Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-merciful Father, the God ever ready to console,

Who consoles us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to console those who are in any trouble with the consolation that we ourselves receive from him.

It is true that we have our full share of the sufferings of the Christ, but through the Christ we have also our full share of consolation.

If we meet with trouble, it is for the sake of your consolation and salvation; and, if we find consolation, it is for the sake of the consolation that you will experience when you are called to endure the very sufferings that we ourselves are enduring;

And our hope for you remains unshaken. We know that, as you are sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolation.

We want you, Brothers, to know that, in the troubles which befell us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life.

And from so imminent a death God delivered us, and will deliver us again; for in him we have placed our hopes of future deliverance, while you, also, help us by your prayers.

And then many lips will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.

Indeed, our main ground for satisfaction is this--Our conscience tells us that our conduct in the world, and still more in our relations with you, was marked by a purity of motive and a sincerity that were inspired by God, and was based, not on worldly policy, but on the help of God.

And, indeed, you have already partly acknowledged it about us--that you have a right to be proud of us, as we shall be proud of you, on the Day of our Lord Jesus.

As this was my plan, where, pray, did I show any fickleness of purpose? Or do you think that my plans are formed on mere impulse, so that in the same breath I say 'Yes' and 'No'?

As God is true, the Message that we brought you does not waver between 'Yes' and 'No'!

For, many as were the promises of God, in Christ is the 'Yes' that fulfils them. Therefore, through Christ again, let the 'Amen' rise, through us, to the glory of God.

God who brings us, with you, into close union with Christ, and who consecrated us,

Also set his seal upon us, and gave us his Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of future blessings.

But, as my life shall answer for it, I call God to witness that it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth.

I do not mean that we are to dictate to you with regard to your faith; on the contrary, we work with you for your true happiness; indeed, it is through your faith that you are standing firm.

For my own sake, as well, I decided not to pay you another painful visit.

If it is I who cause you pain, why, who is there to cheer me, except the very person whom I am paining?

So I wrote as I did, for fear that, if I had come, I should have been pained by those who ought to have made me glad; for I felt sure that it was true of you all that my joy was in every case yours also.

Now whoever has caused the pain has not so much pained me, as he has, to some extent--not to be too severe--pained every one of you.

So as to prevent Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

All thanks to God, who, through our union with the Christ, leads us in one continual triumph, and uses us to spread the sweet odor of the knowledge of him in every place.

To the latter we are an odor which arises from death and tells of Death; to the former an odor which arises from life and tells of Life. But who is equal to such a task?

All can see that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, a letter written, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on 'tablets of stone,' but on 'tablets of human hearts.'

This, then, is the confidence in regard to God that we have gained through the Christ.

I do not mean that we are fit to form any judgment by ourselves, as if on our own authority;

Our fitness comes from God, who himself made us fit to be ministers of a New Covenant, of which the substance is, not a written Law, but a Spirit. For the written Law means Death, but the Spirit gives Life.

For, if there was a glory in the religion that involved condemnation, far greater is the glory of the religion that confers righteousness!

And, if that which was to pass away was attended with glory, far more will that which is to endure be surrounded with glory!

With such a hope as this, we speak with all plainness;

But, even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies on their hearts.

'Yet, whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.'