who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we might be able to comfort those who are in all tribulation, by the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted of God.

but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,

you also assisting by prayer for us, that the favor obtained for us by the prayers of many might be thankfully acknowledged by many on our account.

And in this confidence was I minded the other time to have come unto you, that ye might have had yet one pleasure more,

And by way of Corinth to go into Macedonia, and from there to come back again to you, so that you might send me on my way to Judaea.

As certainly as God is to be trusted, my message to you has not been a "Yes" that might mean "No."

For God's Son, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us, Silvanus, Timothy, and me, did not become a "Yes" that might mean "No."

This is what I said in my letter, so that I might avoid coming and having my feelings hurt by the very people who might have been expected to make me happy, for I felt sure about you all, that what made me happy would make you all happy.

For in great affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears: not to make you sorry, but that ye might perceive the love which I have most specially unto you.

And if any have grieved, he has not grieved me, but by part; that I might not overload you all.

so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

For this cause verily did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye should be obedient in all things.

And to whom ye forgive any thing, I also forgive it: for if I have forgiven any thing, I forgave it him, to whom I did forgive it, for your sakes, in the person of Christ; that we might not be foiled by Satan:

that we might not have Satan get an advantage against us, for we are not ignorant of his thoughts.

Not as if we were able by ourselves to do anything for which we might take the credit; but our power comes from God;

and not as Moses put a vail on his face, that the children of Israel might not see to the end of that which has passed away;

Because the god of this world has made blind the minds of those who have not faith, so that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not be shining on them.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellent power of it might appear to be of God, and not of us.

And we always bear in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might appear in our bodies.

For we which live, are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might appear in our mortal flesh.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

For as long as we are in this tabernacle, we sigh and are grieved: for we would not be unclothed: but would be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

For we must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ; that each might receive the things for the body, for what he did, good or bad.

For not again do we recommend ourselves to you, but giving you occasion for boasting over us, that ye might have for them boasting in face, and not in heart.

and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again.

But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him],

He made him who knew nothing of sin to be sin, for our sake, so that through union with him we might become God's uprightness.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that did hurt, neither for his cause that was hurt: but that our good mind which we have toward you in the sight of God, might appear unto you

because in spite of a terrible test of trouble, the mighty flood of their gladness mingling with the depths of their poverty has overflowed and resulted in the abundance of their liberality.

Seriously requesting us that they might have a part in this grace of being servants to the needs of the saints:

So that we made a request to Titus that, as he had made a start before, so he might make this grace complete in you.

Ye know the liberality of our Lord Jesus Christ, which though he were rich, yet for your sakes became poor: that ye through his poverty might be made rich.

hereby taking care that no one might blame us in the disposal of this large sum which is administered by us:

But I have sent the brethren, that our boasting of you might not become vain in this respect, but that ye might be ready, as I had said:

For fear that, if any from Macedonia come with me, and you are not ready, we (not to say, you) might be put to shame in this thing.

Wherefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, to come before hand unto you, for to prepare your good blessing promised afore, that it might be ready: so that it be a blessing, and not a defrauding.

For the office of this ministration, not only supplieth the need of the saints: but also is abundant herein, that for this laudable ministering, thanks might be given to God of many,

For the weapons of our war are not carnal things, but things mighty in God to cast down strongholds;

For though I might take pride in our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for your destruction), it will not be a cause of shame to me:

so that I might not seem to terrify you by letters.

"His letters indeed," says one, "are mighty and forcible, but his personality is weak, and his speech contemptible."

It is no strain for me to do this, as it might be for people who had never got so far, for I was the first to come all the way to you with the good news of the Christ.

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh to you preach another Jesus than him whom we preached, or if ye receive another spirit than that which ye have received, either another gospel than that ye have received; ye might right well have been content.

Did I therein sin, because I submitted myself, that ye might be exalted? And because I preached unto you the Gospel of God freely?

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you;

Nevertheless what I do, that will I do to cut away occasion from them which desire occasion, that they might be found like unto us in that wherein they rejoice:

Again I say, lest any one should think me to be mad; and if not so indeed, as mad do ye receive me that I might also boast myself some little.

When I speak thus, I am not speaking as the Master would, but as a fool might, in boasting so confidently.

I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.

For if I had a desire to take credit to myself, it would not be foolish, for I would be saying what is true: but I will not, for fear that I might seem to any man more than he sees me to be, or has word from me that I am.

and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

For this thing besought I the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me,

Yet the tokens of an apostle were wrought among you with all patience; with signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that I be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest there might be strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

seeing that ye seek experience of Christ which speaketh in me, which among you is not weak, but is mighty in you.

And verily, though it came of weakness that he was crucified, yet liveth he through the power of God: and we no doubt are weak in him; but we shall live with him, by the might of God among you.

Now I pray to God, to do you nothing harmful, not that we would appear test-passing, but that ye would do right, even like we might be test-failing.