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares (I speak foolishly), I also dare.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as beside myself,) I am more! I have been in labors more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more, in deaths many times.

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the deep.

I have been in travels often; in dangers from waters; in dangers from robbers; in dangers from my race; in dangers from the heathen; in dangers in the city; in dangers in the wilderness; in dangers on the sea; in dangers among false brothers.

I have been in hardship and toil; often in watchings; in hunger and thirst; often in fastings; in cold and nakedness;

I have become foolish boasting. You compelled me. For I ought to be commended by you. For I lacked nothing of the highest apostles, if even I am nothing.

By any whom I have sent to you, did I overreach you by him?

lest in my coming again my God will humble me with you; and I shall mourn many who have already sinned, and not repenting over the uncleanness, and fornication, and lustfulness which they have practiced.

For we have no power against the truth, but for the truth.