He delivered me from such a death, and will deliver me. On him I have set my hopes that he will continue to deliver me,

to these latter an odor of death to death, to the former, of life to life. For such service as this, who is sufficient?

Such confidence I have through Christ before God.

Therefore, cherishing such a hope, I use great freedom of speech.

It is not myself that I proclaim, but Christ Jesus as Master, and myself that I proclaim, and myself your slave for Jesus' sake.

For, alive though I am, I am always given over to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may shine forth in my dying flesh.

So then, even if I did write to you, it was not for the sake of the wrong-doer, or of him who had been wronged, but to make clear to yourselves in the sight of God your earnest care for me.

Let such a man assure himself that my actions, when I am present, will be just like my words in my letters when I am absent.

For such fellows are sham apostles of Christ.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as though I were beside myself), such, far, more, am I; in labors more abundant, in imprisonments also more abundant, in floggings beyond measure, in deaths often.

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

Of such a one I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast except in my weaknesses.

Most gladly therefore will I boast rather of my weakness, that over me like a tent may be pitched the power of Christ. That is why I rejoice in weakness, in ill-treatment, in troubles, in persecutions and calamities for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

For I dread that perhaps, when I come, I may not find you to be such as I wish, and that I may be found by you such as you do not wish; I dread lest there should be quarrels, jealousy, tempers, party spirit, slandering, gossip, arrogance, tumults;