For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

who has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

always carrying about in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we who live are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So then death is at work in us, but life in you.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

in purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,

as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed;

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

I do not say this to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.

But as you excel in everythingin faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for ussee that you excel in this work of grace also.

I am not speaking this as a command, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

Therefore openly before the churches, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war as the flesh does.

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

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

For he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God for you.

Finally, brethren, farewell. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.