For out of much trouble and pain of heart and much weeping I sent my letter to you; not to give you sorrow, but so that you might see how great is the love which I have to you.

For which cause my desire is that you will make your love to him clear by your acts.

For it is the love of Christ which is moving us; because we are of the opinion that if one was put to death for all, then all have undergone death;

In a clean heart, in knowledge, in long waiting, in being kind, in the Holy Spirit, in true love,

And his love to you is the more increased by his memory of you all, how you gave way to his authority, and how you took him to your hearts with fear and honour.

And that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way.

I am not giving you an order, but using the ready mind of others as a test of the quality of your love.

Make clear then to them, as representatives of the churches, the quality of your love, and that the things which we have said about you are true.

While their hearts go out to you in love and in prayer for you, because of the great grace of God which is in you.

But I have a fear, that in some way, as Eve was tricked by the deceit of the snake, your minds may be turned away from their simple and holy love for Christ.

Why? because I have no love for you? let God be judge.

And I will gladly give all I have for your souls. If I have the more love for you, am I to be loved the less?

Let this be my last word, brothers; be glad; be complete; be comforted; be of the same mind; be at peace with one another: and the God of love and peace will be with you.

All the saints send their love to you.

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