In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.

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

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

Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: “Achaia has been prepared since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.

For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed.

I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me.

For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!

In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits you in the face.

I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows.

was caught up into paradise. He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak.

Now I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you. No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.