For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about our affliction that happened to us in Asia, because we were extraordinarily weighed down, above strength, so as for us to despair even to be alive.

But we ourselves have had the sentence of death in ourselves, so that we should not be trusting in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.

For our pride is this (the testimony from our conscience), that we behave in the world in the simplicity and purity of God, not by fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, and especially toward you.

But God is faithful, because our word toward you became not, yes and no.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was proclaimed among you by us (by me and Silvanus and Timothy) became not, yes and no, but in him has become, yes.

But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that I did not yet come to Corinth, sparing you.

Not because we lord over your faith, but are co-workmen of your joy, for by faith ye stand.

But I determined this in myself, not to come again to you in sadness.

And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I came, I would not have sadness from whom I ought to rejoice, having been confident toward you all, because my joy is of all of you.

For out of much stress and dismay of heart, through many tears, I wrote to you, not that ye would be grieved, but that ye might know the love that I have so much more for you.

But if any man has caused sadness, he has not caused me sadness, but in part (that I may not bear down) you all.

so that we may not be exploited by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his methods.

I had no rest in my spirit, my not finding Titus my brother. But having departed from them, I went forth into Macedonia.

For we are not as other men, huckstering the word of God, but as from purity. But we speak in Christ as from God in the sight of God.

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Unless we need, as some men, commendatory letters to you or commendatory from you?

being seen that ye are a letter of Christ, administered by us, written not in ink, but in the Spirit of the living God, not in stony tablets, but in fleshly tablets, in hearts.

not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reckon anything as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,

who also made us qualified helpers of a new covenant, not of a document, but of a spirit, for the document kills but the spirit makes alive.

But if the administration of death in writings engraved on stones occurred in glory, so that the sons of Israel could not gaze upon the face of Moses because of the fading glory of his countenance,

how will the administration of the spirit not be more in glory?

For also that which has been glorified, has not been glorified in this regard, because of the glory that transcends.

and are not as Moses. He put a veil over his face in order for the sons of Israel not to gaze on the end of the fading.

But their minds were hardened, for to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old testament, not being uncovered, which thing is abolished in Christ.

Because of this (having this ministry), in as much as we received mercy, we do not become discouraged.

But we have renounced the covert things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor misrepresenting the word of God, but by the disclosure of the truth, commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God.

in whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, in order for the light of the good-news of the glory of the Christ (who is a likeness of God) not to shine forth to them.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves are your bondmen through Jesus.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not from us,

restricted in everything, yet not confined, perplexed but not despairing,

persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.

Therefore we are not discouraged, but even if the outer man of us is perishing, yet the inner man is renewed day by day.

while we look not at things seen, but at things not seen. For things seen are temporal, but things not seen are eternal.

For we know that if the earthly house of our tent were destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.

if indeed also having put it on we will not be found naked.

For also those who are in the tent groan, being burdened, not in that we want to undress, but to clothe ourselves, so that the mortal may be swallowed up by the life.

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

For we are not commending ourselves again to you, but giving you an opportunity of boasting about us, so that ye may have for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

How that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

And working jointly, we urge you also not to receive the grace of God in vain

giving not one cause of stumbling in anything, so that the ministry may not be criticized,

as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not put to death;

Ye are not limited in us, but ye are limited in your bowels.

Do not become unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?

I speak not for condemnation, for I have said before that ye are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had not one relief, but being oppressed in everything: battles outside, fears within.

And not only by his presence, but also by the encouragement with which he was encouraged by you, reporting to us your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more.

Because even though I grieved you in the letter, I am not remorseful (even though I was remorseful), for I perceive that that letter grieved you, even though for an hour.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were grieved, but that ye were grieved for repentance. For ye were grieved toward God, so that ye might suffer loss from us in nothing.

And so then although I wrote to you, it was not because of the man who did wrong, nor because of the man who was wronged, but in order to reveal to you your eagerness for us in the sight of God.

Because, if I have boasted anything to him about you, I am not ashamed, but as we spoke all things in truth to you, so also our boast to Titus became truth.

And it was not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us through the will of God,

I speak not from commandment, but because of the zeal of others, also examining the genuineness of your love.

And in this I give judgment, for this is expedient for you who earlier began, from a year ago, not only the doing but also the intending.

For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable to the extent if some man has, not to the extent he does not have.

For it is not, so that ease is for others and stress for you, but out of parity your abundance at the present time is for the need of those men.

So that the abundance of those men may also happen for your need, so that there may become equity,

as it is written, he of much did not abound, and he of little did not lack.

And not only so, but who was also chosen by the congregations, a traveling companion of us with this gift administered by us, for the glory of the same Lord and our willingness.

providing things right, not only in the sight of Lord, but also in the sight of men.

But I sent the brothers so that our boast about you would not be empty in this regard. So that, as I said, ye may be prepared,

if somehow Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we (that we might not say, ye) would be embarrassed in this confidence of boast.

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers that they would go ahead to you, and arrange in advance your gift that was earlier announced, for this to be ready this way as a gift and not as an exaction.

Each man as he purposes in his heart, not from regret or from necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Because the service of this ministry is not only supplying the needs of the sanctified, but also abounding through many thanksgivings to God

But I pray not to be bold when present with the confidence by which I consider to be valiant toward some who consider us as walking according to flesh.

For though walking in flesh, we do not war according to flesh.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for the demolition of strongholds,

For even if I also should boast somewhat more abundantly about our authority (which the Lord gave us for building up, and not for tearing you down), I will not be shamed,

so that I would not seem as if to terrify you by the letters.

For we dare not classify or compare ourselves to some of those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, do not understand.

But we will not boast in things immeasurable, but according to the measure of the standard that God apportioned to us, of a measure to reach even as far as you.

For it is not as not reaching for you. We overextend ourselves. For we even reached as far as you in the good-news of the Christ,

not boasting in things immeasurable, in other men's labors, but having hope of your faith growing in you to be enlarged according to our measure for abundance,

in order to preach the good-news beyond you, not to boast in another measure, in things prepared.

For he who commends himself, that man is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.

For indeed if a man who comes, preaches another Jesus whom we did not preach, or ye receive another spirit that ye did not receive, or another good-news that ye did not accept, ye well tolerated it.

But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet not in knowledge, but in everything made known in all things to you.

And being present with you, and when needy, I was a burden to no man. For the brothers who came from Macedonia, they supplied my need. And in everything I kept, and I will keep myself non-burdensome to you.

The truth of Christ is in me that this pride in me will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

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

I say again, let not any man think me to be foolish, but if otherwise--even if as foolish--accept me, so that I also may boast some a little.

What I speak, I speak not according to Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of the boast.

Thrice I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I was shipwrecked, I have done a night and a day in the depth,

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I am not made fiery?

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed into the ages, knows that I do not lie.

(Really, to me boasting is not helpful.) For I will come to visions and revelations of Lord.

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in body, I know not, or whether outside the body, I know not, God knows) such a man was caught up as far as the third heaven.

And I know such a man (whether in body, or whether outside the body, I know not, God knows)

that he was caught up into the paradise, and heard inexpressible sayings that are not permitted for a man to utter.

For such a man I will boast, but for myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

For if I should want to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will speak the truth. But I refrain lest any man should reckon to me above what he sees of me or hears anything from me.

And so that I might not be over exalted by the extraordinariness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, an agent of Satan so that he would buffet me, so that I would not be over exalted.

For what is there which ye were inferior to the other congregations? Except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

Behold, a third time I fare readily to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you, for I seek not the things of you, but you. For the children ought not lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

But let it be. I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being clever, I caught you with bait.

I encouraged Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in anything? Did we not walk in the same spirit, not in the same steps?

For I fear lest somehow, having come, I may find you not such as I want, and I may be found by you such as ye do not want, lest somehow there be strifes, envyings, wraths, selfish ambitions, slanderings, whisperings, puffings up, t

lest having come again my God will make me low toward you, and I will bewail many of those who have sinned previously, and who did not repent from the trash and fornication and licentiousness that they committed.

I have told you before, and I say in advance, as present the second time, and now absent, I write to those who have previously sinned, and to all the others, that if I come to it again, I will not spare,

since ye seek proof of the Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but is mighty in you.