Brethren, I would not have you ignorant of our trouble, which happened unto us in Asia. For we were grieved out of measure passing strength, so greatly that we despaired even of life.

Also we received an answer of death in ourselves, and that was done because we should not put our trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead to life again -

Our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in singleness of heart and with godly pureness - and not in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God - we have had our conversation in the world, and most of all to you-wards.

God is faithful: For our preaching unto you, was not "yea" and "nay."

For God's son Jesus Christ which was preached among you by us - that is to say, by me and Silvanus and Timothy - was not "yea" and "nay": but in him it was "Yea."

I call God for a record unto my soul, that for to favor you withal, I came not any more unto Corinth.

Not that we be lords over your faith: but helpers of your joy. For by faith ye stand.

But I determined this in myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

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.

If any man hath caused sorrow, the same hath not made me sorry: but partly - lest I should grieve - you all.

lest Satan should prevent us. For his thoughts are not unknown unto us.

I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but took my leave of them and went away into Macedonia.

For we are not as many are, which chop and change with the word of God: but even out of pureness, and by the power of God and in the sight of God, so speak we in Christ.

We begin to praise ourselves again. Need we, as some others, of epistles of recommendation unto you? Or letters of recommendation from you?

in that ye are known, how that ye are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us and written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.

not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as it were of ourselves; but our ableness cometh of God;

which hath made us able to minister the new testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

If the ministration of death through the letters figured in stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses for the glory of countenance - which glory nevertheless is done away -

why shall not the ministration of the spirit be much more glorious?

For no doubt that which was there glorified is not once glorified in respect of this exceeding glory.

and do not as Moses - which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel should not see for what purpose that served, which is put away.

Therefore seeing that we have such an office, even as mercy is come on us, we faint not:

but have cast from us the cloaks of unhonesty, and walk not in craftiness, neither corrupt we the word of God: but walk in open truth, and report ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest should shine unto them the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, which is the image of God.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus to be the Lord, and preach ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

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

We are troubled on every side, yet are we not without shift. We are in poverty: but not utterly without somewhat.

We are persecuted: but are not forsaken. We are cast down: nevertheless we perish not.

Wherefore, we are not wearied: but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

while we look not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen. For things which are seen, are temporal: but things which are not seen are eternal.

We know surely if our earthy mansion wherein we now dwell were destroyed, that we have a building ordained of God, a habitation not made with hands, but eternal in heaven:

so yet if it happen that we be found clothed, and not naked.

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 walk in faith and see not.

We praise not ourselves again unto you, but give you an occasion to rejoice of us, that ye may have somewhat against them, which rejoice in the face, and not in the heart.

and that he died for all, because that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves: but unto him which died for them and rose again.

For God was in Christ, and made agreement between the world and himself, and imputed not their sins unto them: and hath committed to us the preaching of the atonement.

We as helpers therefore exhort you, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

as unknown, and yet known, as dying - and behold we yet live - as chastened and not killed,

Set yourselves therefore at large, and bear not a stranger's yoke with the unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? What company hath light with darkness?

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have showed you before that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

And not with his coming only: but also with the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you. For he told us your desire, your mourning, your fervent mind to me ward: So that I now rejoice the more.

Wherefore though I made you sorry with a letter I repent not: though I did repent. For I perceive that that same Epistle made you sorry though it were but for a season.

But I now rejoice, not that ye were sorry, but that ye so sorrowed, that ye repented.

For ye sorrowed godly: so that in nothing were ye hurt by us. For godly sorrow causeth repentance, unto salvation not to be repented of: when worldly sorrow causeth death.

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

I am therefore not now ashamed, though I boasted myself to him of you. For as all things which I preached unto you are true, even so is our boasting - that I boasted myself to Titus withal - found true.

And this they did, not as we looked for; but gave their own selves first to the Lord, and after unto us by the will of God:

so that we could not but desire Titus to accomplish the same benevolence among you also, even as he had begun.

This say I not as commanding: but because others are so fervent, therefore prove I your love, whether it be perfect or no.

And I give counsel hereto: For this is expedient for you, which began - not to do only, but also to will - a year ago.

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

It is not my mind that other be set at ease, and ye brought into cumbrance: but that there be equalness now at this time,

and not so only, but is also chosen of the congregations to be a fellow with us in our journey, as concerning this benevolence that is ministered by us unto the praise of the Lord, and to stir up your prompt mind.

and therefore make provision for honest things, not in the sight of God only, but also in the sight of men.

lest peradventure if they of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared, the boast that I made in this matter should be a shame to us: I say not unto you.

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.

And let every man do according as he hath purposed in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity. For God loveth a cheerful giver.

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,

I beseech you that I need not to be bold when I am present - with that same confidence, wherewith I am supposed to be bold - against some which repute us as though we walked carnally.

Nevertheless, though we walk compassed with the flesh, yet we war not fleshly.

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

And though I should boast myself somewhat more of our authority which the Lord hath given us to edify and not to destroy you, it should not be to my shame.

But we will not rejoice above measure: but according to the quantity of the measure which God hath distributed unto us, a measure that reacheth even unto you.

For we stretch not out ourselves beyond measure as though we had not reached unto you. For even unto you have we come with the gospel of Christ,

and we boast not ourselves out of measure in other men's labors. Yea, and we hope, when your faith is increased among you, to be magnified according to our measure more largely;

and to preach the gospel in those regions which are beyond you, and not to rejoice of that which is by another man's measure prepared already.

For he that praiseth himself, is not allowed: but he whom the Lord praiseth.

I suppose that I was not behind the chief apostles.

Though I be rude in speaking, yet I am not so in knowledge. Howbeit, among you we are known to the utmost what we are in all things.

And when I was present with you and had need, I was grievous to no man. For that which was lacking unto me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I kept myself that I should not be grievous to you: and so will I keep myself.

If the truth of Christ be in me, this rejoicing shall not be taken from me in the regions of Achaia.

Wherefore? Because I love you not? God knoweth.

That I speak, I speak it not after the ways of the Lord: but as it were foolishly, while we are now come to boasting.

Thrice was I beaten with rods. I was once stoned. I suffered thrice shipwreck. Night and day have I been in the deep of the sea.

Who is sick: and I am not sick? Who is hurt in the faith: and my heart burneth not?

The God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

It is not expedient for me, no doubt, to rejoice; Nevertheless I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

how that he was taken up into paradise, and heard words not to be spoken, which no man can utter.

Of this man will I rejoice, of myself will I not rejoice, except it be of mine infirmities -

and yet though I would rejoice I should not be a fool, for I would say the truth. Nevertheless I spare, lest any man should think of me above that he seeth me to be, or heareth of me.

And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given unto me of God unquietness of the flesh: the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure.

Therefore have I delectation in infirmities, in rebukes, in need, in persecutions, in anguish, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

For what is it wherein ye were inferiors unto other congregations? Except it be therein that I was not grievous unto you. Forgive me this wrong done unto you.

Behold now, the third time, I am ready to come unto you, and yet will I not be grievous unto you. For I seek not yours, but you. Also the children ought not to lay up for the fathers and mothers: but the fathers and mothers for the children.

But be it that I grieved you not: nevertheless I was crafty and took you with guile.

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother: Did Titus defraud you of any thing? Walked we not in one spirit? Walked we not in like steps?

For I fear, lest it come to pass, that when I come I shall not find you such as I would: and I shall be found unto you such as I would not. I fear lest there be found among you debate, envying, wrath, strife, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord.

I fear lest when I come again, God bring me low among you, and I be constrained to bewail many of them which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and wantonness which they have committed.

I told you before, and tell you before, and as I said when I was present with you the second time, so write I now, being absent, to them which in time past have sinned, and to all others: that if I come again, I will not spare;

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

Prove yourselves whether ye are in the faith or not. Examine your own selves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be castaways?

I trust that ye shall know that we are not castaways.

I desire before God that ye do none evil, not that we should seem commendable: but that ye should do that which is honest, and let us be counted as lewd persons.

Therefore write I these things being absent, lest when I am present I should use sharpness according to the power which the Lord hath given me, to edify, and not to destroy.