For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart, through many tears; not to pain you, but to convince you of my love, my abundant love for you.

So I beg you to reinstate him in your love.

For the love of Christ overmasters me; because I thus judge that if One has died for all, then all have died;

with purity, understanding, patience, and kindness; by the Holy Spirit, by love sincere,

There is no narrowness in my love; but the narrowness is in your own.

Now then, as you excel in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and all zeal and in your love to me, see to it that you excel in this grace also.

I do not say this by way of command, but by the zeal of others I am trying to prove the reality of your love.

So show to the churches an evidence of your love, and a justification to these brothers of my boasting about you.

And why? Because I love you not? God knows I do.

For my part, I will most gladly spend, yea, and will myself be spent, for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I to be loved the less?

Finally, brothers, farewell. Aim at perfection, take courage, be of one mind, live in peace; so shall the God of love and peace be with you.

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